National Nursing Home Week

National Nursing Home Week is celebrated every year by nursing homes across the US. It is a week to celebrate the residents in nursing homes. Over the past 23 years I have worked with nursing homes in a variety of positions.I would like to share some of the things that I have seen done and recognize the staff that pulls off these events. None of these events could happen without the hard work and dedication of the facility staff. Staff donate their time and talents to make these things happen.The following is a list of events: Balloon lift off Pic nics Bean dinners Ice cream socials Cash Cab Jeopardy Talent shows Carnivals Brunch Tea party Dog Show Car show Pet visits Sock hops Senior proms Music of all types Crazy hat contest Wheel chair races Wheel chair decorating Baby contest Cake walk Casino night Pie eating contest

Staffing The On Going Problem

It amazes me how badly people want a job yet once they have it do not seem to want to work. I use a standard interview form when I interview people. I always tell them the same things and ask the same questions. The 1 thing I make sure I tell them is that I expect them to give their employer notice if currently working and to give me 2 weeks notice when leaving. Of course every single one says that they will. I have had 41 people in just over 3 years quit without notice. These are not just nursing assistants but nurses as well.I have tried to call most of them to ask why and they will not even return phone calls. This really makes a huge impact on a facility. 1. confuses the residents, usually they have just got to know them when they are no longer there 2. leaves there co workers to pick up the hours they left opened There are many reasons people leave a job and I will be the first to congradulate them if they are bettering themselves but even then they should show enough professionalism to give a notice. I personally feel that licensed and certified nursing staff that fail to give notice should be reported to the board of nursing and nurse aide regisrty.

Person Centered Care Update

Person centered care has made a positive impact on the faciltiy I work at. The following are some examples: 1. Residents that ate alone in their room are now coming out to the dinning room at lunch time to eat 2. One resident that was having pain at meal time is now being layed down even if it is meal time and meal is served later when she is feeling betted and she is eating better and we have actually discontinued one of her narcotics and her pain has not increased. Before person centered care we were encouraging her to stay up untill after the meal and she just didn't eat well.We were more focused on the meal than the resident. 3. Residents that were refusing showers are now taking them because they don't have to worry about it being done on a day or time they don't prefer 4. The biggest impact is the reduction in falls. I did not expect this and I am not sure why it has happened but the number of falls has actually improved. Over the last 2 years our goal has been to have 5 or fewer falls per month. We have not met that goal until the first quarter this year. Last year there was a total of 7.6 falls per month on average and the first quarter this year we had 5 each month for April we only had 1 fall. I will need to do some further study to try and determine why but the one thing that stands out is that we started Person Centered Care on January 1 this year.