Be In the Know!

Did you hear about the study released by the UNC Institute on Aging?  It identified three programs being introduced to nursing homes in North Carolina in hopes of improving client care and reducing the number of sub-standard fines and sanctions placed against the state’s nursing homes.

The study was led by Thomas R. Konrad, PhD, a research professor of health policy and management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, and a senior scientist at the Institute on Aging.  Here’s what he had to say:  “The study shows North Carolina’s unique partnerships between the state, the university and nursing homes are effectively leveraging federal funds to improve the lives of those who live in, as well as those who work in, nursing homes,”

Konrad’s study was conducted in North Carolina nursing homes between 2004 and 2007.  What’s interesting is that it was funded by civil monetary penalties – funds collected from nursing homes for deficiencies in care.  The goal was to improve client care by redistributing the penalty funds back into the same nursing homes in the form of three initiatives:

1. The Win a Step Up program focused on the nursing assistants by upgrading their knowledge and skills, increasing their job commitment and providing rewards and recognition for a job well done.
2. Quality Improvement Collaboratives, in which groups of nursing homes worked together with the statewide Quality Improvement Organization to improve specific quality care measures, such as reducing pressure sores, reducing resident falls or limiting the use of restraints.
3. Culture Change Initiatives was designed to assist nursing homes with changing their structures or routines to make their environments more “homelike.”  This initiative fell in line with goals that all nursing homes have recently made a priority.

The study found that the participating nursing saw a number of improvements, including:

• Facilities using the Win a Step Up saw a decrease in pressure sores among their residents, and experienced a drop in employee turnover when compared to the previous year.  As you know, having continuity with your staff will go a long way in making sure your facility runs at its full potential.
• Nursing homes participating in the Quality Improvement Collaboratives saw a significant reduction in incontinence and a decrease in the use of restraints.  Most significantly, resident falls were almost cut in half after the study.
• Facilities using the Culture Change Initiatives also saw a reduction in the use of restraints, as safer and more comfortable alternatives were taught and implemented.  In addition, resident satisfaction increased dramatically, especially relating to resident independence and quality of life.

At In the Know, we applaud the idea of putting penalty funds back into nursing homes-especially when the focus is to increase the knowledge base of nursing assistants.  As we always say, when people learn more, they achieve more!

Till next time,

Evan

We all know that ongoing education leads to reduced turnover and greater job satisfaction. Not to mention that

Do your CNAs retain knowledge from inservices?

continuing education is a yearly requirement for nurse aides! But, how do you know the information you provide to your nurse aides “sticks?”  Here are some staggering statistics regarding adult learning retention. Over a period of three days:

• Adults retain 10% of information that is read
• Adults retain 30% of information that is seen
• Adults retain 50% of information that is seen and heard
• Adults retain 90% of information that is said and done (applying learning to real life situations)

Many factors affect adult learning retention including age, level of prior education and motivation.  In some of our previous posts, we have given you ideas on how to motivate your nurse aides by keeping education fresh and interesting.  Below are some additional strategies your organization can take with continuing education to ensure that your nurse aides actually retain the information you are giving them.

• Touch upon a medley of learning styles – As you know, our inservices may be used in a group setting or as self-study modules.  If you choose self-study, perhaps get the group in a few times a year to interact in team activities.
• Encourage nurse aide participation – If using the self-study option, set aside time to address any questions your nursing assistants may have regarding the inservice material. If using group participation, use real-life situations, etc. to stimulate discussion.
• Use variety – Adding visual aides to reading material, such as PowerPoints, greatly enhances learning retention.
• Use active learning – Group discussions and activities, problem solving activities that involve critical thinking skills, games, etc. all lead to greater learning retention.
• Review job performance – Check for retention by making sure your caregivers are applying what they have learned to their responsibilities.  Give continuous feedback and address any issues as they arise.

What do you do to make sure your nurse aides retain the information you share with them? Please share any tips and suggestions with us.  We would love to hear from you!

As you are well aware, a nurse aide’s job can be quite stressful.  Being on the frontlines of client care is tough!  Most nursing assistants are not fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead on a daily basis.  As a result, job burnout and quick turnaround of CNAs are very real problems being faced by many administrators.

One way to help reduce the stress felt by your nurse aides is to implement a relaxed (but professional) continuing education program.  Here are some ideas for doing just that:

Home Study…Having the flexibility to study the material from the comfort of home is a great option.  With In the Know inservices, you have the freedom to make as many copies as you need (within your single facility) of the inservice topic.  You can send the learning materials home with your aides.  (If you have email addresses for your CNAs, you can also simply email the “learner’s section” of the inservice to each of them.)  All you’ll have to do is grade and file their quizzes!  This method allows your CNAs to complete their necessary continuing education at their own pace.

Grab a Partner…Allow your aides to partner up (or assign them a study partner).  Most of the time, having to work with someone else creates a higher sense of accountability.  Working as partners also fosters teamwork, promotes problem-solving skills and gets your CNAs talking amongst themselves about the learning materials.  They can think out loud, share ideas and learn from one another.

Take It As It Comes…Another idea is to create a library of inservices that is accessible to your CNAs during their work hours.  Develop a “sign up sheet” (or use the one provided by In the Know).  Then, allow your nurse aides to complete the inservices at work “on the clock” as time allows. Not only will you have more time for other aspects of your job, but your aides will feel like they are in control of their own learning.

With a flexible inservice plan, you’ll head off burnout and CNA turnover at your workplace.  For more information, give us a call at 877-809-5515.

Do you have any different methods for inservicing your CNAs that you’d like to share?  We would love to hear them!

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

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.

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

Isn’t it wonderful to read the personal stories of so many top-notch CNAs? Here are a few more nursing assistants who are, without a doubt, role models at their workplaces. They were selected by their supervisors and all of us at In the Know to be honored as outstanding CNAs:

Terri J., who is a star employee at First Care Health Services in South Boston, Virginia

Amber P., a dedicated CNA at Mobility Training and Independent Living Program in Madison, Wisconsin

Mari Beth H., a new CNA at Home Therapy of Austin in Austin, Texas

Carla C., who makes her supervisor proud at Pontotoc Nursing Home in Pontotoc, Mississippi

Cosmos A., who brings his unique perspective to Mother Angeline McCrory Manor in Columbus, Ohio

Supervisor, Teresa H., told us that Terri has worked at their organization for more than six years. She is loved and respected by her clients and co-workers. Whenever she has a client go into the hospital, she will call and/or visit them. Her clients sing her praises and never want to be discharged from her services. When Terri isn’t busy seeing clients, she is always assisting in the office with filing, faxing, copying or answering the phone. She is also in college part-time, taking classes to expand her career. Terri is definitely an asset to her organization!

At MTILP, Joan F. reported that Amber has been a dedicated employee for 7 years. She takes her work responsibilities very seriously, always looking out for the health and safety of their most physically challenged clients. She is also responsible for training new CNAs as well as overseeing the day-to-day personal care of the 24 clients that attend the MTILP program. Amber is a great example of an outstanding CNA!

Supervisor, Karen O., told us that Mari Beth is a new graduate of CNA school. Being a CNA is her second career after spending years working for the state. Although she is a new grad, Mari Beth has years of life experience which make her such an empathetic caregiver. Her nail care is so great that the patients look like they’ve been to the salon. And, she takes such care and time with her Alzheimer’s patient that the patient is often laughing and is so cooperative. Mari Beth is a real stand out at her workplace!

Kimberly G. reported that Carla is the best CNA she has ever worked with. She cares about her residents as if they were family. Carla goes beyond the Golden Rule, treating each resident the way she would want her own mother to be treated. Carla makes sure their makeup is on and their hair is fixed. If a resident is worried or scared, she takes her time and doesn’t rush. Carla goes above and beyond every day with her gentle touch and kind ways.

Supervisor, Susan C., told us that Cosmos is one of the most unique and caring STNAs she has ever met. His personality is outgoing and compassionate. When she needs someone to work another floor, he readily volunteers to go. If she needs someone to come in to cover a shift, he often volunteers for that, too. The job never seems to be a burden to him. Once, Cosmos initiated a wheelchair change for a resident because the resident looked uncomfortable in the current wheelchair. He pays attention to details and sees to the comfort and care of the residents with smiles and laughter. Cosmos is a top-notch STNA every day.

We also send a special “shout out” to Chastity B. in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who personalizes her client care by getting to know and treating each client as an individual. Way to go!

All of you deserve three big cheers! And, a big thank you…to Terri, Amber, Mari Beth, Carla, Cosmos and all the other devoted CNAs who go above and beyond every single day!

CONGRATULATIONS from the Team at In the Know!

Last month, In the Know asked nursing supervisors everywhere to nominate a top-notch nursing assistant at their workplace for the CNA of the Quarter Award. The response was overwhelming and we give a hearty round of applause to ALL the wonderful nursing assistants across the U.S.

There were so many fantastic nominations to choose from that we added two runners-up. The CNA of the Quarter receives $100 in cash and the runners-up receive $50. We congratulate all three of you!!! In addition, we have a number of CNAs who deserve a heartfelt “honorable mention”. Please check back regularly to this blog: we’ll honor several more nursing assistants each time we post.

So, here goes! In the Know’s CNA of the Quarter Award goes to (drum roll please):

PATTY M. who is an absolutely amazing CNA at Huntington Place in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Renae B, the Director of Resident Care at Huntington Place had so many wonderful things to say about Patty, including this:

“Today, I passed a resident’s room and saw Patty kneeling near a hospice client’s recliner, listening intently while this elderly gentleman spoke of his wish that life would just end, be done. I know that she had heard him report his problems and life stories repeatedly, day in and day out. Yet, the expression on her face was as if she had never heard it before, as if he were telling her the most captivating story she’d ever heard. The client is hard of hearing and legally blind, yet Patty stayed near, looking him in the face. Patty is a nursing assistant who makes others feel that life is worth living, even for one more day.”

All of us at In the Know salute PATTY M. and thank her for her service to her clients. Congratulations on being awarded In the Know’s CNA of the Quarter! Three cheers for Patty!!

We also want to recognize two EXCEPTIONAL CNAs:
Claudia C., who is a dedicated employee at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, Maryland
AND
Sherri A., who demonstrates her dedication at Addus Healthcare in Chicago, Illinois

Claudia was nominated by Michelle M. who told us that she is a devoted nursing assistant who always comes to work with a smile on her face. Most of the time, when someone says “Claudia, can you help me with Mr. Jones,” her response is, “I’ve already done it.” She never has a negative thing to say about her job or co-workers. She is a dream come true to the oncology patients. They always ask for Claudia by name and you can often hear them laughing along with her. Claudia keeps their spirits up every day!

Sherri was nominated by Kathy L. who raved about Sherri’s dedication to her clients. Recently, Sherri reported that one of her elderly clients seemed to be weakening, complaining of pain and a loss of appetite. He was severely disabled due to a stroke. Hospice was called in to provide additional services and family support. Sherri continued caring for the client until the end, supporting him and his family without watching the clock. Now, the wife is Sherri’s client and she feels so safe and comfortable being cared for by her. Sherri demonstrates true long term dedication to her clients.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THREE CNAs. You exemplify what it means to be a top-notch nursing assistant!

And, we thank all the supervisors who took the time to tell us about their very special nursing assistants.

With Gratitude,
The Team at In the Know

Are you responsible for selecting inservice materials for your nursing assistants? If so, here are a few tips to help you get the best product for meeting the learning needs of your aides.

1. Look for a Wide Range of Well-Written, Relevant Topics
Most nursing supervisors agree that providing aides with knowledge of problem solving, communication skills, self-care and stress management are just as important as teaching them about a disease process. When selecting an inservice provider, make sure the company offers a variety of topics including mandatory topics, psycho-social issues, basic skill reviews, disease processes and professional development issues.

Find out who develops the inservices. While it may look impressive to have physicians authoring the inservices, how much direct experience do most physicians have with nursing assistants? Ask if the authors have taught and/or supervised CNA’s.

A first-rate inservice provider should offer current information in each inservice and should update topics on a regular basis. And, since a good way to encourage retention of your nursing assistants is to create a “career ladder” for them, review the available topics to see if they support career advancement for your aides.

Do the inservices contain quick “soundbytes” of information on a variety of topics or are they an in-depth study of one topic? To be of real value, look for inservices that get to the real heart of a subject.

Quality inservices should also help learners think “outside the box” so they are prepared for the unexpected situations that will occur during client care. Pick an inservice provider who encourages critical thinking.

2. Make Sure the Inservices Are Easy to Use
Time is probably the most precious commodity for any nursing supervisor, right? A good inservice provider recognizes this and will help you save time in your busy schedule.

Look for inservices that can be utilized in a variety of ways. For example, can the inservice be offered as a self-study packet as well as a group presentation?

Videotapes may seem easy to use, but consider the fact that learners have no way to review the information later, at their own pace. Your aides may prefer an inservice which provides handouts that they can keep and reread.

Sometimes, the need for an inservice is immediate. Find out if the inservice provider can get you the materials right away, via email, when you need them.

3. Consider the Value You’re Getting for Your Money
Creating an inservice yourself can easily eat up 12 hours—or more—of your time each month. Multiply that time by your hourly salary and you’ll see that each inservice is costing hundreds of dollars! Keep this in mind when you evaluate the cost of purchasing inservices from a provider. In addition, be sure to ask these key questions:

Is the price of each inservice for a “one time” use or can the inservice be used over and over, indefinitely?

If your workplace has multiple locations, can you get a discount if you order inservices for every location?

4. Assess the Company’s Customer Service & Satisfaction
You can tell a lot about an inservice provider from their customer service. Ideally, it should be easy to get in touch with the provider’s customer service representatives. They should be willing and able to answer all your questions and should readily provide you with references. (We recommend that you take time to contact a few references. They can give you the real scoop about the quality of the inservices, how the staff reacts to them and the level of customer service you can expect after you make your purchase.)

There are a number of other factors that influence how satisfied you’ll be with an inservice provider. Of course, you’ll want any inservices you purchase to pass muster with surveyors. Ask the provider how their inservices will help meet your survey requirements…and how a surveyor will know that your aides have completed a particular inservice.

Enhancing the quality of client care is a key goal of CNA inservice education. Look to see if the available inservices provide the knowledge necessary to meet the needs of your client population. To improve client satisfaction, you should also look for topics that boost the skills of your CNA’s.

When you purchase inservices from a quality provider, your aides should look forward to each inservice, rather than dreading it as something to get through. Check to see that the inservices are presented in an engaging manner and that they encourage participation and discussion. Insist on a free sample topic that you can try out with your nursing assistants…before you make a purchase.

Have you noticed a shortage of nursing assistants? The CDC estimates that by 2030, the U.S. will need at least 25% more CNA’s than are working today. By carefully selecting a quality inservice provider, you’ll be taking an important step toward building a satisfied and professional CNA staff.

Happy Teaching,
Linda Leekley

Welcome to our blog, brought to you by In the Know. You may know us as publishers of continuing education for nursing assistants…and indeed we are. But, at our core, we believe that lifelong learning is essential for both personal and professional growth.

It’s simple: the more all of us know, the more we can achieve. In this blog, you’ll find thoughts, ideas and tips for how to encourage lifelong learning at your workplace. We welcome your comments and feedback, so that we can benefit from your knowledge and experience, too!

Thanks for joining us. We look forward to hearing from you!

Linda

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