Staffing

Inviting respect into the facility

In a previous column, we addressed staff satisfaction—and what staff members really want. ‘Respect’ and ‘appreciation’ are tops on the list. Sadly, Read More »

Measuring clinical decision-making skills

In late 2008, I was grappling with the problem of trying to prioritize in-house and continuing education training programs for our 100 therapists Read More »

What we know about staff satisfaction

Securing and retaining staff, keeping them happy and content continue to be a major and very expensive problem in assisted living and long-term care. Read More »

SERVICE model fosters greater staff satisfaction

“Would we do this again? Yes! The implementation of this model has generated outcomes that have made this community more successful, productive, and Read More »

Employee failures are your own

Why is it that employees are hired in assisted living and long-term care, placed in positions without any preparation or orientation, and then both Read More »

Networking skills to make personal connections

Long-term care (LTC) professionals are well aware that our jobs, our facilities, and our patients' expectations have radically changed in the past Read More »

Staff retention and resident longevity: Are they related?

A reader asks, “Is there a correlation between nursing staff length of service and resident longevity? Our 180-bed sister skilled nursing and Read More »

Personnel investigations

Personnel investigations are necessary whenever there is an allegation or indication of employee misconduct. According to Federal Regulation F-225, Read More »

Orientation—the foundation for success

Many liken staff turnover to a revolving door—new staff leave as quickly as they arrived. We have previously described methods to transform the Read More »

Interviewing for expectations: Theirs and yours

Reader submitted question: Once a list of potential candidates is narrowed, how can I make the in-person interview most beneficial?   The interview Read More »

How do I deal with an older employee who will not retire?

A reader from Ohio asks if a company can legally ask an older employee to retire, or establish a specific policy requiring retirement at a certain Read More »

How should I select employees for my facility?

If you are simply filling staffing holes with “warm bodies,” please understand this will cost you far more down the road. Existing, dedicated staff Read More »

How can I get my staff to come in as scheduled and on time?

Janice Hammond, RN from Indiana sent a question about how to get staff to show up for work and on time. This question often comes up during Read More »

How important is new employee orientation?

New employees don’t start in a new position able to succeed without information and direction. Regardless of years of experience in healthcare or a Read More »

Workforce crisis worsens

The nation's nursing home industry is facing a critical, and apparently worsening, workforce crisis and is urging the federal government to step in Read More »

The LTC Training Dilemma: Finding the Right Training Company

Every day, a typical long-term care (LTC) organization experiences many training-related challenges. Worker skill and performance gaps and an Read More »

Allendale’s ‘CNA of the Year’

It’s a May afternoon at the Allendale Community for Mature Living in Bergen County, New Jersey. Residents are gathered in the courtyard, waiting Read More »

An information-based approach to staff efficiency

The clock ticked 11:00 p.m. and still no nurse for the Medicare unit. The agency called and said the last bill had not been paid and they would not Read More »

Gain and retain an activity professional

Hiring the right activity professional is one of the key elements in providing residents with quality of life. Not only must he or she be dynamic, Read More »

“Settling in” team transitions smooth moves at La Posada

La Posada took on this task by creating a settling in team to facilitate the large move in a timely and organized manner. Team members visited each Read More »

Human Resource Solutions for Nursing Homes

The business of being an employer is hitting the nursing home industry hard. This is especially true in the areas of staffing and government Read More »

“Staffing Is Not a Complex Problem”

According to Dawson, who heads the prestigious Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) and was a key contributor to the recent Institute of Read More »

Turning negative feedback into positive results

Why do so few people enjoy being on the receiving end of feedback or show such little enthusiasm for a performance review session? In the case of Read More »

Creating a Successful Workforce Culture

Few would argue that turnover in long-term care has been out of control for a long time, despite repeated research projects and surveys examining Read More »

¿Cómo se dice ‘multicultural’?

When Michael walks through the halls of his facility, he has trouble understanding what his staff members are saying. It's as if they're speaking a Read More »

Thanking employees for a job well done

Three employees of the Penacook Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center were big winners in the grand prize drawing at the end of the fi rst year Read More »

Delivering negative feedback in a positive manner

We no longer “shoot the messenger” who delivers bad news, but you wouldn't know that judging by how uncomfortable some managers are when delivering Read More »

Striving to be employers of choice

Quality resident care that enriches quality of life and independence is the primary service of senior living communities. What most senior living Read More »

Just who will take care of mom and dad?

Predicting the future for nursing facilities and assisted living is a staffing challenge. Read More »

Caring about culture

For days after moving into Lancaster Health Group's Lake Shore facility in Chicago, a woman refused to allow herself to be bathed or to receive help Read More »