Category: Uncategorized

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​.”

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

Providers and Pressure Injuries

Join RN HUDDLE for a new series with the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel. In this episode, we welcome back Renee Paulin, MSN, RN, CWOCN, as she joins a member of the NPIAP Board of Directors and Chair of the NPIAP Education Committee, Dr. Lee Ruotsi. Renee and Dr. Ruotsi discuss the essential responsibility all providers and clinicians  have to combat pressure injuries. Keep an eye out for future episodes with others from NPIAP.

https://rnhuddle.unmc.edu/national-pressure-injury-advisory-panel-npiap-podcast-with-dr-lee-ruotsi-providers-and-pressure-injuries/

Learn more about the National Pressure Advisory Panel by going to https://npiap.com/

LTC Facilities Should Strictly Adhere To CDC’s COVID-19 Guidelines As Much As Feasible

Post Pandemic Litigation For Skilled Care And Assisted Living Facilities  has already begun. Find out what facilities should do to protect themselves.

http://www.providermagazine.com/columns/Pages/2020/-Post-Pandemic-Litigation-For-Skilled-Care-And-Assisted-Living-Facilities.aspx

Uncomfortable Truths

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed many uncomfortable truths about serving seniors.

The worst isn’t that long-term care providers are prioritized way behind hospitals in funding and all around perception. No, the most brutal truth is that ageism is thoroughly soaked into the collective U.S. mind.

https://bit.ly/3eSdBEH

Federal Help Falters as Nursing Homes Run Short of Protective Equipment

Around the country, nursing homes trying to protect their residents from the coronavirus eagerly await boxes of masks, eyewear and gowns promised by the federal government. But all too often the packages deliver disappointment — if they arrive at all.

Read the full article at https://www.managedhealthcareconnect.com/content/federal-help-falters-nursing-homes-run-short-protective-equipment

CMS Issues Nursing Home Reopening Recommendations for State and Local Officials.

Today, CMS provided recommendations [cl.exct.net] on a nursing home phased reopening for states. The recommendations cover the following items:

  • Recommendations for testing residents and staff
  • Dedicated space for cohorting residents with COVID-19
  • Criteria for relaxing certain restrictions and mitigating the risk of resurgence
  • Visitation and service considerations
  • Restoration of survey activities

The guidance encourages state leaders to collaborate with the state survey agency and local health departments to decide how these criteria should be implemented.  Given the critical importance in limiting COVID-19 exposure in nursing homes, CMS recommends that decisions on relaxing restrictions be made with careful review of the following facility-level, community, and state factors:

  • Baseline test of all residents, weekly testing of all staff, practicing social distancing, and universal source control for residents and visitors (e.g., face coverings)
  • Status of COVID-19 cases in the local community
  • Status of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes
  • Adequate staffing
  • Access to adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Local hospital capacity

Read the press release [cl.exct.net], guidance [cl.exct.net] and FAQs [cl.exct.net] from CMS.