Certification & Caring for Your Career

Abuse

Purposeful mistreatment that results in physical, mental, or emotion harm or pain.

Abuse Registry

A public list of CNAs with proven evidence of neglect, abuse, or misappropriation of a resident.

Body Language

Nonverbal communication through gestures, facial expressions, behaviors, and posture.

Certification

The process by which a person who has met certain criteria is granted recognition. In the State of Utah, this criteria is to complete an approved training program with the required class/clinical hours and pass the UNAR knowledge and skills competency evaluations.

Department of Health (DOH)

A department of the U.S. federal government and the state to protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services. In Utah, they also set guidelines for nurse assistants carried out by the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR).

Job Description

An agreement between the employer and the employee. It states your responsibilities and the tasks you will be expected to perform. It also describes the skills required for the job.

Knowledge Exam

A test consisting of multiple choice questions testing the competencies required to be a CNA. In Utah, it is a 75-question exam administered by UNAR. For state certification, candidates must have scored > 75%.

Misappropriation of Property

Illegal or improper use of a person's money, property, assets; by another, without consent, for personal gain.

Misconduct

Improper behavior

Neglect

The failure to provide needed care that results in physical, mental, or emotional harm to a person.

Nursing Assistant Performance List (NAPP)

UNAR required list of skills that are to be taught and demonstrated proficiency while in the CNA program in order to be eligible for the UNAR competency exams.

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA)

Federal law that includes minimum standards for nursing assistant training, staffing requirements, resident assessment instructions, and information on rights for residents. Passed to improve the quality of care in long term care facilities.

Renewal

The process UNAR conducts every two (2) years to verify that each CNA has worked at least 200 paid hours of nursing or nursing-related services under the direction of a licensed nurse to maintain active certification in the state of Utah.

Skills Exam

Students in the State of Utah must pass this practical assessment offered by the UNAR intended to measure a test candidate's competence in specific Nursing Assistant-related skills. Candidates must score at least 80% for each skill along with 100% of key steps (bolded in black) to pass and it must be completed within 45 minutes.

Stress

The state of being frightened, excited, confused, in danger, or irritated. Can be related to a positive or negative situation.

Utah Nurse Assistant Registry (UNAR)

State agency created as a result of the OBRA requirement. Their role: • approves and monitors NATCEPs (CNA Programs), • develops and maintains the competency evaluation exams, • certifies nursing assistants who have completed an approved NATCEP or qualifying waiver and passed the state competency evaluation exams, • renews certifications of qualified CNAs, • grants reciprocity to qualified individuals certified in other states, • approves and monitors all UNAR test sites, • maintains a publicly searchable registry of all CNAs with active certification in the state of Utah, • maintains the publicly searchable abuse registry for all substantiated allegations of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property by CNAs employed in Utah Medicare or Medicaid facilities.