Tips for Jump-Starting Dying LTC

[kwvath]

I was just hired for an ADON position (I am an RN/BSN) at a 100-bed LTC facility. It has been a failing facility on the verge of being shut down for the past several years. They have just had a complete turn-over in administration and the current team is re-hiring their team members and trying to turn the place around. I will be the unit manager over the acute care wing. The reason I took the job is that I love a challenge and this seems to be a big one. But, the administration is fairly young, energetic, and seems to have a hard-working and positive attitude. I am REALLY looking forward to this challenge. I am coming from an ICU background. I am fairly young and new to LTC...but I do have lots of energy and am excited about this position.

I wanted to ask for some practical and specific advice on how to quickly get some momentum going and energize my unit. How can we get the staff to feel that "the train" to a high-quality, patient-centered, LTC center of excellence is "leaving the station?" All aboard! I am wanting to really create a since of positive energy on my unit. How can I do this from the first day I arrive on the unit?

Thanks in advance!

[achot chavi]

By greeting everyone by name, by being positive and energetic, by focusing on productivity and fixing problems rather than by placing blame and causing arguments and competition, by decorating the units appropriately, by putting uplifting signs all over the place, by showing that you care about your staff- ask about their families, stress the importance how you want people to WANT to come to work not just to be there, by instituting weekly meetings, weekly decubiti rounds, by being a good example to others,

You can invite family members to unit parties with music, dancing, good cookies and coffee, by having a meeting with all the families to hear and listen to their input, by setting down clear rules and sticking to them, by being flexible when you need to be, by creating an environment free of violence and abuse (all kinds), by encouraging the staff to go out for a night on the town together to increase morale and cooperation between staff, etc, etc

By not being a pushover- the place needs strong leadership - lead by you and the DON , not by the CNA's- that always breaks a place- better to let go a good CNA who is breaking/ruining the rest of the staff- and make an example how pt care, staff cooperation, etc are important you and you are not scared of anyone,.

You have your work cut out for you, BTW- you outside appearance should be professional and clean as well

[expltcrn]

Well, it looks like you have now been doing it for a month? How is it going so far?