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Chapter 3

Chapter 3. The Nursing Assistant in Long-Term Care. Nursing Assistant Duties. To protect residents from harm, you need to know: What you can and cannot do What is right conduct and wrong conduct Your legal limits Your work is shaped by: Laws Job descriptions The person’s condition

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Chapter 3

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  1. Chapter 3 The Nursing Assistant in Long-Term Care

  2. Nursing Assistant Duties • To protect residents from harm, you need to know: • What you can and cannot do • What is right conduct and wrong conduct • Your legal limits • Your work is shaped by: • Laws • Job descriptions • The person’s condition • The amount of supervision you need

  3. History and Current Trends • Until the 1980s, nursing assistant training was not required by law. • Before the 1980s, team nursing was common. • Primary nursing was common in the 1980s. • Home care increased during the 1980s. • Efforts were made to reduce health care costs.

  4. Federal and State Laws • You must know the state and federal laws that affect your work. • Each state has a nurse practice act that: • Defines RN and LPN/LVN • Describes the scope of practice for RNs and LPNs/LVNs • Describes education and licensing requirements for RNs and LPNs/LVNs • Protects the public from persons practicing nursing without a license • Allows for revoking or suspending a nurse’s license

  5. Nursing assistants • A state’s nurse practice act is used to decide what nursing assistants can do. • The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) applies to all states. • It sets minimum training and competency evaluation requirements for nursing assistants. • It requires each state to have a nursing assistant training and competency evaluation program (NATCEP). • The training program • OBRA requires at least 75 hours of instruction. • There must be 16 hours of supervised practical training.

  6. Competency evaluation • The competency evaluation has a written test and a skills test. • The written test has multiple choice questions. • The skills test involves performing nursing skills. • Nursing assistant registry is an official record of persons who have successfully completed a state-approved NATCEP. • All information stays in the registry for at least 5 years. • Any agency can access registry information. • You receive a copy of your registry information. • Other OBRA requirements • Retraining and a new competency evaluation program for nursing assistants who have not worked for 24 months • 12 hours of educational programs for nursing assistants every year • Performance reviews

  7. Certification • After successfully completing your state’s NATCEP, you have the title used in your state. • Certified nursing assistant (CNA) or certified nurse aide (CNA) • Licensed nursing assistant (LNA) • Registered nurse aide (RNA) • Nursing assistants can have their certification (licenses, registration) denied, revoked, or suspended.

  8. Working in Another State To work in another state, you must meet that state’s registry requirements. To do so, contact the state agency responsible for NATCEPs and the nursing assistant registry. Then apply to the state agency to be a CNA (LNA, RNA). Your application is reviewed to see if you meet the state’s requirements.

  9. Roles and Responsibilities • The following direct what you can do: • Nurse practice acts • OBRA • State laws • Legal and advisory opinions • To protect persons from harm, you must understand: • What you can do • What you cannot do • The legal limits of your role • In some states, this is called scope of practice. • The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NSCBN) calls it range of functions.

  10. Nursing Assistant Standards OBRA defines the basic range of functions for nursing assistants. All NATCEPs include those functions. Some states allow other functions. NATCEPs also prepare nursing assistants to meet those standards.

  11. Licensed nurses supervise your work. • You assist in giving care. • You also perform nursing tasks. • Before you perform a nursing task, make sure that: • Your state allows nursing assistants to do so. • It is in your job description. • You have the necessary education and training. • A nurse is available to answer questions and to supervise you.

  12. The job description: • Is a list of responsibilities the center expects you to perform • States educational requirements • Always request a written job description when you apply for a job. • Do not take a job that requires you to: • Act beyond the legal limits of your role • Function beyond your training limits • Perform acts that are against your morals or religion

  13. No one can force you to do something beyond the legal limits of your role. • You must understand: • Your roles and responsibilities • The functions you can safely perform • The things you should never do • Your job description • The ethical and legal aspects of your role

  14. Delegation • Delegate means to authorize another person to perform a nursing task in a certain situation. • The person must be competent to perform a task in a given situation. • Who can delegate? • RNs can delegate tasks to LPNs/LVNs and nursing assistants. • In some states, LPNs/LVNs can delegate tasks to nursing assistants. • Nursing assistants cannot delegate.

  15. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) describes the delegation process in four steps. • Assess and plan: the nurse needs to understand the person’s need. • Communication: the nurse must provide clear and complete directions. • Surveillance and supervision: the nurse has to make sure that you complete the task correctly. • Evaluation and feedback: the nurse decides if the delegation was successful. • The Five Rights of Delegation (according to the NCSBN) • The right task • The right circumstances • The right person • The right directions and communication • The right supervision

  16. When you agree to perform a task: • You are responsible for your own actions. • You must complete the task safely. • You must ask for help when you are unsure or have questions about a task. • You must report to the nurse what you did and the observations you made.

  17. You should refuse to perform a task when: • The task is beyond the legal limits of your role. • The task is not in your job description. • You were not prepared to perform the task. • The task could harm the person. • The person’s condition has changed. • You do not know how to use the supplies or equipment. • Directions are not ethical or legal. • Directions are against center policies. • Directions are unclear or incomplete. • A nurse is not available for supervision.

  18. Quality of Life The work you do is important for the person’s quality of life. Your current training is just the start of a lifetime of learning and possibilities.

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