This guide focuses on helping nursing students navigate the challenges of nursing school. The guide starts off by providing key tips to help nursing students succeed in the classroom, goes on to include tips on how to have a successful NCLEX experience, and includes advice from five experts in the field.
Click here to download and view the guide
This guide was created to specifically support minority students who are interested in a pursuing a nursing degree. It describes why diversity in nursing matters and discusses what schools and students can do to help increase minority representation in all levels of nursing.
Click here to download and view the guide
Researchers at the University of Kansas School of Nursing are seeking nursing homes to test the new online version of the evidence-based Changing Talk (CHAT) communication training program. CHAT educates staff about reducing elderspeak (infantilizing communication) and results in reduced behavioral symptoms and need for psychotropic medication for residents with dementia. The new online version, consists of 3; one-hour interactive modules that are completed online from anywhere the Internet can be accessed. There is no cost to the facility and continuing education credit is available. Contact:
Dr. Kristine Williams at (913) 588-1673 or kwilliams1@kumc.edu for more information about CHATO.
Click here to view the methods, results and implications of the study.
Gero Nurse Prep is an online training course designed to prepare RNs who care for elders to attain board certification in Gerontological Nursing (RN-BC) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This course equips RNs with a broad array of clinical knowledge, skills and competencies that are tested on the ANCC certification exam and essential for quality gerontological nursing practice and leadership of elder care teams.
Click here for more information.
AHCA/NCAL is ready to help skilled nursing centers meet the new Infection Preventionist specialized training requirement finalized by CMS in the Reform of Requirements of Participation for Long Term Care Facilities, as well as equip assisted living providers to get ahead of the curve. This course provides specialized training for healthcare professionals who seek to serve as Infection Preventionists. Through this Infection Preventionist Specialized Training (IPCO) course, individuals will be specially trained to effectively implement and manage an Infection Prevention and Control Program at their skilled nursing center or assisted living community.
The course is an online, self-study program with 23 hours of training. It includes online lectures, case studies and interactive components taught by an array of experts from around the country.
Click here for more information and to register.
Certified Nursing Assistant Scholarships – https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/medical-and-health/cna-classes/financial-aid-scholarships/
NCLEX Study Guide – https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/degrees/nursing-programs/beat-the-nclex-exam/
Guidebook to Nursing School – https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/degrees/nursing-programs/guide-to-nursing-school/
Resources for Nursing Students – https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/degrees/nursing-programs/resources/
written by Marietta Lynch, RN, BSN
Oklahoma Board of Nursing Transitions to Less-Paper, Verifiable Licensure
Effective December 1, 2017, the Oklahoma Board of Nursing no longer prints traditional license cards. A process is in place in which the licensee may access the Board of Nursing website, click on License Verification, and after submitting name and licensure level, a “view” box appears next to the licensee’s name. After clicking on the “view” box, and entering an individual personal identification number, the licensee may print a paper license card to include the licensee’s name, level of licensure, license number and links to both the Board of Nursing verification site and Nursys national license database, where the current status of the license can be verified.
The cause for moving to a less-paper, verifiable system is multi-faceted. With increased reports of lost or stolen license cards, and cards never received in the mail, the new system reduces the risk of fraud and impersonation of Oklahoma-licensed nurses. Implementation of the new system enhances employer ability to verify current license status of licensed nurses employed and/or prospective employees, by going to a primary source to verify licensure.
Employers may verify licensure through the Board of Nursing website at https://apps.ok.gov/nursing/verify/index.php or https://www.nursys.com/LQC/.QCTerms.aspx. In addition, the less paper, verifiable system reduces cost to licensees for duplicating misplaced or lost license cards. Currently, fifty-three percent of all state boards of nursing use paperless initial license while sixty-seven percent of all states have paperless licensure renewal.
Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (Multi-State Licensure for Nurses): The enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) was implemented on January 19, 2018. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing has made the eNLC multistate applications available online.
An individual desiring a multistate license must submit an Application and pay the appropriate application fee. On all application forms for multistate licensure in an enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) party state, an applicant must declare a primary state of residence. To obtain multistate licensure in Oklahoma, an individual shall declare Oklahoma as his/her primary state of residence.
In addition to meeting the home state’s qualifications for licensure or renewal of licensure, applicants for multistate licensure shall also meet the eNLC Uniform Licensure Requirements available at http://nursing.ok.gov/ulr.pdf. Applications can be accessed at https://pay.apps.ok.gov/nursing/licensing/app/index.php
Completed multistate licensee applications for existing active Oklahoma licensees have an average processing time of 1.5 days. For Oklahoma licensees with questions regarding multistate licensure, the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact Frequently Asked Questions for Oklahoma Nursing Licensees can be accessed on the agency website at http://nursing.ok.gov/eNLCFAQsOKlicensee.pdf. Current eNLC information can be accessed on the Board of Nursing website at http://nursing.ok.gov/enlc.html and you may call the Board of Nursing at (405) 962-1800.
Nursys e-Notify Resources Notification
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing provides the Nursys e-Notify system resources to both licensed nurses and employers of licensed nurses. Nursys e-Notify is an innovative national nurse licensure notification system that provides subscribed employers of licensed nurses real-time notifications, alerting the subscribed party when changes such as license status, license expiration, pending license renewals and public disciplinary action are made to a nurse’s license record. Nursys e-Notify is a FREE, convenient way for nurses to receive license expiration reminders and status updates of their nursing license, and to track license verifications for endorsement. Effective November 1, 2017, licensed nurses and employers of licensed nurses may subscribe to the service FREE of charge at https://www.nursys.com/EN/ENDefault.aspx.
Decision Making Model for Scope of Nursing Practice Decisions
It is impossible to list all of the duties, nursing functions and/or nursing activities licensed nurses are or are not permitted to perform. The Oklahoma Board of Nursing has endorsed the attached guidelines to assist nurses in determining a personal scope of practice based upon legal parameters of practice and one’s education, knowledge and experience. Please find more details by clicking here.
The following articles from The Capital Issue are available for view/print and may be of particular interest to our members.
Capital Markets Update for Health Care and Senior Living
Patient-Driven Payment Model: Another Step Towards Value Over Volume
On June 28, 2018, the Oklahoma State Department of Health had their provider training. The training covered topics including: Incident Reports, Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Preparedness, Regulatory Overview and information about The National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, information on CMP programs, and Quality Programs available through TMF. If you were not able to attend the training, please visit https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/2018%20LTC%20Provider%20Training%20Handouts.pdf to view the slides from the presentation.
Here is a brief summary from the training:
Long Term Care Updates: Appendix Q will be updated with the current IJ information. All examples of IJ’s will be removed from Appendix and will now refer to “PP”
The survey department is piloting a QI project related to how they handle complaints and have 4 pilot teams at this time. If you have a complaint survey, you may see a different complaint form.
Incident Reporting: Just a reminder, you only need to report items with the checkboxes listed on Form 283.
Emergency Preparedness: Brent Maroney stressed the current citations being written are E001, E015, and E036. He is hoping to have more clear guidance by November of this year. He said they are allowing portable generators to be a part of the EP plan, however, you will need to have an auto or manual transfer switch.
Kari Beggs with RMRS is in the process of developing training regarding Emergency Preparedness. If you need assistance with EP, you may want to speak with your RMRS regional representative. Visit https://www.okrmrs.com/ and click on the map to find your representative.
QM & Composite Score: Beginning in October, the survey team will be bringing your QM composite scorecard with the intention of going over the score with at the end of your survey. The goal is to help you understand the report and how it relates to your survey.
National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care: A program started in 2012, to reduce antipsychotic use and increase person centered care and incorporate therapeutic interventions with residents with Dementia. We are currently ranked 51st in the Nation for Antipsychotic usage. TMF has a program to help those facilities with high antipsychotic usage, with the goal to reduce antipsychotics.
Medication Destruction: There have been a lot of calls recently to the Health Department regarding medication destruction. The following regulations were touched on regarding medication destruction:
310:675-9-9.1(d)(7) – “When a resident is discharged, or is on therapeutic leave, the unused medication shall be sent with the resident, or with the resident’s representative, unless there is a written physician’s order to the contrary, or the medication has been discontinued, or unless the resident or the resident’s representative donates unused prescription medications for dispensation to medically indigent persons in accordance with the Utilization of Unused Prescription Medications Act. The clinical record shall document the quantity of medication sent, and returned or donated, and the signature of the person receiving or transferring the medications.”
310:675-9-9.1.(e)(1) – “Non-controlled medications prescribed for residents who have died and non-controlled medications which have been discontinued shall be destroyed by both the director of nursing and a licensed pharmacist or another licensed nurse. Controlled medication shall be destroyed by a licensed pharmacist and the Director of Nursing. The facility may transfer unused prescription drugs to city-county health department pharmacies or county pharmacies in compliance with the Utilization of Unused Prescription Medications Act and all rules promulgated thereunder. Prescription only medications including controlled medications shall not be returned to the family or resident representatives. The destruction and the method used shall be noted on the clinical record.”
I hope you find this information useful. OSDH has their next provider training Thursday, August 30, 2018 in Tulsa. Registration opens July 30th. The link to the provider training information is https://www.ok.gov/health/Protective_Health/Long_Term_Care_Service/Long_Term_Care_Meetings_&_Events/index.html
If you are not sure about going, please reconsider. This training was very beneficial and provided a lot of great information. The training is free and it does fill up fast!