Do the nurses understand their job descriptions? Have you given them a copy, educated them in the importance of care planning, documentation etc???
The single most effective thing I've ever done to educate nurses on the importance of documentation for use with the MDS.......is.....
Hold a Nurses meeting.....
Have an MDS ready for each nurse
Give each nurse one resident chart and have them fill out the MDS........
They will soon realize that ........ there's not sufficient documentation to properly fill out that MDS and will most likely have a hard time signing their name to it........
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I'm a firm believer that education is the answer to nearly every problem we encounter! How can they understand what we are talking about unless they've walked in our shoes?
That reminda me of yet another lil tidbit for CNA's..... the repositioning dilema!!! During your next CNA or all-staff meeting, have a couple helpers hand out toothpicks every time the staff members shift their weight or move..... by the end of the 1 hour session, each will have nearly a box full of toothpicks & wonder what you're up to...... explain to them that is how many times they shifted positions in their chair, and that many of our residents can't do that alone. However, if every time we walk by a resident and assist them to reposition themselves, they will be less likely to develop pressure ulcers......
Do you work with a corporate or private owned facility?
Would you like to comment?
Any LTC Quality Assurance Coordinators out there?
