I am a manager who functions at a Regional level. My Mondays begin by reviewing each of my assigned facilities to assess what processes the nurses were able to complete. What may be needed for Monday and for the rest of the week. How I relay the results of that assessment can either cause more distress or not.

What can we do to help our staff who may have had a difficult weekend due to staff call outs, higher acuity of residents and the continued challenges of Covid and Flu infections?

First, assess what you can actually help them do to complete the tasks from the weekend prior to expecting them to begin the Current weekly tasks.

You may want to check in with your staff to see what they may need help with and what they perceive are the barriers to getting their tasks completed.

Listen to what they are saying and also ask for any ideas they may have to solve the barriers that they have identified.

Help them prioritize what is a priortity vs. what can wait to later in the day or week.

Determine what you can help them with as Mondays may be very busy for yourself as well.

Communicate and be clear what is expected from yourself and your staff to get items completed.

Remember, to thank them. The frontline staff have a very difficult job to do everyday. They may have all the best intentions of getting the paperwork responsibilities of the role done. Most days the direct bedside nursing needs derail those efforts. Today long term care is heavily regulated with specific documentation rules and Nurses are trying very hard to meet those demands but unfortunately they are dealing with a Nursing Shortage due to several factors which is impacting this.

I am very fortunate to have such a dedicated team of Nurses who work hard at trying to do it all. So on this Sunday, I am looking forward to Monday to help my staff continue to want to do what they do best. That is providing the best care possible with what is available to them on that specific shift.

I want to remind them that what they do here matters and makes a difference. Their residents are grateful for what they do and I am grateful for what they all do.

Thank you and here is looking forward to a great Monday and week ahead.

Skilled Nursing Support 2022/ maria.messina@skillednursingsupport.com