Janine M. Lange, M.S.N., R.N.-B.C., is the author of Enhancing Staff Retention in Person-Centered Care Environments for Older Adults, which was awarded a 2016 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year award. She began her nursing career in Billings, Montana as a respite care volunteer for seniors in her community. She quickly developed a passion for caring for others, especially those with life-threatening illnesses, and became a registered nurse. After acquiring experience in the hospital setting, Lange devoted her nursing career to being a hospice nurse, having witnessed the loving care her father received from the nurses at a Veterans Health Administration hospital, where he succumbed to the ravages of lung cancer.
Following additional training in nursing management and administration, including earning certification as a Staff Development Specialist in Long-Term Care, Lange became Director of Clinical Education for one of the top 10, not-for-profit continuing care retirement communities in the United States. She focuses on improving the training process for new nursing staff and providing continuing education to help staff hone their skills.
An advocate for the rights of residents and the education of those who care for them, Lange is a leader in culture change and supporting the values and practices of person-centered care. As a speaker for national conventions and nursing organizations, she stresses the importance of comprehensive orientation training to improve staff retention and performance. She is also actively involved in the Pioneer Network, an organization that advocates for culture change across all models of elder care and elder services.
