Be In the Know!

The internet offers some terrific options for nursing paraprofessionals who are looking to learn new things. However, it’s easy to get “lost” in cyberspace when searching for relevant information. Here are just a few sites that we feel have a lot to offer CNAs—and anyone who works in health care. You may want to pass them on to your nursing assistants and/or home health aides.

Nursing Assistant Resources on the Web
For ten years, three nursing assistants named Patti, Kim and Heather have worked diligently to create a central location for CNAs to access information on the web. They believe that “the more informed CNAs are, the better quality work they will produce.”

On this site, you’ll find a blog filled with important information for CNAs and anyone who is part of the healthcare system. I regularly read their blog postings! The blog is interactive which means readers can post their comments (the same as here on the In the Know blog).

Nursing Assistant On-line Video Lessons
Your CNAs are bound to find the Nursing Assistant On-line Video Lessons interesting. This site was created by Fox Valley Technical College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College as a resource for nursing assistant students.

While the videos are copyrighted, you are welcome to watch them online for free. There are 80 different videos to help CNA students reinforce their classroom learning and to give working CNAs a refresher on a variety of topics. The videos alone cannot count as inservices, but they still provide a great learning experience.

Nursing Assistant Central
This is another great site that has great information for both students and working CNAs. This website offers information about becoming a CNA and tips for succeeding as a CNA.

There is also a very active message board which provides an excellent place to ask questions, learn and socialize with others in the field. All are welcome to participate, whether you’re a past, present or prospective CNA.

We recommend taking a long look around Nursing Assistant Central. You’re bound to learn a thing or two. We did!

National Network of Career Nursing Assistants
Have your heard of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants? It is a non-profit educational organization that promotes recognition, education, research, advocacy and peer support development for nursing assistants in nursing homes and other long term care settings. Genevieve Gipson NA RN MEd RNC is the director. She advocates tirelessly for direct-care workers across the United States.

One of our favorite spots on this site is a page of Frequently Asked Questions. These questions (and answers) relate to transferring CNA certification from one state to another, finding a local CNA training program, and much much more!

Last but not least, you may want your nurse aides to check out our Just for CNAs blog. On it, we strive to provide them with information that will help them in both their careers and their personal lives.

Till next time,
Linda

Linda Leekley BS, RN

Check out this information from the Eldercare Workforce Alliance:

By 2030, one in five Americans will be age 65 or older, 75% of whom will have one or more chronic conditions. Many older adults and those with chronic diseases do not receive the care they need because of an inadequately trained healthcare workforce, clinician and faculty shortages, and poor working conditions for direct-care workers (such as nursing assistants, home health aides and personal care aides).

6. Provide training and support for direct-care workers and family caregivers.

If you would like to support the above health reform measures, please click here to visit the Eldercare Workforce Alliance and LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

You can call or email your Representatives and Senators so they know how you feel about better education, pay and working conditions for direct-care workers.

All of us at In the Know will be making our calls and sending our emails, too!

Best wishes,

Linda

Linda Leekley BS, RN
In the Know, Inc.

While we don’t usually use this blog to “hype” special offers, we wanted to make sure you knew about our upcoming daily discounts. They are in honor of CNA Week (June 11th-18th).

National CNA week starts Thursday June 11th, and we’re making it easy to reward your CNAs! During CNA week, we will introduce a NEW special every business day. If you subscribe to our email newsletters, you will receive the code for each discount via email. If you are not a subscriber, but would like to be, you can add your name and email address to our list here.

If you prefer, you may call us at 877-809-5515 and tell us you are interested in a particular offer. Each special is good for one day only.

Thursday, June 11th- Buy 2 Inservices, Get 1 Free

Friday, June 12th- Receive 25% Off the Orientation Program: “Getting Off to a Good Start”

Monday, June 15th- Get a Custom Six-Pack for $189.00 (regularly priced $252.00)

Tuesday, June 16th- Receive free PowerPoint Companions with every order including ALL enrollments. That means every inservice topic you order will arrive in your mailbox with a free corresponding PowerPoint Companion!

Wednesday, June 17th- $100 Off Your Choice of 13 Inservice Topics

Thursday, June 18th- Buy 1 Inservice Topic, Get 1 for Only $10.00

Contact us with questions at 877.809.5515 or visit our website!

Thanks so much for stopping by our blog! We’d love to hear from you…simply add your comments and we’ll respond.

Take care,
Linda

Linda Leekley BS, RN
In the Know, Inc.

Have you ever hired nursing assistants and, after HR paperwork and a quick tour of your facility or agency, sent them off to a full day’s work? Does orientation seem like a waste of time with CNAs? After all, many of them don’t stick around long, so why bother? Well, here’s a tale from my past that spells out the problem with that theory:

When I started my first job as a new nursing graduate, it was on a busy hematology/oncology unit at a big teaching hospital. I was green, intimidated and in need of a good orientation. Did I receive it? Nope…instead I was thrown into a full patient assignment. (There was a preceptor assigned to me, but she was busy with her own caseload.) When I expressed my concerns to my preceptor, she said to me, “Look, we know an orientation would be nice. But, you’re a warm body to fill a spot on this shift. Just do the best you can because none of us have time to help you.”

What happened? Well, thankfully, I avoided causing any harm to my patients! But, my stress level went sky high; I felt alienated from my co-workers; and I spent my days off worrying about work. Before long, I developed strep throat and walking pneumonia. After a month, I transferred to another oncology unit where the staff was willing to orient me.

So, guess what? Once again, the heme/onc unit was short staffed! Their neglect of my learning needs was shortsighted and cost them another “warm body”. And, as time went on, I found out that the cycle continued; very few nurses wanted to work on that unit. Their attitude about orientation harmed everyone: the supervisor, the staff and the patients!

It’s the same with nursing assistants. If they are not oriented properly to their role within your workplace, they are likely to become stressed, overwhelmed and anxious to move on to another job. This vicious cycle is part of why CNA turnover is so high across the United States.

There is good news. Studies have shown that, on average, when an organization institutes a high quality orientation, their turnover rate decreases by 50% within two years! That’s one reason why we developed a complete CNA Orientation Program entitled, “Getting Off to a Good Start”. We wanted to help you with your aide retention rates AND provide the tools and support that nursing assistants need when they begin a new job.

“Getting Off to a Good Start” includes information on professionalism, communication, teamwork, patient rights, infection control, time management, stress management, personal wellness, customer service, cultural diversity, quality improvement, documentation and LOTS of practical client care tips. And, the program gives the learner SIX hours of inservice credit…right off the bat!

If you want more information on our CNA Orientation Program, please feel free to give us a call at 877-809-5515. We’re happy to answer any questions you have and/or email you a preview of the program.

Happy Hiring!
Linda

Linda Leekley BS, RN
www.knowingmore.com

It’s great to know that our inservices are helping health care organizations achieve measurable outcomes. Many customers tell us that it’s a “trickle down” effect; they save time and money with our inservices; the nurse aides add to their knowledge and skill set; and the clients benefit from being cared for by well-prepared staff.

Here are some more ways that In the Know customers have benefited from using our inservices:

“When I ordered ‘Understanding Depression’ from In the Know, I was really thinking of my employees. Gas prices were very high and it didn’t look like we would be having a increase in Medicaid reimbursement. However, since presenting the inservice, I have noticed in our aides weekly notes that they are more aware of their clients’ moods.”
Norma B.
American Healthcare Services
Mount Airy, North Carolina

“We love the ‘Importance of Activity for the Elderly’ inservice from In the Know.. We really believe that keeping our residents active, alert and stimulated mentally as well as physically provides a better quality of life. New staff members have a hard time recognizing the importance of this. However, once we have them do this inservice we notice a huge change in their attitude and we see them get more involved with the activities. Some employees even come to us with new activity ideas that they would like to try. This inservice has really made a difference!”
Teri S.
Latter Days Assisted Living
Santaquin, Utah

“To assist our CNAs in stepping up, we cultivated a group of nursing assistant preceptors. We utilized a number of In the Know inservices as their course content. This helped the preceptors become the ‘go to’ people for the other CNAs. The preceptors provide information and are seen as an ‘on unit’ resource. They also take responsibility for insuring that all the nursing assistants also complete the In the Know modules.”
Stephanie W.
Deborah Heart & Lung Center
Browns Mill, New Jersey

Are your CNA inservices helping you overcome challenges with your nursing assistants and/or client care? If not, they should be! Give us a call today at 877-809-5515 and tell us about a current problem you’d like to solve. We’ll help you find the best solution…guaranteed!

Take care,
Linda

Linda Leekley BS, RN
CEO, In the Know, Inc.

Today, you can read about our final group of nursing assistants who were selected by their supervisors and all of us at In the Know to be honored for being outstanding on the job:

Miranda M., who is a real team player at Dependable Home Healthcare in Martinsville, Virginia

Linda L., a top-notch CNA at Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe, North Carolina

Josephine A., a real star at Good Samaritan Lutheran Health Care Center in Delmar, New York

Nita W., who believes in the mission of the Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Marie S., who excels at her job at the Jerome Home in New Britain, Connecticut

Supervisor, Fiana P., told us that she is so glad to have Miranda on her team. She has been able to please some of their most challenging clients. The agency stands by its name, Dependable Home Healthcare, and Miranda is ALWAYS dependable! Miranda has chosen a career as a nursing assistant, but it’s obvious that nursing is in her heart.

At CMC-Union, Kathleen R. reported that Linda is an extraordinary person. She is always so friendly and courteous to both patients and staff. Linda is always willing to help. She has been working for the hospital for a long time and knows everyone. You can always expect a lift in your spirits when you see her in the hall. Linda’s patient care is outstanding!

Supervisor, Marjorie H., told us that Josephine is always doing all the little extra things that make a resident’s day. The residents confide in her; if they are grieving, she cries right along with them. And, if they need a “lift”, all she has to do is show them her beautiful smile. Josephine’s co-workers are all glad that she is part of their team!

Missy M., Director of Health Services, reported that Nita has been working with their Agency for many years. Even though she has since earned her LPN degree, Nita continues to work full-time as a CNA because she believes in the mission of the Agency to help seniors lead independent, meaningful and dignified lives. Nita sees clients in their homes on a daily basis and always goes above and beyond to see their needs are met. She is the eyes and ears of the Agency and they feel so lucky to have her. The quality of their clients’ lives is so much better because Nita is looking after them!

At the Jerome Home, Kathy F. told us that Marie is an outstanding CNA. She works the 3-11 shift on their dementia unit. Marie is faced with challenging behaviors every day. She has learned to respond with a caring tone–which is sometimes all that is needed. Marie is always striving to improve her education and skills by participating in many of the classes offered at her facility. Recently, she was selected to take part in a phlebotomy training class so that she can draw blood as needed for her residents. Marie is a star employee!

We also send special recognition to all the CNAs at Washington County Hospital in Nashville, Illinois. Your supervisor, Clara S., told us that she is fortunate enough to have outstanding CNAs on every shift…and there was no way she could nominate just one. So, congratulations to all of you!

WOW! Such amazing stories of personal and professional growth! We send a big thank you…to Miranda, Linda, Josephine, Nita, Marie and all the thousands and thousands of other hardworking CNAs who bring so much of themselves to their jobs!

CONGRATULATIONS from the Team at In the Know!

Continuing education should do more than fulfill annual inservice requirements. It should meet the learning needs of your CNAs and, in turn, have a measurable impact on client care. That’s what you get when you use inservices from In the Know. Consider these examples from just a few of our customers:

Renee F. at Fountainbleau Nursing Center: “We were having a large number of falls among our residents. We gave our CNAs the ‘Understanding Fall Risk Factors’ inservice to educate them on this issue. In the past month, our falls have been cut in half!”

Temika Y. at Generation Solutions: “After presenting the ‘Understanding Diabetes’ inservice to our home health aides, one aide recognized the signs of hypoglycemia and impending insulin shock in her client. She called EMS and literally saved the client’s life because of the information she learned from In the Know!”

Beth R. at Bellamy Fields Assisted Living: “Our CNAs had poor documentation skills–and were even using ‘White Out’! We purchased In the Know’s inservice, ‘Reporting & Documenting Client Care’, and made it a requirement for every nursing assistant. Their documentation has improved significantly!”

Wouldn’t you like to see measurable results like these from your inservice program? You can! Start developing top-notch CNAs today by creating your own library of In the Know inservices.

If your budget is tight, start with one key inservice that addresses a specific aspect of client care that you’d like to improve. We also offer special discounts when you buy three, six, nine or twelve inservices.

And, be sure to download our FREE inservice, Customer Service in Health Care. Many of our customers have noted a measurable increase in both employee and patient satisfaction after presenting this inservice to their nursing assistants. So, take action today and start seeing measurable results tomorrow!

Happy Teaching,
Linda Leekley BS, RN

We’ve all seen it in the news: the CDC has issued a state of emergency due to the outbreak of swine flu. In an effort to spread the word to nursing assistants about this issue, we have created a free Swine Flu Fact Sheet. Be sure to download it here…and feel free to share it with all your nurse aides.
Take care,
Linda Leekley

Here is another group of outstanding nursing assistants who were selected by their supervisors and all of us at In the Know to be honored for their professionalism:

Kathy H., who loves working on the Skilled Nursing Unit at The Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley, Florida.

Deborah A., an enthusiastic CNA at St. Peter’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Albany, New York

Tywand V., who treats her residents with love at Rockynol Retirement Community in Akron, Ohio

Antonia Z., who goes above and beyond at Gulfside Regional Hospice in New Port Richey, Florida

Vera O., who is a pleasure to work with at Mayview Convalescent Center in Raleigh, North Carolina

Kathy’s supervisor, Diana F., told us that Kathy goes above and beyond every day at work. She takes pride in her work and all her coworkers appreciate her. The residents love her, too, and she really cares about them. Kathy spends time listening to and talking with them. She comes in early, stays late and comes in on her scheduled days off if the unit is short. Her cheerful demeanor and smiling face play a part in making the unit warm and homelike. Kathy is a big part of why the residents enjoy living at NFCH!

Supervisor Stephanie G. bragged to us that Deborah always seems to have a smile on her face. She is enthusiastic and energetic while at work. Many patients have commented on how nice she is to them. Deborah is always available to lend a helping hand and does it with a true concern for all involved. If Stephanie were a patient, she says she would want Deborah to take care of her! Deborah has a very demanding job but she always acts like a true professional.

Tracey N. believes that Tywand exemplifies the words “top notch” every day in her work. She also exemplifies the mission statement of her workplace. Tywand has been a nursing assistant at Rockynol for 5 years. She started as a floor CNA and is now the scheduler for the entire nursing department. Even though her main duty is scheduling the staff, Tywand continues to make the residents a priority throughout her day. Regardless of her own work, if a resident has a need, she is out there meeting it! She truly loves all of the residents and her daily actions demonstrate this. The residents love Tywand’s caring attitude and all her coworkers respect her hard work and dedication.

At Gulfside Regional Hospice, supervisor Sheilah R. told us that Antonia concentrates on making her dying clients comfortable, improving their quality of life and providing opportunities for them to meet final life goals. Antonia is a professional, empathetic, responsive communicator who facilitiates hope and exhibits a non-judgmental attitude in her care of both patients and their families. She achieved CHPNA status by passing the Hospice and Palliative Care Certification Exam. Antonia demonstrates excellent customer service and is loved and respected by her patients, families and coworkers.

Supervisor Ellen J. told us that Vera is a CNA of few words but her actions show genuine concern for her residents. She has a keen eye for knowing when something is wrong with them and has no problem informing the nurse. Ellen appreciates having Vera on her team and says she is a pleasure to work with. She communicates assertively and respectfully. And, she is a team player. For example, she is the first one to start passing trays at meal time…not just to her residents, but to all the residents. Vera knows what needs doing and she does it so well!

There is nothing to say but WOW! And, thank you…to Kathy, Deborah, Tywand, Antonia, Vera and all the other dedicated, hardworking CNAs who make such a difference in the lives of their clients.

CONGRATULATIONS from the Team at In the Know!

It’s common for nursing assistants to feel like they are powerless in the workplace. They may think of themselves as the least important employees—unable to make a difference no matter what they do. It’s important to remind your employees that they do have power…and to help them recognize it.

Their personal power comes from their communication skills and their desire for personal achievement.

Their relationship power comes from their ability to work well with others.

Their knowledge power comes from their experiences on the job and from their continuing education efforts. (Remind your employees that knowledge is power and that the more they know about their work, the more valuable they’ll be to your organization–and to their clients.)

Their task power comes from their daily work. Their close contact with clients gives them a unique ability to make suggestions for improving client care. Because nursing assistants perform up to 80% of the client care for your organization, they have the power to make or break the reputation of your company.

The Bottom Line: Encourage your nurse aides to make every decision on the job as if they owned the company! And be sure to acknowledge when you see them demonstrate their importance to your health care team.

Happy Teaching!
Linda