Together with

Good morning.  We've partnered with CEUSrEZ to provide our readers with a free NAB-approved continuing education course worth one credit hour.  To cash in on your free course here is all you have to do.  

1.) Hit "reply" to this email.  If you were forwarded this email, reply to newsletter@nhastandup.com.  

2.) Add the email addresses of a few other NHA's in your network so they can also get the free course.  Hit send.

3.) That's it.  We will reply to the email thread with the course link and free registration code for yourself and your friends!

CEUSrEZ offers an additional CEU credit for free on their site, giving you two total NAB credit hours.  Check out their offerings for all of your CEU needs!

Elevate Your Operation

A Nursing Home Administrator wears dozens of hats.  One of those hats that has been put on almost daily throughout the pandemic is the role of a mental health advocate.

Personally, this is new and intimidating territory.  At times, the relentless pressures from employees, residents, resident family members, and home life can feel suffocating to me.  I feel inadequately prepared to guide team members struggling with the same stresses that I am.  How am I supposed to advocate for them when I feel like I can't even help myself?

Through research, trial, and many errors, I have found these tactics helpful and effective.

Feel confident being unconfident.  Being vulnerable is not only ok, but it's also necessary.  Open up about what you're going through to create an inviting culture for others to share their struggles.  You don't have to do this in a group setting if it's uncomfortable.  Vulnerability can be displayed in a 1:1 environment or through a memo to your leaders and employees.  Start the conversation.

Lead by example.  Take 30 minutes to go outside and take a walk, and encourage others to do the same.  Leave at three on a Friday.  Take a day off, and don't respond to emails until you return.

Step up your communication.  There is a direct correlation between employees who view their managers as ineffective communicators and employees who report increased stress at work.  Now's time to understand what's on your team's plate and be specific about what comes off their plate.  I spend more time helping my teams identify what's not a priority so they can be successful, and more importantly, feel successful, focusing on achieving less and more specific goals.

Remember that whatever is keeping you up at night is also probably keeping your team up at night.  Don't beat around the bush with areas of the operation that are struggling.  Discuss them in team meetings and all staff meetings openly and honestly and layout the plan and timeline to get things back on track.  Provide updates consistently to inform team members precisely how their departments can help in achieving the goal.

Celebrate the small wins.  There is nothing too small or insignificant to celebrate.  Complete your weekly testing in record time?  Complete triple check with no errors?  Make a big deal out of it and celebrate your team.

Insist on work-life balance.  I have actually changed the lock on someone's office door, so they had to go home and take some time off.  Another appreciated gesture is to split your leadership into two teams, and every Friday, alternate the team that gets to leave early.  Be flexible with your team and their schedules.

Ask for feedback.  Work with your corporate or HR team to develop an anonymous employee survey that can help identify the pulse of the group and how they believe the organization can better support their mental health.

The tactics listed above are by no means an all-inclusive list, and I am in no way an expert on mental health advocacy.  Do your best, be vulnerable, and give yourself some grace.  

Technology We Love

Two months ago I would have never believed I'd be recommending meditation.  I decided to give it a try after doing some research and learning that all meditation really encompasses at its core is focusing on your breath.  Give it a try and you might surprise yourself with how much you truly enjoy it.  If nothing else, you'll get a few minutes of relaxation, and who doesn't want that?  For the workplace, we recommend Calm for business.  You can try it free for seven days and introduce it to your team by kicking off your daily stand-up meeting with a little meditation exercise.  

Maximize Your Commute

Are you interested in learning more about advocating for mental health for yourself and others?  Check out this list of mental health-related podcasts for leaders, and take a listen on your trips to and from the campus.  

Grab your coffee and make it a great day.  We appreciate you and your dedication to your team and residents. -Thank you!