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What if your team could label problems with the same clarity as medications in your med room? What if every leader understood not only the issue but their role in solving it — and acted accordingly?

Thanks to Jordan DiPietro, former COO and CEO in the startup space, we have a brilliant five-level framework for problem-solving maturity that can transform how your team communicates, prioritizes, and leads. Originally designed for fast-growing companies, this model is a perfect fit for skilled nursing — where leadership, clarity, and speed are non-negotiable.

Elevate your Leadership

This five level problem solving framework is the best I have come across because it's easy to teach, easy to remember, and easy to assign to problems and roles which helps it stick as part of your culture.  

Here is what each of the five levels means and how to implement this framework into your operation.

The Five Levels of Problem-Solving Maturity

(Credit: Jordan DiPietro, shared via LinkedIn)

Level 1: Problem Identification

“Here’s a problem.”
No context, no solution. Common with new hires or during orientation.
Example: “We’re short on linens.”

Level 2: Problem + Context
 

“Here’s a problem, and here’s the background.”
Example: “We’re short on linens because the laundry machine broke last night and deliveries are delayed.”

Level 3: Solutions-Oriented

“Here’s the problem, context, and three possible solutions.”
Example: *“Linens are short due to equipment failure. Options:

1. Borrow from partner facility,

2. Expedite an emergency delivery,

3. Rent from a local vendor short-term.”*

Level 4: Recommended Action

“Here’s what I think we should do.”
Example: “I recommend renting linens short-term and scheduling a preventive maintenance check on all washers this week.”

Level 5: Proactive Execution

“Here’s what I’ve already done, and here’s how I’ll update you.”
Example: “Rented emergency linens. Maintenance scheduled. I’ll follow up Thursday.”

Why This Framework Matters 

In high-pressure environments where everything from staffing to survey prep requires rapid decisions, this structure builds confidence, accountability, and autonomy.

Too often, leaders get flooded with Level 1 or 2 issues that should be solved at Level 4 or 5. This model shifts the burden from “I need you to fix it” to “I’ve thought this through — here’s what I recommend.”

Implementing the Framework with Your Team

Step 1: Teach the Model
Introduce the concept in your next department head meeting. Walk through each level with examples that reflect your facility’s challenges — from scheduling to regulatory follow-up.

Step 2: Create a Visual Reference
Print a cheat sheet. Post it in break rooms, team lead offices, and the DON’s planning board. (We’ll provide a downloadable version.)

Step 3: Set Role Expectations
Clarify what's expected. For example:

• Charge Nurses: Levels 2–3

• Unit Managers: Level 4

• Department Heads: Level 5
  Hold them to it — and support them as they grow.  Set guardrails if you need to.

Step 4: Start Labeling Problems
This is the game-changer. Ask, “What level problemis this?” when someone brings a problem. Gently push: “Level 4 me, please.” Over time, you’ll hear team members say it to each other.

Step 5: Celebrate the Shift
Catch people operating at higher levels. Recognize and reward it. Over time, the culture changes from reactionary to ownership-driven.

This isn’t just about saving time — it’s about building leaders at every level. As DiPietro puts it, “The goal wasn’t just to save me time — it was to help level up the whole company and make sure we approached problems with real ownership and solutions-first thinking.”

In skilled nursing, that mindset doesn’t just make your day smoother — it impacts care, outcomes, and morale.

Let’s lead with clarity. Let’s problem-solve with purpose.

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Whenever you're ready, I can help you in a few ways.

1. Leverage our partnership with CEUSrEZ and purchase NAB-approved, online, self-paced, continuing education courses at a 20% discount here.
2. Use our free AI-powered Chatbot trained on all 900 pages of CMS Nursing Home Regulations, proprietary processes, and information from decades of skilled nursing leadership experience.  Click here.
3. Sign up for Assisto and keep track of the regulatory environment in your state.  Know what deficiencies surveyors cite in real-time and ensure you're not at risk for the same tag.  Sign up here.

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Thanks for reading.  Have a wonderful day.

Kevin Goedeke, Publisher and Founder