Skilled nurses can provide attentive care designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce relapse rates in hospital settings by bridging the gap between hospital care and home recovery. Demand for skilled nursing care continues to rise, particularly as healthcare providers work to monitor patients in the weeks and months after they receive treatment.
What Is Skilled Nursing?
So, what is a skilled nurse? Skilled nursing is a specialized form of nursing care provided to patients needing temporary rehabilitative care. Generally speaking, skilled nurses work closely with patients who have recently had surgery, are recovering after an injury or fall, or are in need of extended care after a diagnosis.
Definition and Overview
Cedar Hill Care defines skilled nursing care as a specialized form of nursing practice provided by registered nurses or licensed practical nurses rather than by medical assistants or nursing home aides. The scope of skilled nursing is relatively broad, as skilled nurses are often responsible for managing patient care in the aftermath of a surgery, injury, or illness. Skilled nursing may require nurses to care for the patients’ medical needs, provide rehabilitative care, or connect patients with supportive services that will help improve their overall experience and outcomes.
Types of Skilled Nursing Services
Due to the nature of skilled nursing, skilled nurses may provide patients with a wide range of services. Some of the most common skilled nursing services include:
- Planning and assessment — Skilled nurses will work with healthcare providers to create a patient treatment plan that accommodates their recovery and provides patients with the support that they need to successfully navigate their home environment once again.
- Wound care — Skilled nurses are often responsible for monitoring wound recovery and caring for wounds in the aftermath of an illness or injury.
- Medication management — Skilled nurses work closely with healthcare providers to manage each patient’s medication and ensure they feel as comfortable and confident as possible during their time in a long-term care facility.
- Communication, advocacy, and education — Skilled nurses can provide their patients and their patients’ caregivers with valuable information about their health, recovery, and long-term well-being. They often work to connect their patients with resources that will aid in their recovery and enhance their quality of life, and in many cases, they serve as their patients’ advocates to ensure that they receive the care that they require as they rehabilitate.
Skilled Nursing vs. Nursing Home Care
Skilled nursing is often confused with nursing home care, but it is important to keep in mind that there are distinct differences between skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Skilled nursing care is a specialized form of nursing practice, and it serves as a bridge between the hospital environment and the home environment.
Key Differences
Skilled nursing facilities set themselves apart from nursing homes because:
- Skilled nurses are employed at skilled nursing facilities to provide patients with higher levels of medical care as they recover from an injury, illness, or surgical procedure.
- Skilled nurses typically do not provide daily bedside care, whereas medical aides who work in nursing homes often focus on bathing, dressing, and feeding residents.
- Skilled nurses are available at all hours of the day at skilled nursing facilities, whereas nursing home staff members may only be available during specific time periods.
Generally speaking, patients at skilled nursing care facilities will receive higher levels of medical care and personalized attention, ensuring that they can recover quickly and fully.
Choosing the Right Facility
Patients who need specialized care as they recover from an injury, fall, accident, surgery, or diagnosis will want to choose a skilled nursing facility that will provide them with the best possible outcomes. When choosing a facility, these are some of the factors that you should consider:
- The needs of the patient and their current medical condition.
- The patient’s goals and their hopes for progress.
- The cost of the facility and the amount of insurance coverage available.
When Is Skilled Nursing Needed?
Skilled nursing fills a specific gap within the healthcare industry, and therefore, patients only require skilled nursing care under certain circumstances when they need extended care. Generally, patients need skilled nursing care after a hospital stay and before they return home, such as when they are recovering from surgery or from an acute illness.
Post-Hospitalization Recovery
Patients are often transferred to skilled nursing care facilities after they have completed a stay in the hospital. Skilled nursing facilities bridge the gap between the hospital and home environments, allowing patients to recover more completely before heading home again. Skilled nursing helps support post-hospitalization recovery by prioritizing patient comfort, encouraging physical rehabilitation, improving independence, and preventing hospital readmissions.
Managing Chronic Conditions
Patients who have been diagnosed with chronic diseases often find that skilled nursing facilities allow them to feel comfortable, confident, and in control of their lives. Skilled nurses often work with patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes, heart failure, or COPD, and they can provide those patients with compassionate care after they have spent time in the hospital related to complications from their conditions. Skilled nursing care helps to reduce the severity of chronic conditions, improve patient outcomes, and reduce hospital readmissions.
The Benefits of Skilled Nursing Care
By building a bridge between the hospital environment and the home, skilled nursing care can provide patients with valuable and essential support. Skilled nursing care benefits not only the patient population, but also the healthcare system at large, as it can help prevent complications, reduce hospital readmissions, and reduce the overall cost of healthcare.
Personalized and Multidisciplinary Approach
Skilled nursing is commonly thought of as a specialized form of care available to aging patients. While skilled nurses often work with elderly patients managing chronic conditions or recovering from an injury, it is essential to keep in mind that skilled nursing is an accessible form of care available to any patient who needs it. It is one of the most personalized nursing specialties available, as skilled nurses often work to develop care plans tailored to meet the needs of the individual patient.
Rehabilitation and Therapy Services
In addition to providing patients with extended medical care, skilled nursing facilities can offer additional rehabilitation and therapy services to help each individual fully recover. In most skilled nursing facilities, there are also physical, occupational, and speech therapists on staff available to work with patients and provide them with the comprehensive care they need to become fully independent once again.
Navigating Insurance and Payment for Skilled Nursing
Skilled nursing care is available to any patient who needs it, regardless of their age or condition. However, the amount of insurance coverage that an individual patient receives will vary significantly based on their policy type. Knowing your available coverage will allow you to plan accordingly for any additional expenses or out-of-pocket costs associated with skilled nursing care.
Medicare and Medicaid Coverage
Medicare and Medicaid may provide patients with coverage for care provided at a skilled nursing facility. Patients covered under Medicare Part A will receive coverage for skilled nursing care for a limited period of time under certain conditions. It is vital to verify your eligibility criteria and limitations to understand how much coverage you will receive under Medicare or Medicaid.
Private Insurance and Out-of-Pocket Costs
Patients who have private insurance may have some coverage for skilled nursing care, though the coverage will vary based on the insurance provider, the medical necessity of the care, and the potential duration of the stay. Patients should evaluate their private insurance coverage to understand the out-of-pocket costs that they will accrue.
Transitioning to Skilled Nursing Care
In the event that you or a loved one needs to be transferred to a skilled nursing care facility after a hospital stay, you will want to ease the transition as much as possible to achieve the best possible outcomes. By understanding the need for skilled nursing care and working closely with your providers to create a personalized treatment plan, you can seamlessly transition to a skilled nursing facility and continue working toward your recovery goals.
Preparing for Admission
For some, the idea of going to a skilled nursing facility may seem overwhelming or even disappointing, particularly if they have already been in the hospital for a long period of time. To best transition to a skilled nursing facility, you can prepare for admission by:
- Preparing all the required documentation in advance.
- Providing the skilled nursing facility with your medical history so that they can create a personalized care plan for you.
- Outlining any preferences that you have for your stay so that you can be as comfortable and confident as possible.
- Bringing personal items with you that may bring you comfort or that may help you feel more relaxed in the skilled nursing environment. Many patients enjoy having personal photos, blankets, or other household items available.
- Knowing what choices are available to you and maintaining a sense of control when possible. Developing a sense of autonomy can help you feel more positive during your stay at a skilled nursing facility.
Ensuring a Smooth Transition
These key strategies can help you and your caregivers transition from the clinical hospital environment to the more personalized skilled nursing care environment:
- Clearly communicate your needs and preferences with the care teams at the skilled nursing facility. They want to create a personalized plan to help you fully and completely recover, and they value your insight.
- Make an effort to get to know the staff members at the skilled nursing facility. Developing relationships will allow you to better navigate this new environment and advocate for yourself.
- Set recovery goals for yourself and share them with your skilled nurses.
What Is a Skilled Nurse? Learn More at Nevada State University
By now, you should be able to answer the question of what is a skilled nurse – in addition to how you can get started in a career in skilled nursing. Skilled nurses are expected to play a pivotal role in the coming years, particularly as the healthcare landscape continues to redefine itself and healthcare providers seek to provide all patients with more accessible and personalized care.
At Nevada State University, we offer an RN to BSN online program that allows you to build upon your existing foundation and develop the advanced clinical skills required to pursue skilled nursing positions. The curriculum for this program emphasizes clinical, technical, and soft nursing skills, allowing you to become a more effective and compassionate nurse. Request more information about our nursing degree programs today.