Hands And Hearts Needed In Continuing Care

It takes many hands, hearts and minds to care for those who live in continuing care. Roles in a skilled nursing facility range from hands-on to administrative, but all have the same goal: meet the needs of residents, day after day.

By Nancy Crotti, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: October 14, 2009 - 10:44 AM

Continuing care facilities tend to the everyday and ongoing healthcare needs of their residents. Employees range from hands-on certified nursing assistants to managers dealing with scheduling, regulations and insurance.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) do the bulk of hands-on resident care, but their roles may vary among institutions. At Cerenity Senior Care of White Bear Lake (www.cerenityseniorcare.org), CNAs bathe, dress, groom, feed, transport or help residents walk. They also assist with toileting, and take blood pressure, pulse and temperatures. "They document that information into our patient charting system so that the nurses and doctors have access to it," says Barbara Jordahl, human resources director for Cerenity's White Bear campus.

Launching Pad For Future Careers

Many CNAs are working on nursing degrees. "We have a clinical rotation for nursing assistant training with Century College (www.century.edu) so they come in and have an opportunity to see how we operate," Jordahl adds. Cerenity also offers clinical rotations to licensed practical nursing students from Saint Paul College (www.saintpaul.edu).

At Boutwells Landing, a Presbyterian Homes (www.preshomes.org) community in Oak Park Heights with housing that ranges from independent to continuing care, employees focus on residents' spiritual, emotional and physical needs, according to Alecia Hanson, human resources manager. CNAs may prepare breakfast and lunch as well as do activities with residents and light housekeeping.

LPNs and registered nurses at continuing care facilities handle more medical needs such as administering drugs and treatments and making sure each resident's care plan is carried out. "According to the Nurse Practice Act, the RN is the one who makes the nursing assessment, but our LPNs are so well-versed as far as resident care and conditions that they are a cornerstone to our operation," says Jordahl.

Cerenity outsources physical and speech therapies but employs recreational therapists in-house. "It might be small groups or large activities. We do like to party," Jordahl adds with a laugh.

Total Team Effort

Boutwells Landing, which is expanding, also employs trained medication assistants, who must first be certified as medical assistants, to bring medications to residents and make sure they're taking it, Hanson says. The continuing care facility also employs RNs or LPNs as clinical coordinators, and licensed healthcare administrators as household coordinators. "They make sure that the daily life happens for our residents," Hanson says, planning activities, working with families and conducting care conferences.

"Every position is like a part of the body and each of equal value and importance," Hanson concludes. "One really couldn't do something without the other to be fully functioning."

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