CNA Care Planning Project

This paper reports on the results of a two-year intervention project involving a consortium of 6 long term care facilities which developed and tested an intervention to enhance resident care, namely training nursing assistants ( CNAs) to participate in the interdisciplinary resident care conference. This intervention was based on the rationale that the staff person who works closest with the residents should have formal input into the process of defining care. It was hypothesized that not only would CNA participation enhance communication about resident status, but also enhance family satisfaction with care. Additionally, workforce issues of retention would be impacted as the role of the CNA becomes more valued and recognized. To facilitate this process, an observation instrument was designed and tested to structure and guide CNA input, and an education program was designed to facilitate role acquisition for the CNA . Outcome measures include qualitative descriptions of incidents where CNA information made a difference in care, the CNA's perception of their new role, as well as frequency of changes on MDS data, based on CNA input, family satisfaction, as well as lessons learned. Organizational barriers and facilitators needed to integrate change are described. This project was supported by a grant from the New York State Department of Health, Dementia Grant Program.