Gero Nurse Prep – AHCA/NCAL Gero Nurse Prep

Preparing for Fall Vaccinations in Long Term Care

As fall approaches, long-term care (LTC) providers should be preparing to vaccinate their residents and staff against common respiratory viruses. There are three vaccines that providers should be aware of and prepared to offer to their staff and residents:

Influenza
COVID-19
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Below is a summary of clinical considerations and administration of each vaccine, other regulatory considerations, and resources to help promote uptake. This reflects information available to date, but more information is expected to be released in the coming months from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), Health and Human Services (HHS), and other relevant agencies. This blog post will be continually updated as new recommendations and considerations are released.

Learn more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Preparing-for-Fall-Vaccinations-in-Long-Term-Care.aspx

The Spring Gero Nurse Prep Sale is Almost Over!

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Gero Nurse Prep course significantly increases RNs’ gerontological nursing competency test scores. Registrant’s can save $200 on Gero Nurse Prep through June 1, 2023 with promo code GNP4QUALITY (all caps).

Specifically designed for registered nurses working in long term care, this curriculum provides comprehensive online training that leads to board certification in gerontological nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for RNs.

Repeated research conducted by AHCA/NCAL since 2016 finds compelling reasons to consider the Gero Nurse Prep course and ANCC Board certification for RNs. Nursing facilities with at least one ANCC Board certified RN experienced:

Fewer deficiencies on average
Fewer Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) citations
More stars — nearly twice as likely to be a CMS 5-Star facility
Lower re-hospitalization rates

Gero Nurse Prep makes a big difference even for those RNs who are not interested in pursuing ANCC Board certification. 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 can take the Gero Nurse Prep course and sit for the ANCC exam.

RNs have one year to complete Gero Nurse Prep and 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 95% 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. And don’t forget to use the GNP4QUALITY promo code when registering by June 1 to save $200 off the regular $790 Gero Nurse Prep registration fee.

Just For LTC RNs – The Spring Gero Nurse Prep Sale is On!

Fewer deficiencies on average
Fewer Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) citations
More stars — nearly twice as likely to be a CMS 5-Star facility
Lower re-hospitalization rates

The Winning Combination of Tech and Touch In Falls Prevention

Implementing a Tech-Plus-Touch Approach
In building a prevention-focused mindset surrounding falls amongst elderly residents, long term care and assisted living communities can benefit from establishing a tech-plus-touch approach. This type of approach leverages technology and digital means to nurture genuine human connections. Tech-plus-touch can radically improve the mobility and health status of seniors while increasing their emotional well-being and confidence. This, along with the ability to monitor functional mobility in real-time and identify changes early can greatly decrease the risk of falling and the number of adverse events.

Podcast: Self-Care in Long Term Care – Just Breathe!

Last month, AHCA/NCAL released the Self-Care in Long Term Care podcast series. While we know that self-care is important, it is often the last thing we have time for. The Self-Care in Long Term Care podcast series is dedicated to helping you build self-care into your everyday practices by identifying little opportunities to implement self-care. The first podcast focused on why self-care is important and explored the power of “the pause,” a simple, yet effective, tool to help you reduce stress, burnout, and fatigue.

In this second podcast, the focus is on reducing stress and fighting fatigue and burnout through the power of movement and the 4-7-8 breathing technique. This series is comprised of a variety of short listening sessions, less than 15-minutes, that will help build tools and resources to ensure that you are taking care of the most important person, you.

https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Podcast-Self-Care-in-Long-Term-Care-%E2%80%93-Just-Breathe.aspx

Get Involved in Careers in Aging Week!

Save the date for Careers in Aging Week (CIAW), March 26-April 1, 2023

People are living longer, and the demand for caregivers in our profession is growing rapidly. As our sector continues to face a historic workforce crisis, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to participate in CIAW and raise awareness about the incredible opportunities available. CIAW is dedicated to bringing greater visibility to the wide-ranging careers in long term care and aging services and to celebrate current employees in the profession. Join us in celebrating, starting March 26 through April 1 — to find out how you can participate and spread the word during CIAW go to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Get-Involved-in-Careers-in-Aging-Week.aspx

2023 NSNCW Planning Guide and Products Now Available

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is excited to announce that the 2023 National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW) Planning Guide and products are now available at www.nsncw.org.

NSNCW will begin on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14th through Saturday, May 20th, 2023.

Skilled nursing care staff, residents, families, and members of the local community are encouraged to participate in activities that cultivate and spread kindness in honor of the annual observance.

The 2023 Planning Guide offers ideas that can be incorporated into new or planned activities. Download for activity and media tips and to explore an exclusive selection of NSNCW gifts and products.

To find out more and to download the planning guide, please go to https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/2023-NSNCW-Planning-Guide-and-Products-Now-Available.aspx

Free HealthCap® Webinar Will Examine Emerging Infection Control Risks

HealthCap® is hosting a free webinar titled OIG Recommendations: More Than Just Smoke? on Tuesday, March 7 at 2 p.m. EST. This program will assist providers in identifying areas of risk related to the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent focus on infection control issues.

A recent OIG study found that nursing homes were not prepared for the sweeping health emergency that COVID-19 created. The OIG said that “significant changes are needed to protect the health and safety of residents and better prepare nursing homes for current and future health emergencies.”

Learn more at https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/Free-HealthCap%C2%AE-Webinar-Will-Examine-Emerging-Infection-Control-Risks.aspx

Creating a Wound Care Culture

A recent study by researchers at the University of Chicago found that the reporting of wounds, especially pressure wounds, by long term care facilities is significantly underreported. Although the Centers for Disease Control states that approximately 11 percent of residents have pressure wounds, the Chicago study estimates that that number could be quite a bit higher.

Read the entire article at https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/Creating-a-Wound-Care-Culture.aspx

Public Health Emergency Ending May 11 – What You Need to Know

Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced its plans to end the Public Health Emergency (PHE). This administration guidance meets the Administration’s promise of 60 days’ notice of the end of the PHE. Based on the guidance, the PHE will end on May 11, 2023.

Save the date for Careers in Aging Week (CIAW), March 26-April 1, 2023​

Save the date for Careers in Aging Week (CIAW), March 26-April 1, 2023