At the end of a long shift on Christmas Eve, two CNAs are chatting in the facility parking lot. “Rough day,” says one. “A family member yelled at me about problems I can’t solve and things that...
Let there not be light
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 17, 2022
It’s the first command in the Biblical creation story — let there be light. But if you’re working a night shift in a long-term care facility, I need you to stop reading this right now and go turn...
We need a careforce, not just a workforce
By
Lori Porter
Apr 18, 2022
CNAs, as the largest contingent of staff members in nursing homes, should be known as a careforce, a term seized on recently by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.
Use caution in antipsychotics reduction
By
G. Allen Power, M.D.
Sep 22, 2014
It is true that I began speaking out about the misuse of antipsychotics drugs long before they came to national attention. But as I applaud the efforts of our providers and regulators around this important...
Bridging the gap: Millennials in LTC
By
Tara Roberts
Dec 28, 2016
Millennials were raised to be confident individuals. This confidence can be off-putting to their more seasoned coworkers.
Beyond the love meter
By
Gary Tetz
Mar 07, 2024
Love may be a many splendored thing, but it can also be elusive, at least in my experience. So when I read in McKnight’s about new “love meter” technology now available, my mind whirled with possibilities. ...
Conducting and documenting meaningful fire drills in LTC facilities
By
Stan Szpytek
Apr 16, 2024
From some of our earliest memories in elementary school as little kids, we all recall participating in fire drills on a periodic basis. Of course, the purpose of those fire drills was to train students,...
Curious much?
By
Julie Thorson
Jan 05, 2022
Of all the leadership traits, the one I find most intriguing has to be curiosity. It’s a characteristic I believe takes focused effort to strengthen. For some, this might be a stretch. Aren’t we...
Wound care: What’s new on an old problem?
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Jun 10, 2016
What if your patient shows some red areas on her bottom? Typically, you’d try another cushion, another chair, another mattress and then play the wait-and-see game.
When is telehealth the right option?
By
Kristy Wikum
Nov 13, 2014
As providers, patients, and payers look for more cost-effective and efficient ways to provide health care, some are turning to telehealth as an option. Telehealth involves using electronic communication...