March 13, 2023

As we approach Nursing Home Administrators (NHA) week from March 13-17, it's time to take a moment to appreciate these professionals' hard work and dedication. Nursing Home Administrators are responsible for ensuring that residents of long-term care facilities receive high-quality care while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for staff and patients.

This year's theme for NHA week is "Leadership Beyond Limits," and it's a fitting description of the work that administrators do daily. The COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted the importance of their role in keeping our elderly loved ones safe and healthy.

The role of a Nursing Home Administrator has come a long way since the first NHA. The first Nursing Home Administrator program was established in 1964 in response to growing concerns about the quality of care in nursing homes. Before that, nursing home administrators had no regulations or licensing requirements. Anyone could open a nursing home and hire staff without oversight or accountability.

The National Association of Boards of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators (NAB) established the first NHA program to provide standardized training and education for administrators. The NAB continues to provide certification and continuing education for nursing home administrators today.

Since then, the role of the Nursing Home Administrator has evolved to become more complex and demanding. Administrators now must navigate a complex web of regulations, manage a diverse workforce, and ensure that residents receive the best care possible. They are also responsible for managing budgets, developing policies and procedures, and communicating with families and healthcare providers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges for Nursing Home Administrators. They have had to adapt quickly to changing regulations and guidelines and implement new policies and procedures to keep residents and staff safe. They have had to make difficult decisions about visitation, staffing, and personal protective equipment while maintaining the high standards of care that residents deserve.

Despite the challenges, Nursing Home Administrators have risen to the occasion, demonstrating leadership beyond limits. They have been the backbone of long-term care facilities, providing stability and support during uncertain times.

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Nursing Home Administrators Week

While it's important to take time to appreciate and honor the hard work of Nursing Home Administrators during NHA week, it's also important to have a little fun! Here are five funny things you can do to celebrate your NHA this week:

1. Create a silly award ceremony - Create humorous awards for your NHA, such as "Most Likely to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse" or "Best Dressed in Scrubs." Have fun with it, and make the awards as wacky as possible!
2. Have a "Nerf War" - Gather some Nerf guns and have a friendly office-wide Nerf war. This can be a fun way to blow off steam and relieve stress during a busy week.
3. Host a "Roast" - With your NHA's permission, host a humorous roast where staff members can light-heartedly poke fun at their boss. Please make sure everyone keeps it appropriate and respectful, but have fun with it!
4. Create a "Meme Wall" - Collect some funny memes related to nursing home administration and create a wall or bulletin board dedicated to them. This can be a fun way to inject humor into the workplace and bring a smile to everyone's face.
5. Organize a "Bring Your Pet to Work Day" - If your workplace allows it, have a day where staff members can bring their pets to work.

Remember, while it's important to celebrate your NHA and have fun during NHA week, keep it appropriate and respectful.

Sources:

• National Association of Boards of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators. (n.d.). About NAB. Retrieved from https://www.nabweb.org/about-nab
• National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards. (n.d.). History of Nursing Home Administration. Retrieved from https://www.nabweb.org/history-of-nursing-home-administration
• LeadingAge. (2021). Nursing Home Administrators Week. Retrieved from https://www.leadingage.org/education/nursing-home-administrators-week.