Infection Control – Lessons Learned

​In Provider’s February issue, care providers share what COVID-19 policies have stood the test of time. In “Infection Control Lessons Learned,” clinicians say that new policies like patient isolation and enhanced disinfection procedures continue to work a year into the pandemic—and will continue to be important post-vaccination. “We probably will keep cohorting and isolation procedures for future outbreaks of infections, including the flu,” says Francine Rainer, chief clinical officer at PruittHealth.
What’s also emerged from the pandemic is a new portrait of the future of infection control.  Best practices and lessons are parts of it, along with new CMS policies that providers say should continue.
Take the Skilled Nursing Facility 3-Day Rule Waiver, for example. “We are focusing on this moving forward and advocating that it be a permanent change,” says Erin Prendergast, AHCA/NCAL senior manager, quality improvement.
Find out what best practices will continue and more about the new face of infection control and prevention here​.

Advance Your Long Term Care RN Career by Adding the Prestigious ANCC GERO-BC™ Credential.

Nurses who complete Gero Nurse Prep show an average 24 percent increase between their pre- and post-course test scores. Quite simply, Gero Nurse Prep delivers smarter RNs who are better prepared to deliver quality geriatric nursing care in skilled nursing and assisted living settings. Both two-year RNs and BSNs may take the Gero Nurse Prep course and sit for the ANCC exam.
All RNs who complete the AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep course ($690 when members use promo code AHCAPAYLESS {all caps} when they register) earn 30 quality nursing contact hours, enough to meet the criteria for taking the ANCC certification exam. Gero Nurse Prep grads who choose to sit for the ANCC gerontological nursing certification exam ($395 separate fee paid to ANCC) have a pass rate of 96% on their first try. RNs who pass the ANCC exam can then use the GERO-BC™ credential after their RN credential.
Watch this video or visit the website at geronurseprep.com to learn more about this online program designed to help RNs increase their geriatric nursing skills and to pass the ANCC exam. Don’t forget to use the AHCAPAYLESS promo code when you register to save $100 off the regular $790 Gero Nurse Prep registration fee.
Learn more at

Nurses Ranked Most Trusted Profession 19 Years in a Row!

In an impressive 19 year running streak, Americans have rated nurses as the #1 most ethical and honest profession, according to the most recent Gallup poll.

The 2020 poll revealed that 89% of Americans rated nurses’ honesty and ethical standards as “high” or “very high,” coming in even higher than last year’s record setting number. The honor is an impressive one, as the poll included other medical professionals, including physicians and pharmacists. Consistently, healthcare professionals are at the top of the list.

https://nurse.org/articles/nursing-ranked-most-honest-profession/

Get Vaccinated Toolkit

AHCA/NCAL’s #GetVaccinated campaign encourages long term care staff and residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Providers and state affiliates may use the materials below to help communicate about the importance of vaccination as well as highlight progress. This digital toolkit includes a checklist of ideas, template letters to use with stakeholders, sample social media, and media prep material.

Find out more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Pages/GetVaccinated.aspx

Video: How Staff Can Stay Safe During the Holiday Season

In a new video for frontline long term care workers, AHCA/NCAL’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Gifford is joined by Dr. Shari Ling, Deputy Medical Director at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The two chat about ways staff members can help keep their residents, colleagues, family members and themselves safe during the holiday season by discussing some myths we’ve heard and offering the facts.

It’s All About the Outcomes!

And SNF RNs Trained in Gerontological Nursing Get Better Patient Outcomes!

Research conducted by AHCA/NCAL in 2019 shows that SNFs that employ at least one American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Board certified RN experienced:
    • Higher average SNF VBP Performance Scores (44.2 versus 34.4 national average)
    • Fewer survey deficiencies
    • Fewer IJ citations
    • Lower rehospitalization rates
    • Lower rates of off-label use of antipsychotics
    • Higher CMS 5-Star ratings
The ANCC offers certification in gerontological nursing – the gold standard in demonstrating clinical excellence in geriatric patient care. ANCC is the world’s largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization and a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. Less than one percent of America’s RNs are board certified in gerontological nursing.
To help RNs prepare for the certification​ exam, AHCA/NCAL offers an online course developed and managed by UNMC’s College of Nursing called Gero Nurse Prep. RNs who complete the course earn 30 nursing contact hours and experience a 96% pass rate on the ANCC certification exam on the first try. Gero Nurse Prep students see a whopping 24 percent average increase between their pre- and post-test scores.
Gero Nurse Prep is flexible. RNs study online at their own pace and have one year from the time they enroll to complete their Gero Nurse Prep coursework.
Gero Nurse Prep is on sale through November 15! Save $100 off the regular registration fee by using promo code GETGNP20 (all caps). AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep provides tremendous value at this AHCA/NCAL member $590 sale price. That’s less than $20 per contact hour for outstanding nursing education that makes a measurable difference on so many fronts. For RNs interested in pursuing Board certification through ANCC, there is an additional and separate cost of $395.
To learn more about Gero Nurse Prep and ANCC Board certification, watch this video. For an even deeper dive into competent geriatric nursing, listen to this free AHCA/NCAL webinar “Competent Geriatric RNs – The New Driver of Financial Performance​.”

Gero Nurse Prep – The Affordable Pathway to Advanced Gerontological Nursing Knowledge

Gero Nurse Prep is on sale through November 15!  Save $100 off the regular registration fee by using promo code GETGNP20 (all caps). AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep​ provides tremendous value at this AHCA/NCAL member $590 sale price. That’s less than $20 per contact hour for outstanding nursing education that makes a measurable difference on so many fronts. For RNs interested in pursuing Board certification through ANCC, there is an additional and separate cost of $395.  Learn more by going to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Gero-Nurse-Prep-is-the-Affordable-Pathway-for-RNs-Looking-to-Advance-Their-Gerontological-Nursing-Knowledge-&-Careers-.aspx

RNs – Advance Your Gerontological Nursing Knowledge With Gero Nurse Prep and Save $100.

Gero Nurse Prep is on sale through November 15!  Save $100 off the regular registration fee by using promo code GETGNP20 (all caps). AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep​ provides tremendous value at this AHCA/NCAL member $590 sale price. That’s less than $20 per contact hour for outstanding nursing education that makes a measurable difference on so many fronts. For RNs interested in pursuing Board certification through ANCC, there is an additional and separate cost of $395.

The RN Piece of the Quality Puzzle Makes All the Difference!

​​Research conducted by AHCA/NCAL in 2019 shows that SNFs that employ at least one American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Board certified RN experienced:
    • Higher average SNF VBP Performance Scores (44.2 versus 34.4 national average)
    • Fewer survey deficiencies
    • Fewer IJ citations
    • Lower rehospitalization rates
    • Lower rates of off-label use of antipsychotics
    • ​Higher CMS 5-Star rating

To help RNs prepare for the certification exam, AHCA/NCAL offers an online course developed and managed by UNMC’s College of Nursing called Gero Nurse Prep. RNs who complete the course earn 30 nursing contact hours and experience a 96% pass rate on the ANCC certification exam on the first try. Gero Nurse Prep students see a whopping 24 percent average increase between their pre- and post-test scores.

Gero Nurse Prep is on sale through November 15!  Save $100 off the regular registration fee by using promo code GETGNP20 (all caps).  AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep provides tremendous value at this AHCA/NCAL member $590 sale price. That’s less than $20 per contact hour for outstanding nursing education that makes a measurable difference on so many fronts. For RNs interested in pursuing Board certification through ANCC, there is an additional and separate cost of $395.

Find out more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/The-RN-Piece-of-the-Quality-Puzzle-Makes-All-the-Difference!-.aspx