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e hope you were pleasantly surprised when you discovered the redesigned and more reader-friendly January/February issue of ECPN in your mailbox. We’ve received a number of compliments on the new look, from “improves readability” to “absolutely beautiful.” We appreciate our readers’ support and hope to continue to exceed your expectations. We’ve compiled what we feel is another strong issue with the March edition and welcome your feedback.
       Our cover story, “Averting a Care Crisis,” by Linda Hollinger-Smith, RN, PhD, hones in on an issue that has been in the forefront of all healthcare providers’ minds for quite some time—the looming nursing staff shortage accentuated by the increasing aging population. Dr. Hollinger-Smith, Director for Research at Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging in Evanston, Ill, feels that recruitment alone will not adequately fill the staffing gaps that threaten the continuum of long-term care. A joint effort between the author’s institute and Life Services Network revealed the fundamentals necessary to retain quality leaders and frontline staff: relationships, respect, and recognition. To address these fundamentals, the LEAP (Learn, Empower, Achieve, Produce) program was developed. The goal of this comprehensive long-term care nursing workforce program is to educate, empower, and retain nurse managers and frontline staff. Two LEAP Modules, 1 for nurse managers and charge nurses and 1 for nurse assistants, consist of tools that will help these professionals develop effective communication skills, cultivate capable teams, and establish positive relationships with co-workers, residents, and families. Turn to page 18 for the full story.
       In addition to our cover story, we are pleased to offer features on safe medication management, a lawyer’s perspective on pressure ulcer litigation, and a protocol for self administration of medication. Departments within this issue focus on measuring heights and weights, mastering the Minimum Data Set, recognizing xerosis, introducing advanced technology, and more.
       Next month, ECPN will focus on diabetes. Look for articles on the use of artificial sweeteners in the diabetic diet, adapting diabetes standards of care to the home care client, and the importance of skin assessment for the diabetic patient, to name a few.
       On behalf of the staff and editorial board of ECPN, thank you for reading.