Nursing

Are nursing homes a target for criminals? Unfortunately, that’s what it seems. An investigation published last year by USA TODAY yields alarming results; thousands of nursing home residents have had their savings stolen from their trust accounts by business managers, bookkeepers and other staff working at the facility. Considering long-term care providers are trusted to provide a safe environment for our elderly family and friends, how is this possible?

According to a recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG), around 22% of Medicare beneficiaries admitted to nursing homes experienced preventable injuries. In fact, in the 2014 OIG Work Plan, the OIG declared it will place a key focus on the quality and care of nursing homes and how often beneficiaries are harmed during their stay.

Unvaccinated healthcare personnel have a higher risk of transmitting vaccine-preventable diseases to patients and fellow staff members. That’s why the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that healthcare personnel, including allied health students, receive measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, varicella, influenza, and pertussis vaccines.

In today’s society, you often hear numerous accounts of bullying and teasing in America’s schools. You don’t hear much about these kinds of harassments in the workplace, especially on nursing floors. Although bullying exists in all professions, the problem seems especially prevalent in the nursing field – hospital floors, clinics and nursing schools.

The rules surrounding the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and how it applies to the day to day roles of nurse employers and administrators can be quite confusing. Some questions for someone new to a nurse employment role may include the following: