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Caregivers Corner

June, 2000

Retention on the Frontline...

Research demonstrates that the long term care industry loses approximately 40% of its nursing assistants before they have completed their 90-day probationary period. Employers have attempted to battle this trend by offering a variety of incentives to recruit job candidates and improve retention rates during this critical time.

Responding to industry need, the Institute recently introduced one such incentive for new hires - the Career Development Series (CDS). The program consists of a 90-day training series for frontline staff designed to:

Reinforce and enhance previous training and orientation

Improve the working environment for staff at all levels

Develop early, positive interventions for "at-risk" employees

Improve employee retention

Focus groups of nursing assistants and other frontline staff have consistently voiced their need and desire for additional training so that they can better care for their residents. CDS assists in the successful transition of new hires from job training to full-time employment by addressing those areas in which employee skills development is badly needed, yet often neglected. A series of two-hour seminars delivered over 13 weeks (90 days) covers topics vital to helping staff function effectively in the workplace.

Career Development Series
Week 1	"Is That a Chip on Your Your Shoulder?"	Nursing Assistant Role & Responsibilities, Attitude & Ethics
Week 2	"What Did You Say? That's Not What I Heard!"	Communication Skills
Week 3	"Are You Being Served?"	Customer Service
Week 4	"So Much to Do, So Little Time..."	Setting Goals, Time Management
Week 5	"All in the Family"	Understanding Family Dynamics
Week 6	"Colors of the Rainbow"	Cultural Diversity
Week 7	"Professional Partners"	Building Your Team
Week 8	"Walk a Mile in My Slippers"	Aging Sensitivity & Dispelling Myths
Week 9	"When the Norm is Not Enough"	Handling Special Needs Clients
Week 10	"Running on Empty"	Stress Management
Week 11	"Uh-Oh, Freddy's on a Tear Again"	Managing Difficult Clients
Week 12	"He Said, She Said, Go Figure..."	Getting Along & Conflict Resolution
Week 13	"Survey Savvy"	Understanding & Preparing for the Survey Process

By offering the Career Development Series on a quarterly basis, employers can enable new hires to rotate into the program as they come on board with the organization. Graduates are granted a completion certificate, that can be accompanied by a pre-determined wage increase initiated by their employer, after attending all 13 seminar topics. For more information on the CDS Contact the Institute.

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