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Workforce Resources

In order to provide the best quality care to our most vulnerable population, nursing home administrators and staff must be equipped with the most relevant and timely resources and knowledge. Unfortunately, the communication, dissemination, and uptake of these resources can often be fragmented and overwhelming, resulting in the inability to truly leverage knowledge to improve the lives of nursing home residents. Therefore, Project ECHO at Penn State College of Medicine is launching the Workforce Resources page to provide a centralized location for the distribution of relevant information related to workforce wellbeing, workforce resiliency, training and development, and recruitment and retention.

Workforce-Centered Resources

Workforce Wellbeing

This five-session series provides nursing home staff with tools and resources to learn how to best support the well-being of their fellow staff and residents. Understanding how to optimize the emotional and psychological staff of our colleagues and residents will have a positive, direct impact on the quality of life for all.

Session 1:

Staff Wellbeing Depends on the Trauma-Informed Principles of Safety and Trust Session

  1. Video: Session 1_Recording_1920x1080 Staff Wellbeing Depends on the Trauma-Informed Principles of Safety and Trust.mp4
  2. PPT: COMBINED Week 1 Staff Wellbeing Depends on the Trauma-Informed Principles of Safety and Trust.pptx
  3. Key topics covered: staff wellbeing, facility culture, mental health, trauma-informed care

Session 2:

The Connection Between Emotional Intelligence and Stress Response

  1. Video (Part 1): Part 1 of Week 2 The Connection Between Emotional Intelligence and Stress Response.mp4
  2. Video (Part 2): Part 2 of week 2 The Connection Between Emotional Intelligence and Stress Response.mp4
  3. PPT: COMBINED Week 2 The Connection Between Emotional Intelligence and Stress Response.pptx
  4. Key topics covered: emotional intelligence, stress, self-awareness and stress response, coping, mental health screening

Session 3:

The Language of Feelings and Needs and the Correlation with Wellbeing

  1. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCQxZj8jwqs
  2. PPT: COMBINED Week 3 Train staff in strategies to respond to stress by identifying feelings and needs with the language of nonviolent communication.pptx
  3. Key topics covered: nonviolent communication, supporting the emotional needs of staff, self-care

Session 4:

Mourning on the Path to Wellbeing

  1. Video (Part 1): Part 1 of Week 4 – Integrate a mourning practice into facility culture via team-based processes, such as rounds and debriefs.mp4
  2. Video (Part 2):
  3. PPT: COMBINED Week 4 Integrate a mourning practice into facility culture via team-based processes, such as rounds and debriefs.pptx
  4. Key topics covered: mourning, grief, acceptance, crying

Session 5:

Support posttraumatic growth by hardwiring attuned listening, debriefs, and learning into daily activities

  1. Video: Week 5-Support posttraumatic growth by hardwiring attuned listening, debriefs, and learning into daily activities.mp4
  2. PPT:
  3. Key topics covered: posttraumatic growth, restoring function, reflecting, lessons learned, de-stressing, grounding
  4. Additional resources:
    1. COVID-19 Psychological Implications- The Role of Shame and Guilt.pdf
      This manuscript details some of the psychological implications of experiencing extended feelings of guilt and shame during the pandemic. The reasoning behind why these feelings were so prevalent is explored.
    2. Grief Leadership During COVID-19 (CSTS).pdf
      In order to best support our colleagues and residents, we must understand how individuals process loss and tragedy. This resource presents innovative ways to best support staff through feelings of grief.
    3. Guilt_Slides with Notes.pdf
      Understanding that guilt is a normal and healthy feeling can allow us to process tragedy more effectively. Reframing feelings of guilt can result in further healing.
    4. It’s OK to be OK_ How to Stop Feeling ‘Survivor Guilt’ During COVID-19.pdf
      This article by Erin Smith explains the term survivor guilt and how it relates to empathy.
    5. Survivor Guilt in Cancer Patients.pdf
      This resource further expands on survivor guilt, how it may manifest itself, and some hypotheses on the root causes of this guilt.
    6. Transmission Guilt-Janet Holboke-OR.pptx
      The fear of transmitting and spreading COVID-19 in nursing homes is a valid one, yet associated feelings of guilt and shame may lead to negative psychological outcomes. This PowerPoint discusses these feelings, and how they are related (or unrelated) to the spread of COVID-19.
    7. Slides_Session 9-NNHCAN_Supporting the Emotional Well-being of Staff_wQI_4.7.21_final.pptx
      Slide deck from session held on April 7th, 2021, which includes information on understanding how COVID-19 has impacted the emotional well-being of staff, and how we can best support them
    8. IHITool_Conversation-Guide-to-Support-Staff-Wellbeing-Joy-in-Work-COVID-19.pdf
    9. ECHO Plus Session 20_Support Staff_Stress_Grief.pptx

Leadership Resources

This five-session series provides insightful guidance on ways to elevate leadership strategies to best support staff. Creating a healthy leadership culture will often reflect positively on staff, and further, residents.

Session 1:

The Regulated Adult and the Importance of Self-Care for Maintaining Team Stability

  1. Video: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 1_Consolidated.mp4
  2. PPT: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 1_Consolidated.pptx
  3. Key topics covered: self-care, emotion contagion theory, leadership’s role in managing team morale

Session 2:

The Power of Observation: Identifying Team Members in Distress

  1. Video: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 2_Consolidated.mp4
  2. PPT: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 2_Consolidated.pptx
  3. Key topics covered: stress continuum, stress response, observation and action

Session 3:

Making the Connection: Successful Communication in Stressful Times

  1. Video: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 3_Consolidated.mp4
  2. PPT: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 3_Consolidated.pptx
  3. Key topics covered: stress and the brain, communication during stressful events

Session 4:

Navigating Time Management and Moments of Pause

  1. Video: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 4_Consolidated_Video.mp4
  2. PPT: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 4_Consolidated.pptx
  3. Key topics covered: the importance of taking a “pause”, physiologic grounding, time management

Session 5:

Sustaining Teams: Creating a Vision of Hope

  1. Video: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 5_Consolidated_Video.mp4
  2. PPT: Leadership Practices and Behaviors_Lesson 5_Consolidated.pptx
  3. Key topics covered: hope, staff well-being, huddling, debriefing

Workforce Resiliency

Code Lavender: code-lavender.pdf

  1. Originally developed to support any person in a Cleveland Clinic hospital, this tool can be utilized when a stressful event or series of stressful events occurs in the nursing home setting.
  2. Virtual Learning Hour Special Series – COVID-19: Grief Leadership and Support Systems: https://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/AudioandVideo/COVID-19-grief-leadership-and-system-supports.aspx
    This series introduces leadership strategies aimed at addressing the mental health and well-being needs of both residents and staff.

Time-Saving Tips to Help Prevent Nursing Home Staff Burnout: https://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/time-saving-tips-to-help-prevent-nursing-home-staff-burnout

  1. This resource introduces seven tips to reduce burnout among nursing home staff.
  2. Protecting and Engaging Nursing Home Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/protecting-and-engaging-nursing-home-residents-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
  3. This resource promotes fourteen innovative activities and strategies to engage nursing home residents in a safe and healthful manner.

The Path Forward for Long-term Care Leadership: NH COVID-19 ECHO_Leadership_Resiliency.pptx
This PowerPoint outlines some of the challenges faced by nursing home administration and staff faced through the COVID-19 pandemic, and opportunities to optimize the sustainability of long-term care.

Training and Development

This five-session series includes strategies to maximize leadership across the nursing home, leverage strategies like healthy communication, huddling, and more. In order to improve the lives of residents, administrators must ensure that there is an appropriate level of job satisfaction among staff. This resource aims at promoting the importance of healthy leadership, training, and development strategies.

Session 1:

Leadership Communication: Create a System of Communication

  1. Video: Module 1 video final.mp4
  2. PPT: Session 1 Master Slide Deck.pptx
  3. Topics covered: communication loops, huddles, leadership rounds, emergency preparedness, communication plans, critical change opportunities

Session 2:

Leadership Huddles with Point of Care Staff

  1. Video: Leadership Communication module 2 10min.mp4
  2. PPT: Session 2 Master Deck.pptx
  3. Topics covered: huddles, supportive communication

Session 3:

Leadership Rounds

  1. Video: Leadership communication module 3 Rounds.mp4
  2. PPT: Session 3 master Slide deck.pptx
  3. Topics covered: leadership rounds, relationship building, dot voting

Session 4:

The Importance of the Role of CNAs During COVID-19

  1. Video: LTC Front-Line Retention Strategies Lisa Bridwell 7.23.mp4
  2. Video: Transforming CNA Culture 6.24.mp4
  3. PPT: Session 5 Slides_Importance of CNAs_PPT_NNHCAN_Final.pptx
  4. Topics covered: preparation of CNAs, learning and growth culture, quality care and compassion, job satisfaction, staff retention

Session 5:

Vaccine Hesitancy:

  1. PPT: ECHO Plus_COVID Vaccine Hesitancy.pptx
  2. Topics covered: trust, timing, messaging, community relationships, social norms, social media, motives

Staff Culture

  1. “What Matters to You?” Conversation Guide for Improving Joy in Work:IHITool_ImprovingJoyinWork_WhatMatterstoYouConversationGuide (4).pdf
    This tool introduces the importance of understanding that matters most to staff, and how it relates to workplace satisfaction

PPE Training:

  1. Healthcare Respiratory Protection Resources: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/hospresptoolkit/fittesting.html
    This website houses resources on respiratory PPE best-practices
  2. Temporary Enforcement Guidance – Healthcare Respiratory Protection Annual Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces During the COVID-19 Outbreak: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2020-03-14
    This resource includes guidance on complying with the Respiratory Protection Standard and ensuring that workers are provided and are properly using appropriate respiratory protection when necessary to protect their health

    1. Sample Audit Tool: Sample Audit Tool for PPE.pdf
      This PDF includes an example PPE audit
    2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance and Practical Approaches for Improved Outcomes:Session 3_PPE_NNHCAN ECHO_wQI_2.24.21.pptx
      This PowerPoint provides information on organizing and optimizing PPE materials in a nursing home setting
    3. Dining and Activities Service Staff: ECHO Plus Session 22 slides – Staff Teams_Dietary and Activities.pptx
      This PowerPoint provides information on dining and activities in the time of COVID-19, and how service staff can improve the lives of residents, all while remaining safe

Recruitment and Retention

  1. Emergency Staffing Policy Example: Policy – Emergency Staffing.pdf
    This Emergency Staffing Policy PDF is an example of an effective, appropriate Staff Policy employed during the COVID-19 emergency
  2. Staffing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Guide for Nursing Home Leaders – Staffing_During_the_ COVID_19_Pandemic.pdf
    This document includes tips to reduce urgent staff shortages
  3. Recruitment Quick Tip: Recruitment Quick Tip.pdf
    This PDF includes quick, easy tools to recruit responsible applicants.

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