Practice & Leadership in Nursing Homes

The health and well-being of older adults who live in long-term care settings is largely determined by the care they receive from their formal caregivers. In the past two years of the pandemic, the world witnessed the tragic effects on morbidity and mortality in our nation's nursing homes and came to appreciate the irreplaceable role of knowledgeable and skilled nursing staff. Long-term care settings (nursing homes) are highly regulated and unstable environments where the emphasis has...
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The health and well-being of older adults who live in long-term care settings is largely determined by the care they receive from their formal caregivers. In the past two years of the pandemic, the world witnessed the tragic effects on morbidity and mortality in our nation's nursing homes and came to appreciate the irreplaceable role of knowledgeable and skilled nursing staff. Long-term care settings (nursing homes) are highly regulated and unstable environments where the emphasis has historically been on compliance rather than quality of care. These factors (and others) are major impediments to attracting professional nurses who could make a substantial difference in resident quality-of-care and quality of life. This textbook aims to reduce the negative attitudes that surround nursing practice in nursing homes by illustrating how high-quality nursing care and positive resident outcomes can be achieved in these settings when nurses practice at the top of their license. ? Resource in the preparation of nursing students to choose and serve in senior living settings including post-acute/long term care ? Multi-authored text (each chapter will ideally include co-authors from academics and practice)? Contemporary topics:o Organize by NASEM Report focus areaso Integrate AACN Essentials o Integrate concepts from AFHS and lessons learned from RTNHThis book will fill a critical gap in the preparation of nursing students to practice and lead in long term care settings. The book will present a realistic view of the long-term care environment (current state) and will sketch an opportunity-focused picture for future state. The book will build on the recent NASEM Report, and it will provide a currently unavailable resource to support nursing school academic/practice partnerships as called for in the RTNH Demonstration. Additionally, the book will address the critical leadership and care delivery model gaps in long term care.Other topics presented in the book: delegation, supervision, team building, family members as part of team, residency programs for new RNs, strength-based outcome measures for residents; interdisciplinary team members and collaboration; professional organizations for networking and policy development; communication; Veterans Health Administration.