Clinical

Just the FAQs: Skin care, incontinence

ABOUT CLINICALLY SPEAKING Clinically Speaking addresses clinical topics of interest to the long-term care community, such as skin care and Read More »

Falls mitigation: The missing link

“We've done everything but she keeps falling.” “But his balance is terrible and he might fall.” “With her medications, her chance of falling is Read More »

Eliminate restraints

Why do we use restraints? The usual response is that we use them so people will not fall. Do restraints, including alarms, prevent falls? Maybe Read More »

Pressure ulcers

Five fatal flaws in prevention, management   Pressure ulcers have numerous negative outcomes. They can cause physical pain and even result in Read More »

Dysphagia

Eating a good meal or drinking a glass of water, seemingly two of the most basic human activities, cannot always be taken for granted, especially Read More »

Fecal incontinence

Fecal incontinence, an involuntary passing of stool, affects 45-50% of nursing home residents.1-3 Dual incontinence (both fecal and urinary) is Read More »

Stemming contagious outbreak

Did you miss out on the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Annual Conference this past July in New Orleans? Read More »

Facility eye care

Several years ago, I saw the visiting eye doctor at this nursing home for examinations and prescriptions. I never liked the styles of frames Read More »

Linking quality measures to clinical practice

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a process of creating an environment in which administration, healthcare workers, and ancillary staff Read More »

Caring for wounds

At a glance… The author provides strategies and resources to help wound care professionals with documentation and assessment.   Properly Read More »

Update on evidence-based guideline for pressure ulcers

The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) has been a leader in the development of clinical practice guidelines for the care of Read More »

How care leaders foster respect

Our last column touched on the importance of respect—and the importance of creating a respectful environment for all residents, families, and staff. Read More »

Skin tears

At a glance… Long-term care providers must ensure that their skin tear procedures and practices reflect the current literature and clinical Read More »

Suicide Prevention

My mom and her good friend, Marion, just returned from their annual weeklong winter cruise in the Caribbean. Their adventure ended with some Read More »

Deconditioning and sarcopenia

For many nursing home and assisted living residents, living with medical diagnoses and their related treatments poses less of a challenge than Read More »

MDS 3.0 and the DON

The words “MDS 3.0” undoubtedly trigger a number of disparate thoughts in a director of nursing's (DON's) mind. This is going to be a year of Read More »

Incontinence-associated dermatitis

Denise Nix Vicki Haugen What is incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD)? Perineal dermatitis, recently relabeled incontinence-associated Read More »

Measuring clinical decision-making skills

In late 2008, I was grappling with the problem of trying to prioritize in-house and continuing education training programs for our 100 therapists Read More »

Five FAQs about SCALE

At a glance… The Skin Changes at Life's End panel has compiled a consensus statement. Ten statements were issued concerning geriatric skin meant Read More »

What you should know about CAUTI

What is the prevalence and incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI)? Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are one Read More »

Promoting best outcomes in the bariatric elder

The proportion of individuals 65 and older is increasing in the United States, and so is the burden of chronic illness and disability. Read More »

No ‘one size fits’ all in bariatric care

Treatment and care of the obese resident involves compassion, respect, and dignity. Without appropriate supplies and equipment, management of these Read More »

Person-centered care: A win-win for wound management

At a glance… The “secret” to effective wound prevention and treatment is resident-focused education and care planning. All parties Read More »

Managing challenging behaviors

If I can just find the right external device I know I can change the person's internal motivation to move, I just know it!” It seems obvious, even Read More »

Pressure ulcer litigation: Its impact on long-term care

Since OBRA 1987, there has been a steady climb in the rate of pressure ulcer litigation in the United States. Fueling the fires are policies from Read More »

Pressure ulcer evaluation: Best practice for clinicians

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society recognizes and supports the fact that a pressure ulcer evaluation represents one aspect of a Read More »

Withholding flu drugs from seniors a new discussion item

As governments prepare for the anticipated spread of the swine flu pandemic, a team of Italian researchers is suggesting elderly populations be last Read More »

Nutrition therapy and pressure ulcer prevention

The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) and the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) have collaborated to develop international Read More »

Wound Care: 10-year progress report

The practice of wound care has undergone tremendous changes in the past few years-from new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines Read More »

Are clinical ladders only for nursing?

There is no doubt that the nursing department houses a large number of employees. It is, most often, the largest department and provides most of the Read More »