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Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer MDS 3.0 Update

LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer

This e-mail newsletter, created for staff trainers responsible for training nursing assistants, offers a new tip on care issues each week!

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LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer

Issue 24, November 19, 2009

• The value of activities and exercise

  Activities and exercise are critical to the well-being of your residents. People who regularly...

• Trainer’s tip: Promote an active lifestyle

  You are responsible for helping the people you take care of be as active, independent, and healthy...

Issue 23, November 5, 2009

• Abnormal thinking and mental health problems

  Mental health problems are common among the elderly, the chronically ill, and the disabled. Since...

• Trainer’s tip: Learn to differentiate types of mental illness

  Many different things can cause mental health problems. Sometimes mental disorders are genetic...

Issue 22, October 22, 2009

• Responding to an elopement

  It is absolutely critical that your facility has a plan in place for responding to an elopement. If...

• Trainer’s tip: Stay calm and don’t forget about the other residents

  When dealing with an elopement, it is critical that staff stay calm so as not to alarm the other...

Issue 21, October 8, 2009

• Recognizing body changes that influence proper nutrition

  People who are sick or elderly have different food requirements than young, healthy people. They...

• Trainer’s tip: Observe residents for signs that may lead to malnutrition

  The body will begin to break down if it does not get the type and amount of fuel it needs...

Issue 20, September 24, 2009

• Handling the needs of residents suffering from incontinence

  Residents who cannot control when or where they urinate suffer from urinary incontinence, or UI...

• Trainer’s tip: Always treat the resident with respect

  When offering behavioral treatment, it is important to remember that a resident with UI is not...

Issue 19, September 10, 2009

• Understanding diabetes

  Diabetes is a disease that changes the way a resident’s body uses food. It causes the level...

• Trainer’s tip: Familiarize staff with symptoms of blood sugar variation

  Blood sugar that is too low or extremely high can lead rapidly to unconsciousness and even death...

Issue 18, August 27, 2009

• Coping with death

  When a resident passes away, all of a professional caregiver’s energies go into helping the...

• Trainer’s tip: Giving support to others

  The best way to promote healing when someone is grieving is to listen. We express feelings through...

Issue 17, August 13, 2009

• Using effective communication practices

  Communication between staff and residents occurs in a variety of ways. Beyond speech and verbal...

• Trainer's tip: Dealing with an angry resident

  If a resident becomes angry, there are multiple steps that CNAs are encouraged to take in order to...

Issue 16, July 30, 2009

• A closer look at depression

  Depression is a mental disorder marked by a sad or irritable mood lasting more than two weeks...

• Trainer's tip: Recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression

  If a person has four or more of these symptoms lasting two weeks or more, he or she may be...

Issue 15, July 16, 2009

• Important things to remember about dementia

  Dementia is a mental disorder involving general loss of intellectual abilities and changes in...

• Trainer's tip: Communicating with dementia residents

  Be open, friendly, and gentle at all times. Always address the resident by name to get...

• Trainer’s tip: Communicating with dementia residents

  Be open, friendly, and gentle at all times. Always address the resident by name to get...

Issue 13, July 2, 2009

• Reasons for wandering

  Wandering usually has a purpose. It may be a form of communication when language skills are lost.

• Creating a safe environment for wandering

  Learn how you and your staff can create a safe environment for wandering at your facility.

Issue 12, June 18, 2009

• The importance of activities and exercise

  Activities and exercise are critical to the well-being of your residents. People who regularly...

• Physical activity and the elderly

  Physical activity is an important part of our resident's care.  

Issue 11, June 4, 2009

• Recognizing the signs and symptoms of stress

  Being a CNA is a stressful job and it's important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress.

• How to deal with stress

  It's important for a CNA to know when he or she is stressed and know how to deal with the physical...

Issue 10, May 21, 2009

• Encourage residents to be active and healthy

  You are responsible for helping the people you take care of be as active, independent, and healthy...

• Trainer's tip: Keep CNAs certified with reminders

  Keeping track of the number of hours each CNA has completed is important because the state...

Issue 9, May 7, 2009

• Look for signs to prevent dehydration

  Dehydration is a serious, sometimes fatal condition. It means there are not enough body fluids and...

• Help learners retain knowledge

  One of your most important objectives in training is to ensure that your learners retain what they...

Issue 8, April 23, 2009

• Treating diabetes

  Diabetes is a disease that changes the way our bodies use food. It causes the level of sugar in the...

• Trainer's tip: Handle disruptive learners

  You know the person in the classroom who always, somehow, disrupts the learning flow? Is there one...

Issue 7, April 9, 2009

• Prevent dehydration with nursing interventions

  Dehydration is the loss of at least 1% of body weight as a result of fluid loss. Dehydration is a...

• Control MRSA infections with proper staff training

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a prevalent nosocomial pathogen in...

Issue 6, March 26, 2009

• A note to LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer readers

  The LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer has a new look!

• Activities and exercise

  Activities and exercise are critical to the well-being of your residents.

• Promoting exercise and activities

  CNAs can encourage residents to participate in activities and exercise in the following ways.

Issue 5, March 12, 2009

• CMS delays MDS 3.0 implementation

  During the March 6th SNF Long-Term Care Open Door Forum, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

• We want to hear your thoughts on CNA training

  At HCPro, we are dedicated to providing quality information that meets the needs of our readers...

• We want to hear your thoughts on CNA training

  At HCPro, we are dedicated to providing quality information that meets the needs of our readers...

Issue 3, February 12, 2009

• Identify fall risks at admission

  Residents are at high risk of falls and other injuries during the first week of admission, when the...

Issue 2, January 29, 2009

• Monitor at-risk residents to prevent permanent kidney damage

  Prerenal azotemia, the most common form of kidney failure seen in hospitalized patients, is a very...

Issue 1, January 15, 2009

• Physical assessments: Adapt to elderly residents with these eight environmental modifications

  Physical assessment of elderly individuals can present many challenges. Over time, you will become...