The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Leadership Role in Nursing Homes: Leading Efforts Toward High Quality and Safe Care.

ABSTRACT

This article highlights the critical role of advanced practice registered nurses in the care of older adults living in nursing homes. This population is one of the frailest, marginalized, and often neglected in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic impact on nursing homes resulted in a stunning number of infections and subsequent resident deaths. This is a shameful reminder of the many challenges and gaps in the nursing home industry including inadequate staffing, high staff turnover, improper isolation technique, and lack of fundamental knowledge of how to adequately implement infection prevention and control processes. Strong advanced practice registered nurse leadership may have mitigated some of these factors.