A Community to Advance Excellence in Long Term Care Nursing
American Association for Long Term Care Nursing Develops Position Statements and Core Competencies for LTC Nursing Staff
The American Association for Long Term Care Nursing (AALTCN) has recently developed a document titled Position Statements and Core Competencies that provides a definition and standards for long term care nursing, and role descriptions and core competencies for the following nursing positions in nursing homes:
Director of Nursing / Nurse Executive
Unit Nurse Manger / Assistant Director of Nursing / Clinical Manager
The Position Descriptions and Related Core Competencies intend to:
assist individuals who fill the described positions to understand the unique aspects of their roles and the specialized knowledge and skills required to fill them
guide employers in their efforts to recruit and hire individuals who are competent to fill specialized roles
inform organizations that pay for long term care services of the scope and complexities of the various roles in long term care nursing so that reimbursement realistically matches responsibilities
educate other disciplines and consumers of the complexities and specialized components of various nursing roles in long term care
define competencies required for safe, effective long term care nursing practice for institutions that educate and train long term care nursing personnel
advance the status of long term care nursing by demonstrating the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills required to practice within this specialty
The work was done by a group of LTC nurse leaders representing diverse clinical and academic settings. AALTCN believes that the document will serve as a foundation for thought and discussion. It will be refined and new roles added as the specialty of long term care nursing continues to grow.This work was done in an effort to support and advance AALTCN's mission to
Unite various categories of long-term care nursing staff
Provide relevant educational resources that bridge current best practices with bedside practice
Bring visibility and respect to long-term care nursing caregivers
Advocate for long-term care nursing caregivers
Support and promote excellence in care for consumers of long-term care
Position Statements and Core Competencies is available free of charge to AALTCN members and for purchase by nonmembers.