Unit 1: Chapter 3: The Nursing Assistant

Nurse Practice Acts

Each state has a different one; Defines RN and LPN/LVN roles, scope of practice, education and licensing reqs, allows denying, revoking, and suspending nursing license, AND in some states also decide nursing assistant roles, functions, education, and certification.

OBRA

A federal law; its purpose is to improve the quality of life of nursing center residents. This law sets minimum training and
competency evaluation requirements for
nursing assistants. Each state must have a (NATCEP).

Nursing assistant training and competency evaluation program

NATCEP?

75, 16

At least ___ hours of instruction time is required, some states require more, and ___ hours in classroom and supervised practical training is required according to OBRA.

Written, skills

A competency evaluation has a ___ test and a ____ test. OBRA allows __ attempts to successfully complete the evaluation.

Nursing Assistant Registry

This is the official record or listing of persons who have successfully completed the state’s approved NATCEP and is required by the OBRA. All information stays in the registry for at least 5 years, and any agency can access registry information. You receive a copy of your registry information and you can correct wrong information.

Certification

Official recognition by a state that standards or requirements have been met; each state’s NATCEP must meet OBRA requirements. Nursing assistants can have theirs revoked for actions that are harmful or dangerous to the public or person’s health.

12

OBRA requires that agencies provide __ hours of education to nursing assistants every year, and performance reviews are also required. Also have to ensure competence of nursing assistants who have not worked for 24 months.

NOT

It doesn’t matter how long you worked as a CNA before, it does matter how long you did ____ work.

Endorsement, reciprocity, equivalency

A state recognizes the certificate, license, or registration issued by another state; results are: being granted/denied certification, having to take a NATCEP competency test either in written, skills, or both, or having to take entire NATCEP in the state (3)

Nursing Task

Nursing care or nursing function, procedure, skill, or activity

Scope of practice

Legal limits of your role; it varies among states and agencies. Protects persons from harm

Assist, perform, allowed

Licensed nurses supervise your work. You ____ them in giving care and _____ nursing tasks. Before performing a task, make sure it is ____ by your
state, in the job description, have the
education and training, and a nurse is available to supervise and answer questions.

Job Description

A document that describes what the agency expects you to do. ALso states educational requirements and your job title.

Nursing Assistant Standards

OBRA defines a basic range of functions and All NATCEPs include these functions; it prepares nursing assistants

Accountable

Answer one’s self and others about one’s choices, decisions, and actions.

Delegate

To authorize or direct a nursing assistant to perform a nursing task; a person must be competent to perform the task.

Delegation

Process a nurse uses to direct a nursing assistant to perform a nursing task; allowing a nursing assistant to perform a nursing task that is beyond the nursing assistant’s usual role and not routinely done by them.

APRN, RN, LPN/LVN

An ____ can delegate to RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and nursing assistants; an ___ can delegate to LPNs/LVNs and nursing assistants. ______ can delegate to nursing assistants if allowed by the state’s nurse practice act.

Assessment of needs, communication, guidance and assistance, follow up and feedback.

The process of delegation (4 steps)

Task, circumstances, person, directions and communication, supervision.

NCSBN’s Five Rights of Delegation is
another way to view the delegation process:

The Right→______

Advanced practice registered nurse

APRN

Exploitation

Mis-use of person’s money property or assets

Misappropriation

The illegal, dishonest, unfair, or wrongful use of a person’s money, property, or assets for one’s own use.