Ask the Care Expert about … antibiotic stewardship
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Apr 04, 2016
As an assistant director of nursing in a skilled care facility, all I am hearing is antibiotic stewardship. I am lost. How do I begin, where do I start?
Ask the Care Expert about … palliative and hospice care
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Mar 04, 2016
As a new charge nurse I have been asked to set up palliative care for a new residents. What is the difference between palliative and hospice care? I am afraid I am mixing them up.
Ask the Care Expert about… Payroll Based Journaling
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Feb 04, 2016
As a new charge nurse, I hear the administrator and director of nursing talking more often recently about the Payroll Based Journaling and I need to know more about it. What’s the overview?
Ask the Care Expert about… Legionnaire’s risk from water features
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Jan 04, 2016
We are building a new patient care area and as a nurse leader I am working with the team on developing the area. I would like to have some fountains and trickling water features in the area. However, I...
Ask the Care Expert about… hand washing
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Dec 04, 2015
I am a new RN in post-acute care. What is one thing I should learn first to help residents, and to help me have a long, rewarding career?
Ask the Care Expert about… mini-mental state exams
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Nov 05, 2015
We have a dementia unit and currently use a mini-mental state examination on our admissions. We have heard the mini-mental may not be the best test — do you know of any other that may be better?
Ask the Care Expert about… labeling clean equipment
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Oct 05, 2015
We are changing the system of how we mark clean equipment in storage and residents’ rooms. Currently, we have a plastic bag over the items, and through training everyone knows these are the clean...
Ask the Care Expert about … readmissions
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Sep 04, 2015
Access to veins can mean the difference between sending a resident back to the hospital and keeping him/her in the facility. Sending residents back to the hospital has negative implications for facilities,...
Ask the Care Expert … about handwashing
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Aug 05, 2015
Believe it or not, we are having a hard time getting our staff to comply with handwashing. Do you have any suggestions to help us let staff know it is urgent that everyone washes their hands?
Ask the Care Expert … about safety training
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Jul 06, 2015
We are looking to improve the safety of the residents at our facilities, with regard to falls and safety. Do you have a suggestion for any training material or programs?