Versailles Health Care Center Nursing Staff Receives Specialized Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Certification Training

Instructor, Kim Scharf, reviews the COPD Advanced Assessment Program with VHCC nursing staff.

The nursing staff at Versailles Health Care Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, recently received specialized training and is now certified by the Covenant HealthCare COPD Advanced Assessment Program and currently assuring CEU’s through the Department of Human and Health Services. In March 2015, Kim Scharf, RN, MNSc, APRN, taught the two-day program to the nursing staff concerning the critical elements in maintaining patient respiratory stability. Early identification of subtle signs she believes can be found only with true engagement of our patients so we can detect the “correct” root cause for appropriate intervention. “Nurses are only as good as their assessment skills and then what actions they decide to take dependent on that depth of assessment. I’m teaching the nurses to establish early chief complaints to then assimilate them with system bedside assessment0 verifying need for proactive nursing intervention before acute intervention needed.”

The COPD Program consisted of the following components: Anatomy & Physiology, Multifactorial Dyspnea, Cardiac Differentials, COPD, Pneumonia, Asthma, Respiratory assessment with stabilizing oxygen progression. Success of the Class and Break Out Sessions post demonstration of Trach Care/Management/Suctioning and Oxygen Progression was supported with post class return demonstration by the nurses exuding respiratory interventions with confidence while proving competent.

“I’m excited that our nursing staff has received this high level of training. The skills assessment training will compliment our exceptional pulmonary rehabilitation program,” said Kristy Earick, Administrator at Versailles Health Care Center.

Versailles Health Care Center offers short-term rehab services, outpatient therapy, and long-term care. Versailles Health Care Center sent home 185 patients that utilized its short-term rehab services in 2014 and 166 in 2013! If you are interested in learning more about Versailles Health Care Center, please call us at 937.526.5570, or visit on the web at www.versailleshealthcare.com.