LTC DON Chat

Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Michelle Stuercke, RN, MSN, DNP, MPA, LNHA, QCP, chief clinical officer with TCM consulting and management, discuss how to manage behavioral health issues in the nursing home.

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN discuss how long-term care leaders can prepare for the next generation of residents, one that is more tech-savvy, informed, and actively engaged in their care. Additional Resource: AAPACN 2026 Conference App

In the LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development for AAPACN, share some of the highlights for the AAPACN 2026 Conference that will be held March 17-20 in Orlando, Florida. Additional Resources: AAPACN 2026 Conference

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss goal setting for directors of nursing services in 2026. Additional Resource: Stretch and SMART Goal Setting Worksheet Tool

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss how directors of nursing services can use communication to build physician trust, as well as steps DNSs can take to build a collaborative partnership with physicians.

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how nurse leaders can reinforce the clinical fundamentals that form the backbone of safe, high-quality care while balancing innovation, regulatory demands, and the realities of today’s workforce.

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss the importance of policy and procedure review in nursing homes, as well as steps the DNS can take to complete this process efficiently and stay in compliance with federal regulations that require these reviews. Additional Resources: AAPACN Post-Acute Care News Survey Readiness: Critical Element Pathways, Observations, Reviews, and Policy Calendar Tool Policy and Procedure Review and Development Guide Tool

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss what to do to prepare for respiratory illness season.

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss ways directors of nursing services can build confidence in their staff. Whether on-boarding new hires, supporting burned-out nurses, or just trying to bring stability to a high-turnover environment, confidence is the fuel behind quality care.  Additional Resources: Daily Clinical Rounds Tool

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss how the director of nursing services (DNS) can advocate for resident-centered care by navigating Appendix PP updates, reducing unnecessary psychotropic medications, and driving meaningful, non-pharmacological interventions through interdisciplinary collaboration.  Additional Resources: Maximizing Your Pharmacy’s Benefits Tool

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss what to do when someone calls the Department of Health on your facility.  Additional Resources: Admission Checklist: Seed to Success

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how directors of nursing services can advance their leadership skills to help their teams be more resilient to the evolving challenges of healthcare. Additional Resources:Self-Care and Why It Matters in Healthcare – Podcast

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the admission process and ways to ease the resident’s transition into long-term and post-acute care settings.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some common pitfalls of the onboarding and orientation process in long-term and post-acute care settings and how to set new employees up for success. Additional Resources: AAPACN Onboarding Essentials: Welcoming Staff to Promote Retention Tool

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how the director of nursing services (DNS) can improve staff retention through the onboarding process. Additional Resources: Interview Template Tool Stay Interview Template and Action Plan AAPACN Onboarding Essentials: Welcoming Staff to Promote Retention Tool Turnover Solutions Series – Part 2: Understanding Why Employees Leave and Strategies to Reduce Turnover

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss turnover and staff retention, what the differences are and how to track these metrics. They will also cover what the director of nursing services (DNS) can learn from these numbers and how the DNS can communicate that information to others to improve outcomes.

In this podcast, Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, and Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, discuss facility culture—what it is, why it’s important, and how listeners can assess and implement strategies to improve their culture. Additional Resources: AAPACN’s Nursing Department Culture Assessment and Improvement Worksheet Improve Staffing and Quality Care Through Individualized Culture Change of the Nursing Department

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Colleen Oakley, OTR/L NHA RAC-CT, senior director of operations for Rehab America and treasurer and member of the AAPACN Board of Directors, discuss ways that the occupational therapist (OT) can collaborate with the director of nursing services (DNS) for better resident outcomes.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the opportunity for AAPACN members to advocate for long-term care through AAPACN’s Director of Nursing Services—Expert Advisory Panel (DNS-EAP). Additional Resources:Learn more and apply to become a member of the DNS-EAP here

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM, program director for the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), discuss resident behavioral health management—what it is, the benefits of this approach, how it differs from other methods, and some key strategies for success to improve resident care. Additional Resources: Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities AAPACN 2024 Conference Request 1:1 Technical Assistance and Support from COE-NF COE-NF Resource Hub COE-NF Upcoming Virtual Trainings

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss common barriers in the care planning process, the risks of delaying care plan updates, and how the director of nursing services (DNS) can support the nursing team in the care planning process. Additional Resources: Baseline Care Plan tool Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plan Audit Tool and Care Planning Cheat Sheet Person-Centered Care Planning – Nursing In-service Education

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Anna Sherman, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at RD Nutrition Consultants, discuss the registered dietitian’s role as a key member of the interdisciplinary team and how the director of nursing services (DNS) can collaborate with the dietitian to improve resident and facility outcomes.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Linda Winston, RN, MSN, BS, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, independent nurse consultant and educator, discuss how to operationalize change in the workplace.This podcast is sponsored by AAPACN Diamond business partner, MDS Consultants. MDS Consultants provides short-term and long-term MDS completion services, practical training for the everyday MDS Coordinator, and a variety of compliance services for case-mix, Medicare eligibility, UB-04, care plans, schizophrenia audits and more. Learn how to get help for your team at mds-consultants.com.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Dr. Nancy Kusmaul, PhD, MSW, associate professor in the baccalaureate social work program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, discuss discharge planning best practices to avoid hospital readmissions.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the director of nursing services’ (DNS's) role in the annual budget.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Lisa Morris, D.Ph., BCGP, FASCP, executive director of clinical services for Consana, discuss changes to the American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria and its impact on skilled nursing facilities. Additional Resources: American Geriatrics Society 2023 updated AGS Beers Criteria® for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Calculator

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, discuss the new enhanced enforcements for infection control deficiencies released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in March 2023 and their potential impact on skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Additional Resources: F-Tag Library – This new AAPACN on-demand series developed by AAPACN nurse experts provides explanation and insight into the nuances of each individual F-tag, as well as steps facilities can take to attain and maintain compliance with federal regulation, including areas to review for compliance and education for staff. AAPACN has also included five newly developed tools. Learn more here.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, discuss the latest updates to The Special Focus Facility Program in part two of the Special Focus Facilities podcast series.

In this first episode of a two-part series on Special Focus Facilities, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, talk about the basics of The Special Focus Facility Program.

Listen to this podcast for a discussion on survey citation F695, Respiratory/Tracheostomy Care and Suctioning - what it is, why it is important, and how skilled nursing facilities can avoid it. Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, offers listeners insight into what surveyors will be looking at, examples of how facilities are getting cited, and ways to prepare.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Alexis Roam, MSN, RN-BC, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, discuss nurse incivility and what the director of nursing services can do to stop this trend in behavior among nursing staff.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Rob Leffler, RPh, FASCP, the vice president of clinical services for Synchrony Pharmacy, talk about substance use disorder; what it is, and how it affects older adults.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, AAPACN curriculum development specialist, discuss what it takes for the director of nursing services (DNS) to be responsible with the facility finances. Additional Resources: Becoming a Fiscally Savvy DNS – Part 1: ExpensesBecoming a Fiscally Savvy DNS – Part 2: Budget, Revenue, and Five-Star RatingsNurse Leader FundamentalsDirector of Nursing Services—Certified (DNS-CT)

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss AAPACN’s latest education program for nurse leaders—Nurse Leader Fundamentals.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Dr. Danielle Pierotti, RN, PhD, CENP, discuss about home health and how collaboration with skilled nursing facilities can improve outcomes.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN and Dr. Rebecca Cahill, professor for the Research College of Nursing, discuss how lean healthcare practices can benefit skilled nursing facilities and enhance the performance improvement project (PIP) process and overall quality improvement.

In this LTC DON Chat podcast, Amy Stewart, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Rob Leffler, the vice president for PCA Pharmacy, talk about the impact of medications on falls for residents in nursing homes today.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Rick Russell, president and CEO of Hospice of Northwest Ohio, discuss the role of hospice in nursing facilities.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN and Dr. Karl Steinberg, president of AMDA and a longtime nursing home medical director and chief medical officer for two nursing home management companies, discuss the importance of early identification of a resident’s change in condition.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, and Laurie Laxton, RN, BSN, CCFA, RAC-CT, IP-BC, QCP, clinical education program lead with ABILITY Network, discuss healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in the nursing home and thoughts on how to address them.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN speaks with Lisa Morris, RPh, BCGP, FASCP, executive director of clinical services for Consana, about drug diversion in the nursing home including how to investigate, and what nurse leaders can do to lower their facility’s risk.

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MT, AAPACN vice president of education and certification strategy discusses the art of interviewing potential employees with Sherry Thomas, BS, RN, QCP, IPCO, director of clinical services at LeaderStat.

Tips for the New DNS: What I Wish I Knew When I Was New