The “Gift” of Restorative Nursing

Focusing on restorative care benefits both residents and staff at Cove's Edge Comprehensive Care Center

BY CHERYL FIELD

First, though, let's be clear on what restorative nursing is. A broad definition can be found in the MDS 2.0 User's Manual (2003 edition). It highlights the goal of maintaining optimal physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning, and acknowledges that any resident at any time may benefit from restorative nursing. Based on this approach, one might expect to see a high percentage of residents in LTC settings receiving restorative nursing care. Is this the case?

A recent study conducted by LTCQ, Inc., examined the need for and provision of restorative care in a random sample of 15,000 MDS assessments. "Need" was defined as having both an MDS Section G1a value greater than 1 and the presence of intact short-term memory. In the chronic care population, while 8% were found to be in need of bed mobility training, 0.10% of residents actually received such restorative care. In the post-acute population, 14% of residents were in need of such care, and 0.2% received it. These findings support the hypothesis that there is a tremendous disparity between those who have a need for this type of rehabilitation and those who receive it.

Unfortunately, in contrast to the financial incentive created by PPS, MDS documentation guidelines create a disincentive for providing restorative nursing. Documentation of restorative care provided on flow sheets and the required periodic review add paperwork to a system already overburdened with paperwork. Therefore, while the definition of restorative nursing includes most aspects of care, the documentation required to take credit for this care serves to exclude providers from providing it. Providers might find it helpful to consider using "The Vulnerable Transition Model"-as did the Maine facility discussed below-for identifying clinically meaningful opportunities for providing restorative care.

The Vulnerable Transition Model
The Vulnerable Transition Model considers the resident's "vulnerability and/or transitional status" as a determinant of candidacy for a restorative program. It operates on three assumptions: (1) that all care is restorative in nature, and this care can be seen as a "gift"; (2) that documentation of the unique needs of a resident in vulnerable transition, of the interventions received, and of the progress attained can meet the requirements for actually checking "P3-restorative nursing" on the MDS; and (3) that residents who are in a state of vulnerable transition need their care (their "gift") wrapped in special packaging so every member of the interdisciplinary team perceives that these residents are receiving uniquely restorative care.

Residents who qualify and are placed in restorative nursing programs are provided with the "gift wrapping" of MDS documentation, a written plan of care, and a flow sheet for the complete program. Once the residents' restorative goals are attained and they are no longer considered to be in a vulnerable/transition status, the program is "unwrapped," i.e., the wrapping paper of special documentation is removed (while the gift of care goes on). One facility took this metaphor to the extent that it used the symbol of a "gift" over the resident's room number to indicate that the resident was receiving restorative care.

Achieving integration. Integrating restorative programs into daily resident care requires that the facility as a whole adopt the philosophy of restorative nursing care, not merely a focus on the tasks often associated with it. Thus, although restorative programs are coordinated by nursing, they include nonlicensed staff who meet the requirements for competency and documentation skills; support from the interdisciplinary team-everyone from administrator to dietary aide-is crucial to successful integration.

Measuring outcomes. A simple return-on-investment model looking at meeting clinical, financial, and regulatory measures can assist in evaluating and supporting the benefits of restorative nursing. Clinical improvement can be measured by a review of MDS data to evaluate changes in key items related to the goals of the program (e.g., mobility, self-care, feeding, toileting, and range of motion). The MDS is not the only resource for measuring improvement. In fact, the MDS isn't sensitive enough to capture many degrees of clinical improvement. Consider the variations in weight-bearing support all coded as 3. Regardless if one bears 75% of a resident's weight during a transfer or 5%, the MDS transfer code is 3. However, a difference between these two functional levels can be noted and measured as clinical improvement in alternate documentation systems. For this reason, a review of the medical record for outcomes of functional improvement is suggested.

Financial impact is measured by a review of the facility's case mix qualified for Medicaid and PPS/RUG reimbursement dollars directly generated by restorative programs.

Regulatory outcomes may be noted at the time of the annual survey; for example, integrated restorative nursing programs aimed at stabilizing or improving the functional abilities of a resident in vulnerable transition can impact such F-tags as F-309 (highest practical quality of life) and F-297 (development of comprehensive care plan).

The Cove's Edge Experience
In November 2002, Cove's Edge in Damariscotta, Maine, embarked upon a journey to fully integrate restorative nursing into its philosophy of care. This comprehensive care center is a member of the Miles Health Care organization, and has 54 LTC beds and 22 SNF beds. Motivated by the observation that residents transitioning from SNF to LTC frequently lost newly acquired skills, Cove's Edge sought to enhance its restorative nursing program, focusing first on the LTC unit. Taking a unified approach, management worked with the quality assurance committee, provided education and competency training for all staff, and devised a documentation system that integrated restorative programs into their standard documentation tools. A formal communication system was designed using green copies of existing documentation tools, and a colored "gift box" placed outside each involved resident's door, to indicate active restorative programs in progress. These efforts were continuously reinforced by the dedicated CNAs who worked daily to implement new programs, learn new documentation tools, and provide resident and staff program feedback.

After three months, Cove's Edge evaluated the program's outcomes. At that time there were eight residents on active programs; two residents had received restorative services but experienced a change in condition that resulted in their withdrawal from the program. Of the remaining six residents, four met all of their rehabilitation goals, with an overall goal-obtainment average of 90% for all participating residents. While the staff were enthusiastic and continued to push the program forward, it was determined that the program needed a coordinator. Beckie Lovell, RN, accepted the role of restorative nurse coordinator for 8 hours a week while working 24 hours a week on the floor.

Six months after the program's inception, an on-site program assessment was conducted. This included an evaluation of MDS assessment accuracy, overall resident change from prior level of function, staff morale, and compliance with program components and documentation requirements. These outcomes are illustrated by the following case studies:

Mrs. F, who was in her mid-eighties, and having experienced a change in her condition because of respiratory illness, was selected as a restorative candidate in January 2003. She required extensive to total assistance with her ADLs, was transferred by a mechanical lift, and was nonambulatory. Restorative nursing goals focused on her bathing skills while seated in a wheelchair. The staff provided set-up assistance and verbal cues-and a lot of patience. Mrs. F progressed, and in April had advanced to a set-up only with upper-body bathing and dressing, with occasional assistance to straighten her blouse. She now transferred using a stand-pivot technique and a walker, and ambulated 15 to 25 feet. The key to this resident's success was the CNA staff noting her ability to progress in function if she was allowed more time to complete the tasks. Remember, what is valued in restorative nursing programs is functional gain, not efficient task completion. Comments from staff interviews reinforced this approach to success; as one experienced CNA stated, "Giving them the time they need has given us a lot more time back."

Mr. C, who was in his early seventies, had experienced his second stroke two years prior to admission to Cove's Edge. Driven by a desire for independence, he expressed his frustration with his illness and being dependent on others with verbal outbursts and other behavioral challenges. The interdisciplinary team felt he could take a greater role in his care and, in late November 2002, he began a restorative program. At the onset, he required extensive assistance with all upper-body ADLs and mouth care. He did not walk and was transferred via mechanical lift. Initial goals were limited assistance with upper-body ADLs and limited assistance to transfer with slide board. Six months later, a one point positive change in five ADL areas was noted on his MDS assessments as having occurred from November to February. Mr. C and the staff set new goals that included ambulating 300 feet with an assistive device and single assist, donning shoes and socks with long-handled equipment, and independently completing a bed-level exercise program that focused on abdominal strength. While his ultimate desire to go home remained unrealistic, few would have believed the changes that were measured over the six-month program. As one CNA stated, "Mr. C was amazing-he started with a slide board, then he was standing, then we were walking him!" All of the negative behaviors that were noted at the initiation of the program were gone; his progress was felt to have been "life changing."

Following Up
Staff shared their experiences with the program at a lunchtime meeting for those working in rehabilitation, nursing, administration, social services, and staff development. Along with sharing success stories, keys to success were identified, systems for measuring outcomes were discussed, and the program's future was outlined. Consistent staff performance and dedication to the project were noted as a critical foundation for the program's survival and success. Initial team training, which occurred over three days, and the sharing of information on resident benefits, based on measurements at the beginning and throughout the program, were also important ingredients for success. Indeed, there are many success stories published on the Restorative Nursing Bulletin Board at Cove's Edge, with pictures of residents and caregivers working together to foster independence.

It all verifies what Staff Development Coordinator Ruth Veitze says she has known for some time: "Restorative nursing changes the whole focus on the part of the staff," resulting in measurable outcomes that are both clinically significant and personally meaningful. NH