Enter a room of tranquility to relax and decompress throughout the conference. We will supply coloring books, essential oils, and light music to encourage our nurses to unwind.

Health care is changing at a rapid pace with new regulations, clinical standards and expectations along with new reimbursement models. Lead. Inspire. Action. Leading in today’s health care world requires energy that focuses on creative engagement and inspiring collaboration within an organization. This engaging session will provide Directors of Nursing with an overview of what is happening in the SNF world, an overview of emerging trends, and how to prepare for those changes. There are opportunities amidst the changes and challenges ahead. Clinical leaders will learn key leadership strategies to stay on top of the changes with successful outcomes.

Learner Objectives:

1. Understand the current challenges and opportunities for clinical leaders
2. Identify emerging trends and opportunities for SNF leaders
3. Define leadership strategies and tools to guide your team to success.

One of your staff members has just reported to you a potential controlled substance drug diversion as well as signs of impairment of the suspected nurse. You know that diversion is a multifaceted problem with far-reaching consequences but are unsure of the next steps. Instead of being scared of how you are going to handle the diversion, learn how you and your facility can understand its prevalence, methods, and impact, and implement comprehensive detection, prevention, and reporting strategies.

Learner Objectives:

1. Discuss the scope and extent of controlled substance diversion in the healthcare environment.
2. 4Identify new challenges regarding the diversion of non-controlled substances.
3. Develop best practices for the prevention and reporting of drug diversion.

Vital information for today’s nurses. This presentation clearly describes the ten traps that lead to nursing malpractice and addresses the ways to avoid them. Case examples are analyzed and discussed with ample time for questions and answers.

Learner Objectives:

1. To describe the legal landscape as it pertains to nursing malpractice in long term care.
2. To summarize the significant legal issues affecting directors of nursing administrators in long to care.
3. To list at least two strategies to reduce nursing liability in the long term care setting.

Recognize, Respond, Reduce Risk: A Communication Guide for De-Escalation equips caregivers and staff with essential skills to identify signs of mental health distress, respond effectively using proven de-escalation strategies, and reduce risk through collaborative support and self-care. Participants will learn how to recognize early warning signs of emotional or behavioral escalation, avoid common “trigger words” and apply calm, clear communication to defuse situations. The session also emphasizes the importance of peer support and emotional regulation for staff, helping create a safer and more supportive environment for both residents and caregivers.

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify common mental health conditions and signs of distress in residents and learn effective communication techniques to engage. 
2. Acquire practical skills in de-escalation techniques to manage conflicts and reduce stress in residents, enhancing overall safety and well-being.
3. Foster a culture of teamwork among staff to ensure comprehensive resident support while emphasizing the importance of self-care and stress management for caregivers.

Nurses and clinicians have been criminally prosecuted for medication errors and negligence leading to patient deaths. Listen to the lessons from these cases and learn strategies to reduce liability in your nursing practice. A must for every nurse.

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe the criminal law system.
2. List the most likely crimes that nurses could face in nursing practice.
3. Summarize the interplay of criminal and civil liability in nursing practice.

"You Can't Scare a Nurse"- Especially When Caring for Veterans! Caring for veterans in a nursing home setting is both an honor and a unique challenge that draws on the very best of a nurse's skill, compassion, and resilience. From navigating complex medical conditions to understanding the lasting impact of military service, nurses become advocates, caregivers, and trusted companions to those who have served our country. Join us for a powerful discussion on how trauma-informed, veteran-centered care can transform outcomes and deepen your professional purpose. Because when it comes to caring for heroes- you're exactly who they need.

Learner Objectives: 

1. Identify three key characteristics and healthcare needs common among veteran nursing home residents.
2. Explain the impact of military service experiences on the physical and mental health of aging veterans.
3. Compare the care priorities of veterans with those of the general nursing home population.
4. Develop a care plan that incorporates person-centered, veteran-specific considerations.

A dynamic presentation providing targeted strategies for accuracy and compliance in charting. Electronic Health Records are discussed in detail. Evidence-based documentation examples are explored.

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe four liability reduction strategies used in long term nursing care.
2. List four commonly encountered documentation issues in long term nursing care.
3. Identify two documentation pitfalls in long term nursing care.

Communication Strategies for Mental Health and TBI Support provides long-term care professionals with essential tools to recognize, respond to, and manage the unique communication needs of residents living with mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants will learn trauma-informed communication and de-escalation techniques that promote resident dignity, reduce agitation, and enhance safety during challenging interactions.

Learner Objectives:

1. Recognize behavioral and cognitive signs of mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury (TBI) to support early identification and appropriate care planning in long-term care residents.
2. Demonstrate trauma-informed communication and de-escalation techniques that reduce agitation, prevent conflict, and promote safety and dignity in resident interactions.
3. Apply collaborative strategies within the care team to ensure consistent responses to behavioral challenges and foster a supportive environment for both residents and staff.

You've received an order to administer IV therapy to your resident. As your mind swims with thoughts about catheter gauge, the solution to infuse, and finding a suitable vein, consider this unnerving and frightening fact: complications from what you are about to do could be the basis for a nursing negligence lawsuit. Instead of being scared about infusion therapy, learn how you and your facility can appropriately minimize your risks of being sued and prevent having to meet your resident in court.

Learner Objectives:

1. Discuss the components and scope of negligent nursing conduct related to infusion therapy.
2. Explain professional responsibilities to prevent infusion-related nursing malpractice lawsuits.

Enter a room of tranquility to relax and decompress throughout the conference. We will supply coloring books, essential oils, and light music to encourage our nurses to unwind.

Nothing scares a nurse more than seeing residents in pain. This session explores practical, non-pharmacological strategies to manage pain, reduce medication risks, and improve quality of life. Learn how to individualize care plans and strengthen your practice—because when it comes to pain, you can’t scare a nurse.

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe the risks and limitations of relying solely on pharmacological interventions for pain management in older adults.
2. Identify at least three evidence-based, non-pharmacological strategies for managing pain in long-term care settings.
3. Demonstrate how to incorporate individualized non-pharmacological interventions into resident care plans.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches in improving resident comfort, function, and quality of life.

Discover the essential steps to launching and sustaining a successful Medication Aide program in this comprehensive and practical session. Experts will clarify recent updates in state laws and regulations, including training formats and test performance trends. Learn how to build a program from the ground up—from crafting job descriptions to selecting qualified candidates—while navigating common barriers. Gain insights into post-certification training, onboarding strategies, and competency evaluations that ensure long-term success. The session concludes with a dynamic panel of experienced Medication Aides sharing real-world perspectives and answering audience questions. Whether you're starting fresh or refining an existing program, this presentation offers actionable guidance and firsthand wisdom to elevate your approach.

Learner Objectives:

1. Clarify what the state law and rules permit.
2. Describe how to develop a Medication Aide program from job description to candidate selection.
3. Discuss the internal training needed after certification and follow-through.
4. Provide real-life experiences of MA-C's.

Are you spooked by enhanced barrier precautions? Don't be! In this session, we will go over the evidence behind these new(ish) precautions, talk about why they are so important, and even discuss strategies to help facilitate their implementation at your facility.

Learner Objectives:

1. Describe Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP).
2. Synthesize existing evidence and be able to explain why EBP are recommended to be used in long-term care facilities.
3. Integrate evidence-based principles and strategies to implement enhanced barrier precautions in the long-term care setting.

In LTC facilities, staff have all different educational backgrounds from high school diploma level to clinical/healthcare college degrees. Often, educations that are designed and presented within the facilities fail to recognize this. When barriers go unrecognized, it leads to failure to follow policy and procedure and can put residents and staff at risk for the spread of communicable diseases. I will discuss how to recognize learning barriers and how to engage all staff within the facility through different methods of teaching to increase compliance with policy and procedure

Learner Objectives:

1. Design educational activities for non clinical staff.
2. Identify learning barriers in non clinical staff.
3. Revise educational activities to meet the needs of all staff members within the facility.

On a dark and stormy October morning, the team has gathered in the haunted conference room to learn the ancient art of the Plan of Correction—a spell designed to banish CMS deficiencies before they rise from the grave! The Cursed CMS-2567 Scroll: This mysterious document appears after a survey, listing the “sins” of the facility. Fail to act, and spooky fines or worse may haunt you! Learn the Five Magic Ingredients- exorcise the immediate problem (correct the spooky error), search the shadows for other residents who could be affected, cast a prevention spell (systemic changes), summon the watchers (monitoring to keep ghosts of old problems from returning) and mark the completion date on your mystical calendar. Beware of Ghastly Mistakes, Frighteningly Real Examples and the AI Crystal Ball to help you work as a team, check your work, and keep your facility safe… keeping away the ghosts of noncompliance!

Learner Objectives:

1. Understand the required elements of a plan of correction.
2. Analyze sources to provide additional assistance when writing plans of correction.
3. Apply and Evaluate AI to assist in gaining a frameworks for writing plans of correction.

Does the SNF QRP Program send a shiver up your spine? Is this program the vampire sucking the blood out of your bank account? Never fear! This session arms you with the wooden stake of understanding the components and the silver bullets of QA monitoring. Go away prepared to protect your home and your SNF QRP Quality Measures!

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify the FY 2026 SNF QRP Measures
2. Discuss the new measures for FY 2027
3. Describe strategies to improve the accuracy of your SNF QRP measures

NOTE: Please grab your lunch and be seated no later than 11:45 AM.

Please join us for a sponsored lunch presentation by Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.!

The session will provide an introduction to tardive dyskinesia that reviews clinical presentation, risk factors, impact, and regulatory guidelines related to TD. It will also include a discussion on treatment considerations for managing TD in the older adult, such as dosage and administration options as well as safety and efficacy data in special populations.

Providing essential care to individuals with dementia who resist help can be one of the most complex challenges in healthcare. This session examines why refusals happen, including the role of anosognosia (a true lack of awareness), and offers practical, person-centered strategies to reduce conflict while maintaining dignity. Through real-world examples and creative problem-solving approaches, participants will gain the tools and confidence to navigate even the most daunting care scenarios, because no matter how tricky things get, experienced caregivers know you can’t scare us that easily.

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify the appropriate expectations for what neurological neuropsychiatric symptoms care staff should have based on a person’s type and stage of dementia.
2. Examine the concepts of refusal of care and resistance during care as it relates to a person with dementia’s ability to make decisions.
3. List 5 steps of non-confrontational strategies to responding to refusal of care.
4. Apply communication and approach techniques to case studies to maximize compliance and motivation to participate.

CMS mandates that a resident be free from abuse, neglect, misappropriation and exploitation. In response to allegations of this type, skilled nursing facilities are required to report, investigate, protect the alleged victim, take corrective actions if needed and have evidence that the alleged violation was thoroughly investigated. This program will review pertinent regulatory requirements and discuss non-compliance survey related issues that can result in negative public perception and heavy financial penalties. Participants will recognize practical approaches to use when conducting a thorough investigation, gain access to investigative tools for immediate implementation and have takeaway resources their teams can use to incorporate data into their QA&A Program to ensure regulatory compliance.

Learner Objectives:

1. Recognize regulatory requirements related to abuse, investigations, abuse reporting and identification of facilities with abuse deficiencies on CMS Care Compare.
2. Describe the various components and effective methods of conducting a through and successful investigation.
3. Recognize methods for conducting a root cause analysis and the correlation this has to objectively ruling out or determining abuse.

Long Term Care can be a scary setting as a charge nurse if you are unaware of all the challenges it faces. This presentation will provide education to develop a charge nurse. Tips and tricks will be provided, as well as the required skills to navigate the LTC setting and how to develop effective charge nurses. Individuals will walk away saying "you can't scare a nurse" even in LTC!

Learner Objectives:

1. Discuss how to manage a challenging family member or resident.
2. Describe how to effectively communicate, engage, and work with challenging co-workers.
3. Engage in critical thinking in an emergent situation to provide team engagement and resident safety.
4. Identify how to deescalate problems while providing quality care and customer service.

Clear communication can make or break trust in healthcare. In this session, Dr. Jeremy Holloway delivers practical strategies for interrupting bias, engaging across cultures, and strengthening resiliency in daily practice. Participants will leave with easy-to-use scripts, a proven framework for cross-cultural communication, and a one-page checklist to support immediate application in their own settings.

Learner Objectives:

1. Define implicit bias and differentiate it from prejudice and stereotype-influenced inequity.
2. Identify two regulatory/standards-based requirements tied to equitable communication (e.g., Joint Commission equity NPSG; HHS Section 1557 language access).
3. Apply the LEARN framework in a practice scenario to enhance patient-provider dialogue.

1. Costume Most Likely to Go Viral – Trendy, meme-worthy, or outrageous
2. Most Unrecognizable – Who completely transformed themselves?
3. Best Costume on a Budget – For standout looks made with minimal cost.

Experience this hands-on floral design experience that combines the joy of creating with the beauty of flowers. Create your own bouquet and take it home with you to enjoy!

NOTE: Please grab your lunch and be seated no later than 8:00 AM.

Please join us for a sponsored breakfast presentation by Otsuka, US!

This program explores the prevalence, impact, and symptoms of agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, specifically focusing on patients living in a long-term care setting. Participants will review the current clinical care landscape for treatment of agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. The program will also provide an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Regulations on Antipsychotics.

How did you get this DON position and more importantly why are you still in the position? Your days are filled with challenges that would scare the average person but not you. You take on regulators, infection control and employee concerns while balancing a home life. The average person would not even apply for this position but you thrive in it Why you ask ? You are not Average and You can't Scare a Nurse. Come to this reality-based session presented for a Nurse by a Nurse.

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify the processes, tools and resources provided at the conference presentations that will assist the attendees in their daily work
2. Describe the importance of the Director of Nursing clinical and operational outcomes
3. Understand the positive impact their professional leadership has in the day-to-day operations of their organization
4. Celebrate their Personal and Professional success in making a difference in the lives of their residents, co-workers, friends and family

Are you feeling trapped in a regulatory House of Horrors, surrounded by F-Tags that won’t die, CDC updates creeping in from the dark, and survey rumors that just won’t stay buried? You’re not alone! Join us as we shine a flashlight into the shadows and uncover what’s truly haunting Directors of Nursing this year. In this spirited session, you’ll unmask the biggest regulatory scares of 2025 - from major F-Tag changes and evolving CDC guidance to the top 10 most frequently cited deficiencies haunting Michigan facilities. We’ll also dig into the rise of Medication Aides and what DONs need to know to stay compliant (and sane!) amidst the chaos. Come prepared to leave your compliance fears behind and step confidently into the light - no ghost hunting required.

Learner Objectives:

1. Identify the top 10 most frequently cited deficiencies in Michigan nursing homes.
2. Analyze recent trends in state survey activity and their implications for nursing leadership.
3. Apply strategies to improve compliance and reduce the risk of deficiencies during surveys.
4. Review key changes to federal regulations within the past 12 months.
5. Summarize updates to CDC guidelines impacting long-term care.
6. Describe current progress with the implementation of Medication Aide legislation.