Quality of care has been a major focus of the skilled nursing regulatory environment over the last few years, since the coronavirus pandemic shed light on the industry’s shortcomings. To achieve and maintain the level of care quality that regulators have demanded, it is essential for skilled nursing providers to invest in staff education and training at all levels of the organization.
 
Poorly trained staff, regardless of their role within the facility, can result in not only high turnover because of job dissatisfaction, but it can put the resident at risk of poor outcomes—including neglect or abuse. When staff are unfamiliar with a resident’s unique needs and they lack the necessary knowledge to tend to their care, the residents are the ones who will suffer the consequences.

The obvious solution then is to provide more training and education to staff, and increase awareness of this widespread problem. The difficulty with this, however, is that many skilled nursing providers are already understaffed and struggling just to meet the daily demands of resident care, which will always take precedence over any other tasks. To help relieve some of your administrative burden, we have compiled a list to help you create and maintain an effective education program that will improve resident health, safety and well-being. 

1. Consistency is Key
   For any training education program to be effective, it must be consistent. If every employee is presented with the same curriculum, goals and expectations, there is less room for interpretation and misunderstanding, and therefore less vulnerability and risk. For trainings conducted in-person, limiting the number of trainers promotes consistency and helps ensures information and instructions are presented uniformly. 
2. Personalized Online Learning
   Training materials that are subject to interpretation by a live trainer can pose a disadvantage when consistency is the goal. Digital training material, on the other hand, has the power to deliver the same consistent message every time. Using tools that are likely already at your disposal (such as Relias Learning through PointClickCare®), online training can be assigned to employees as needed, and they have the flexibility to watch on demand at their convenience, and at their own pace. If they cannot complete an assignment in one sitting, they can easily resume wherever they left off. Another benefit of online training is that the training assignments can be personalized based on the staff member’s role or skill set, and sessions are always digitally recorded. 
3. Role-Based Cross-Training
   When there are voids in the workforce, leadership must decide how best to fill those gaps to keep operations running as smoothly as possible. It is unfortunate when a staff member is assigned to a department or role for which they do not have adequate knowledge or training. Or worse yet, when agency help swoops in without any prior knowledge of the company’s facility, policies and protocols. Providers can make their approach to resident care more flexible, reliable and compliant by cross-training all staff members based on their roles within the organization. Overlapping skill sets will make it easier to cover rotations, absences and other unexpected changes. Employees may also welcome the opportunity to expand their skill set and build upon their career path. 
   
   Related article: The Integral Role of a Skilled Nursing Facility Business Office Manager
4. Mandatory Ongoing Education
   All employees must undergo mandatory training during their initial orientation, but providers should not overlook the importance of consistent ongoing education. This should include refresher courses on topics such as infection prevention control, dementia care and emergency preparedness, as well as any training required for new regulations. Providers may also want to consider regular training for topics they struggle with on surveys or other risk assessments. 
5. Follow a Plan
   When staff members are properly trained, they are more confident, competent and efficient in their roles. Operations will run more smoothly and the quality of resident care will improve. If your organization is struggling to incorporate an effective education program on your own, Richter can help. With flexible solutions to fit your needs, we can build upon the program you have in place, or work with you to develop a fresh approach. Our certified trainers can produce customized lessons to view on demand, and establish a training schedule that is ideal for your organization. We can also help detect vulnerabilities and propose solutions that will minimize your risk and produce more favorable results. To learn more about our credentials and solutions, contact us here or call us at 866.806.0799. 

Enhancing Outcomes with Richter

Our certified skilled nursing trainers can produce customized lessons to view on demand, and establish a training schedule that is ideal for your organization. To learn more about our credentials and solutions, contact us here, request a free consultation, or call us at 866.806.0799.