Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1362166
49 FINANCE CMO / CARE DELIVERY Top nursing priorities for spring 2021: 6 CNOs weigh in By Gabrielle Masson S ix nursing leaders shared with Becker's what their No. 1 priority is for this spring. Robert Rose, RN. Chief Nursing Executive, Central Market at Atrium Health (Char- lotte, N.C.): My No. 1 priority is "reset- ting" the workforce as we come out of this pandemic. We have multi-model plans sur- rounding our workforce, from enhancing recruitment from those that le the profes- sion and/or went to travel, to focusing on those that have been with us through this pandemic. We need to ensure our nursing leaders are aware of trauma-informed lead- ership and the emotional toll this pandemic has had on our caregivers. In addition, we've created a provider and teammate support group for those on our team who have had COVID-19. is support group is facilitated by our spiritual care and employee assis- tance program professionals. e pandemic has had such an effect on not only our pa- tients but our staff. Nursing has been on the front lines since the beginning, and, as lead- ers, we need to respond in different ways and have the tools to respond differently. When I meet with my nursing leadership, I do a "check-in" centered around them — not necessarily their work, but just how they are doing. With this pandemic, we need to ensure our workforce is healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. Jean Surguy, RN. Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Mile Bluff Medical Center (Mauston, Wis.): We are like many others in healthcare — now that our COVID-19 volumes are decreasing, we are seeing staff retiring. COVID-19 took a lot out of every- one and they are reprioritizing their life. We are a small, rural hospital and some of our staff have worked here more than 20 or 30 years. We are losing a lot of experi- ence and it will not be easy to replace all of them. On the bright side, it gives some staff the opportunity for some upward mo- bility since we don't have a lot of turnover in leadership positions. Loren Corbin. Chief Nursing Officer at Hillsdale (Mich.) Hospital: Aer the up- heaval, stress, and exhaustion from the pan- demic, we will be concentrating on employee engagement throughout our facility. Jay Sundheimer, RN. Chief Nurse Execu- tive at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center (Rio Rancho, N.M.): Helping staff recover from trauma experienced over the last 12 months. Caregivers experienced significant stress and faced death more oen and in more settings than many have in their en- tire careers. e compounding moral inju- ry facing the staff when the public cannot adequately relate makes the real possibility of attrition, burnout and caregivers leaving their profession a reality. Recovery, support and self-care are top priorities, in addition to recovering from the very real financial stress the pandemic has caused. Suzi Russell, MSN, RN. Chief Nursing and Patient Safety Officer at Singing River Health System (Ocean Springs, Miss.): e biggest priority for me as CNO is stabilization of the nursing workforce. COVID-19 has caused staff turnover at the highest rate ever seen in our system. is has increased burnout, losses in quality and patient satisfaction. We are now having to rebuild the nursing de- partment one staff member at a time, and the process is going to be a long process. Shelley Wilson, RN. Chief Nursing Officer at Henry Community Health (New Castle, Ind.): Patient safety is always our top priori- ty. Outside of that, my next priority for spring 2021 is staffing: staff well-being, recruitment and retention. n California sues largest US nursing home chain after exposé By Gabrielle Masson C alifornia prosecutors are suing the nation's largest chain of senior living communities, claiming Brent- wood, Tenn.-based Brookdale Senior Living has manipulated Medicare's star-rating system, according to a March 15 news release. The lawsuit was filed by the California attorney general's office and a coalition of other prosecutors. The suit is one of the first to accuse nursing homes of submitting false information to Medicare's ratings program, according to The New York Times. The rating system overseen by CMS was rolled out more than a decade ago and is based on largely unaudited data submitted by nursing homes. The California prosecutors allege that until April 2018, Brookdale received "undeserved higher star ratings" by submitting false information about its staffing, such as ex- aggerating the number of hours nurses worked. The lawsuit also accuses Brookdale of illegally transferring residents to "fill its beds with residents who will bring in more money." "The chain's manipulation has allowed Brookdale to attract prospective patients and their families to its fa- cilities by misleading them about its quality of care," prosecutors claim. Heather Hunter, a spokesperson for Brookdale, de- nied that the company had "engaged in intentional or fraudulent conduct." "We are disappointed in the allegations against the skilled nursing industry," Ms. Hunter said March 15, according to the Times. "Publicizing unproven allegations is reckless and undermines the public's confidence in a service nec- essary to the care of elderly individuals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic." The lawsuit seeks civil penalties and an injunction to pre- vent unlawful conduct. It follows a March 13 Times investi- gation that found many nursing homes have taken advan- tage of the star system to achieve higher ratings without addressing quality issues. n