The 'Gift' of Restorative Nursing

Restorative nursing dates back to the 1950s, but in 1998, the onset of the Prospective Payment System (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities raised awareness of the reimbursement benefits of restorative programs. Restorative nursing highlights the goal of maintaining optimal physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning, and acknowledges that any resident at any time may benefit from restorative nursing. But while the definition of restorative nursing includes most aspects of care, the documentation required to take credit for this care serves to exclude providers from providing it. Providers might find it helpful to consider using "The Vulnerable Transition Model" - as did a Maine facility discussed in this article - for identifying clinically meaningful opportunities for providing restorative care.