Sherrie Dornberger

We hear this concern often from nurse leaders and medication nurses! Expecting one nurse to do vitals, meds, eye drops and handle interruptions is nearly impossible, especially with more than 30 residents....

Q: Can a nursing home resident with a colostomy use the rehabilitation swimming pool? 

Q: We are looking for some different, fun ways to teach donning and doffing and are also trying to get staff to recognize infection problems when entering a resident room. Do you have any suggestions?

We are having a debate about insulin pens and oxygen tubing and how to store them. Can you assist?

At our facility, we change Foley catheters once a month, with the change date written on the treatment record. Regulations lead me to believe they should not be changed routinely. Is that correct?

Q: I am a new nurse leader. I just discovered no staff training had been done for 10 months before I arrived, two months ago. I am only one person. How can I do all of this alone?

We have a resident who constantly picks her skin. We have tried medication changes, as did the family before she came to our facility. Do you have any suggestions?

I am struggling as a new infection preventionist. Can you recommend ways I can learn more about my job and  be sure our IP program protects both residents and staff?

Q: I have been at my building for five months as a new director of nursing. I am having trouble filling the schedule to cover all the needed resident care. My supervisors are working the cart, and the...

Q: We are confused about the difference between contact precautions and enhanced barrier precautions. Can you help?