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.

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.

Scaring a nurse is one of the hardest things to do, but there are some subjects that certainly put a "chill" down their spine if not fully prepared. One of them is relationships and intimacy in nursing home residents. This session is intended to help nursing home facilities and staff learn a few ways in which this subject can be approached with success in their facility.

Learner Objectives:

1. The understanding of regulations involved in Resident relationships in a nursing home.
2. The role of the Ombudsman in the nursing home resident consent in relationships.
3. What is legal capacity/consent and how does it apply to relationships in the nursing home setting?

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

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.

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!

This session will provide Directors of Nursing with key updates on the current state of state surveys, the Top 10 most common citations in Michigan, and what DONs need to know about CMS regulations related to those citations. Learn how to better prepare for surveys, avoid common pitfalls, and access essential CMS tools and resources.

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 risk of deficiencies during surveys.

Are you in the House of Horrors surrounded by F-tags, CDC guidelines, Certified Medication Aides and more? Are your windows draped with cobwebs of survey rumors so you cannot clearly see the regulations? Let this session guide you out of that house and into the full moon! Learn the major changes to the Ftags - and how surveyors are applying these. Discover what CDC is saying now about COVID, flu, etc. And talk about the success of using medication aides to assist your nurses.

Learner Objectives:

1. Review the changes to the federal regulations in the past 12 months.
2. Identify changes made to the CDC guidelines that effect LTC in the last 12 months.
3. Describe where we are today with the implementation of the Medication Aide Legislation.