The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts 1.5 million residents occupy approximately 16,100 nursing homes nationwide, making resident care a central part of any NHA's role.
To evaluate an elderly resident's daily needs, these administrators must possess a working knowledge of the physical and psychological effects of the aging process. This knowledge allows nursing home administrators to implement the necessary nursing care, drug administration or rehabilitation to successfully treat a resident or improve their standard of living.
With a deep understanding of a resident's physical limitations, these professionals can assess where and how that individual might benefit from assistance with daily activities, such as bathing or eating. Communication skills and previous clinical experience in bedside manners are essential for working with residents with possible mental impairments.
As a resident's primary advocate, nursing home administrators act as the patient's liaison between staff and doctors. They must ensure quality care for a resident by communicating instructions or results as needed from both parties, while also ensuring frequent visits by nurses and physicians.
These professionals must also utilize their effective communication skills to navigate the emotional dynamics associated with counseling residents and their families in the transition to nursing home care. These professionals will collaborate with families on a care plan and its associated costs while providing resources needed for the grieving process.
Managing Nursing Home Staff
While the decision-making processes of nursing home administrators tend to revolve around the needs of senior residents, they must also balance the needs of personnel to be equally effective.
Starting with recruitment, NHAs are responsible for the employee interview process where they must evaluate the skills of every candidate and ensure that they are the right fit for the facility. Upon employment, NHAs are in charge of training new employees so that they understand protocols and regulations, particularly when it comes to counseling or interacting with residents and their families.
During the course of a staff member's employment, a nursing home administrator must create measures to determine employee performance, make new training available and enact disciplinary action when necessary.
Ensuring a staff member's health and safety is a constant goal for NHAs. These professionals will not only be responsible for safety training sessions, but also understanding the human resources side of management. NHAs are versed in employee benefits and insurance for auditing purposes and also work to determine how employee well-being affects the facility as a whole.
