[Renashia]

I have been the DON for about 8 months up here in the Seattle area. I am having difficulty finding good resources to review for Assisted Living. Ifind myself haveing to reply on NH guidelines and policies and trying to adapt them to assisted living. Anyone have any good resources for the Assisted Living Nurses?

[Renashia]

sigh, it was supposed to be rely.... not reply.

[TriageRN_34]

Sadly to say NO! I have even asked the BON (I live in Oregon) about them and got NOTHING in response!

I guess to be on the safe side, considering I have seen State Inspectors ding us on things typically done in NH that that is the way to go! The biggest thing being Nursing follow up and documentation...especially when it came to incidents (I mean whew...we are talking big time nursing follow up even for a 1 cm skin tear!!!! It was crazy!).

We had this one patient who was an amputee of the left leg for over 20 years, and when a state inspector saw her (while she was on hospice no less) she had a less than dime size ecchymosis on her stump...she flipped out and was angry that just before going onto hospice no documentation was found about asking the MD about d/cing her Asa because she obviously was bleeding....Ummmmmm, hello, 81 mg Asa q day is a clotting issue and far more important than a bruise...yet we were supose to ask the MD??? Oh please, I don't like asking the doc questions about things as a nurse I know! DUH! (that doc would have thought I was a idiot!!!!!!).

We got a HUGE ding for that....even though we had documentation spanning weeks about the nursing treatment for that ecchymoisis! UHG!!!!!

So yep, it is clear as mud! Best to take the worse case and prepair I suppose...

[Renashia]

That is too bad. I knida feel out on a limb in Assisted Living. I was lucky enough to attend an Assisted Living training put on by WHCA (washington Health CAre association) and got a lot of good information there. But I have no other resources to read, it's very frustrating.

[weetziebat]

Triage, you're scaring the you-know-what out of me. We are so short staffed I'm lucky to be able to scribble a note on the fax returned from the doctor about what is going on. If I did proper documentation I'd be working 24/7.

I know, I know but time if finite. Oh, the State will have a field day - don't even want to think about it!

Renaisha, I attended that seminar through the Oregon Health Care Association. It was awesome, but agree that resources about our field are scarce. Was the same way when I worked with MR/DD clients.

If you happen to come across something good, please let us know, O.K?

[Renashia]

Originally Posted by weetziebat

Renaisha, I attended that seminar through the Oregon Health Care Association. It was awesome, but agree that resources about our field are scarce. Was the same way when I worked with MR/DD clients.

Weetziebat,

I hope they have those every year. I think the only thing saving me is that my LPN has years of SNF expereince and I have a very small AL (58 rooms). My newest project is trying to memorize the WACs for assisted living. Making me cross-eyed.

[Renashia]

It's also nice to see an age-mate as a DON. I'm the youngest person in our parent company running a nursing dept.

[weetziebat]

Originally Posted by Renashia

I think the only thing saving me is that my LPN has years of SNF expereince and I have a very small AL (58 rooms). My newest project is trying to memorize the WACs for assisted living. Making me cross-eyed.

I've got ~90 AL beds and 28 memory care. Just me and my LPN who, like yours, has lots of experience in this field and works like she is on speed (thank goodness). Trying to hire one more LPN, and can't be fast enough for me - its truly scary how much documentation gets left undone due to lack of time. Maybe someday I'll have time to look at the Oregon rules

Do either of you know if there is any journal for us folks?

[Renashia]

Actually part of the reason I posted was becuse I was looking for a journal in Assisted Living. We are really in a grey area. Not a retirement hoe not a SNF. Good and bad. I'm also lucky that I have a good boss. MAkes life so much easier for me.

[weetziebat]

Hey, guys - take a look at this. It is a new journal, for DON's at Assisted Living facilities, being published by the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration.

Hope I'm not breaking some unknown to me TOS by copying this here. Guess I'll hear about it if I am.

NADONA/LTC Forms New Organization: NALNA

05/16/2006
..... has announced the formation of the National Assisted Living Nurses Association (NALNA).
NALNA is the first educational organization formed specifically to provide support and advocacy for nursing professionals in the Assisted Living setting. “NADONA leadership has purposefully identified common issues and areas of mutual interest between LTC and ALF nursing professionals. We have also received many requests for involvement in the ALF segment from our members and from non-members. Many opportunities for collaboration in educational excellence and professional development exist in these professions.

“NALNA is the culmination of nearly two years of research and development” says Sherrie Dornberger, President of NADONA. “Continuation of NALNA members’ clinical education, thereby promoting the highest possible level of care-giving for the senior adult is our core mission as an organization, and the basis of our new publication, The Nurse in Assisted Living.”

As Members of NALNA, assisted living nurse professionals.... are comprised of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.

...Membership in NALNA has reached 700 prior to its official launch. Response has been enthusiastic.

...

The premier issue of The Nurse in Assisted Living is due for release in Q2, 2006, and will serve as the official publication of NALNA. This publication will contain clinical information.... but will also include items and sections which are specific to assisted living and its challenges.

########

NADONA/LTC is a not for profit professional organization servicing nursing professionals in long term care facilities and assisted living communities. Members experience a plethora of benefits related to education and support and networking. With over 6500 members in long term care facilities, NADONA provides a quarterly journal, a certification program, a wide-range web site with continuing education offerings, and frequent mailings for educational credits. For more information go to the web site www.nadona.org or contact Joan Warden-Saunders, Executive Director