Nursing home residents who were visited at least once every 60 days by VA nurses (who were master's prepared and had experience in gerontological nursing) had fewer emergency room visits and hospital readmissions than those who were not visited. 2. The establishment of a good rapport between the liaison nurses and the nursing home staff was essential in initiating nursing interventions. 3. The recommendations most often made by the liaison nurses to the nursing home staff were for collaborative actions with other disciplines.