Event Registration

DON Fundamentals – A Playbook for New Nurse Leaders

Hybrid Format

This course will be offered in a hybrid format meaning you can attend in-person or virtually. Please use the registration buttons above or below to register for your preferred session.

Note: Registering for this hybrid event grants you live access only.

Program Description

The DON Fundamentals program is a comprehensive, two-day training designed to provide new Directors of Nursing (DONs) and nurse leaders with the essential skills, strategies and knowledge to excel in their leadership roles within nursing facilities. This program equips nurse leaders with a playbook for success, offering practical tools to navigate the challenges they’ll face in their day-to-day work.

Through expert led sessions, participants will learn how to effectively manage time and performance, mitigate risks, drive quality improvement initiatives and ensure survey preparedness. The curriculum is tailored specifically to the unique needs of DONs, providing actionable insights into leadership, compliance and human resource management in nursing facility settings.

Location

BCG Education Center
Iowa Health Care Association
1775 90th St
West Des Moines, IA

Schedule

March 2-3, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

March 2
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.              Check-In/Registration
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.             Leadership Fundamentals – Mastering Time & Performance Management
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.            Mitigating Risks & Incident Reporting
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.            Lunch (provided)
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.              Quality Improvement in LTC – QAPI
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.                Quality Improvement in LTC – Five Star & QMs
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.              Involving your Medical Director in your Quality Improvement Program

March 3
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.             Best Practices for Survey Preparedness
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.            Lunch (provided)
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.             Human Resources for DONs

Session Descriptions

Leadership Fundamentals – Mastering Time & Performance Management
Speaker: Lori Baranowski
Immense responsibility rests on the Director of Nursing—not only for residents and staff but also for the overall success of the organization. Leadership in your field is more than just a title; it’s about setting the tone, inspiring your team, and making critical decisions under pressure. But let’s be honest—between regulatory demands, staffing challenges, and the ever-growing list of responsibilities, time never seems to be on our side. This session will focus on two essential skills that can make or break your success: effective leadership and time management. Throughout this session, we’ll explore strategies to enhance your leadership impact while maximizing efficiency, ensuring that you’re not just getting through the day—but leading with purpose, confidence, and balance.

Mitigating Risk & Incident Reporting
Speaker: Becki Brommel
Nursing facilities face scrutiny from various sources – regulators, residents and families, and the public. This session will include practical strategies for identifying and understanding areas of risk and provide solutions for mitigating risks from both a regulatory and litigation standpoint.

Quality Improvement in LTC – QAPI
This 1-hour training session provides a targeted overview of the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) framework. The course equips DONs with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead and support an effective QAPI program in alignment with CMS regulations. Focusing on leadership’s role in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, this session highlights how nursing leadership can use QAPI to drive better resident outcomes, improve staff engagement, and ensure compliance. Practical strategies, real-world examples, and key takeaways are included to help DONs integrate QAPI into daily clinical operations and quality oversight.

Quality Improvement in LTC – Five Star & QMs
This fast-paced session will assist attendees in strengthening their leadership in quality improvement and regulatory performance. The session provides an actionable overview of the CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System, with a focused look at the Quality Measures (QMs) domain. Participants will learn how quality data impacts facility star ratings, how to interpret key metrics, and which clinical practices influence performance outcomes. With practical examples and strategies, this course empowers DONs to lead data-informed initiatives that improve care, support staff engagement, and elevate resident outcomes.

Involving your Medical Director in your Quality Improvement Program
Speaker: Tasha Janssen
This presentation serves to educate healthcare leaders on the vital role medical directors play in driving successful QI programs. It provides an outline of their key responsibilities and practical ways to engage them, ultimately contributing to better patient care, enhanced clinical performance, and sustainable QI efforts.

Best Practices for Survey Preparedness
Speaker: Brenda Irlbeck
Having the knowledge to prepare and respond to survey situations is a vital skill for all nurse leaders.  In this intensive session, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the survey process to empower them with knowledge and strategies to conquer surveys with confidence. As we dive into the essential aspects of regulatory inspections – what they are, why they matter, and most importantly, how to effectively prepare your team to navigate them successfully, you will learn how to handle both expected and unanticipated survey moments with poise.

Human Resources for DONs
Speaker: Jo Ellen Whitney
The Director of Nursing occupies a specialized role in any facility.  Supervisor, mentor, mediator, medical assessment, planner and trainer- it’s a broad role that is impacted not only by standards of care and  scope of practice but also employment laws and regulations.  This session will focus on issues for DONs in managing the application of employment laws to common situations. 

Continuing Education Credit

This program is approved for 10 contact hours for:

• Nurses
• NF Administrators

Registration Fees

Members:     $275 per person
Non-Members:         $825 per person

Speakers

Lori Baranowski is a Registered Nurse with over 40 years of experience in senior care. A graduate of St. Francis School of Nursing in Hartford, Connecticut, she currently serves as Chief Nurse Officer at Campbell Street Senior Living, overseeing 23 communities in Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota. Lori is an active member of the Kansas Health Care Association Nurse Advisory Board and the Iowa Health Care Association Quality Committee, where she helps advance senior care best practices. She has lobbied at both the state and federal levels with the Iowa Health Care Association and American Health Care Association on key initiatives. Lori’s expertise includes Clinical Program Development, QAPI, Regulatory Compliance, and Psychoactive Medication Management. Her work has been vital in shaping quality improvement initiatives in senior care.

Rebecca (Becki) Brommel is a partner at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP and practices in the area of healthcare litigation.  She regularly represents long term care providers in regulatory matters, including citations and government investigations, as well as general litigation matters such as contract disputes, recovery of unpaid accounts and other types of business disputes. Becki received her B.A. from Drake University in 1998 and her law degree from Drake University Law School in 2001.   She is a member of the Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys and regularly presents to the long term care industry on regulatory and litigation topics.

Tasha Janssen is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and the Vice President of Operations at Curana Health, where she oversees healthcare operations across the Midwest. She holds an associate degree in nursing from Ellsworth Community College and a master’s degree from Graceland University. With experience in hospice, senior living, and post-acute care, Tasha is dedicated to compassionate, patient-centered care. She is an active member of the Iowa Nurse Practitioner Society and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, serving on multiple committees. Tasha is passionate about improving care quality in skilled nursing and senior living communities. At Curana Health, she combines her clinical and operational expertise to lead initiatives that enhance healthcare outcomes.

Brenda Irlbeck is the Vice President, Regulatory Affairs for the Iowa Health Care Association. Brenda is a registered nurse, certified assisted living manager, and a former director of nursing. She leads the IHCA and ICAL Quality Improvement Advisory Councils, is a Silver Examiner for the AHCA NCAL National Quality Award Program, and serves on the AHCA Survey/Regulatory Committee.  With over twenty years of post-acute leadership experience, she is knowledgeable in quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and clinical practice in long-term care settings.  

Jo Ellen Whitney, shareholder, Dentons Davis Brown Law Firm,is a renowned expert in employment and health law, known for her practical approach and engaging speaking style. She advises a diverse range of clients, including employers, HR professionals, and healthcare administrators, on issues such as employment law, health law, privacy compliance, and contract development. Jo Ellen has significant experience representing clients before administrative agencies and in courts, specializing in business planning, discipline, regulatory compliance, and issues related to wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment. She also works extensively in health law, focusing on privacy issues like HIPAA, medical staffing, consent, and licensure matters. As a thought leader, she frequently speaks and writes on employment law and privacy, contributing to publications and presenting at major industry events. Jo Ellen is also the author of the Iowa Guide to Medical Records and regularly trains healthcare and HR professionals on legal compliance and best practices.