Implementation of the 6-week educational component in the Res-Care intervention: process and outcomes

A 6-week restorative care educational program (30 minutes weekly) was conducted for nursing assistants. A total of 523 nursing assistants from 12 nursing homes were recruited: 265 were at treatment sites and 258 were at control sites. The mean age of the participants was 38.1 years (SD = 12.0). The majority were female (486; 93%) and African American (466; 89%). The nursing assistants had an average of 14.7 (SD = 3.8) years of education and 11.5 (SD = 8.6) years of experience. Control sites had a single 30-minute in-service on managing behavioral problems commonly associated with dementia. A total of 33% of the nursing assistants who consented to participate at the treatment sites attended all six classes, and 53% of those who did not attend at least three classes received one-on-one review of the class content. Overall, 86% of the nursing assistants who consented to participate attended the 6-week educational program. At the control sites, 18% of the nursing assistants who consented to participate attended the in-service training. There was a significant increase in restorative care knowledge (SD = 2.7, F = 280.4, p < .05) in treatment group participants. The techniques used in this intervention were effective in helping to expose nursing assistants to educational sessions and increase their knowledge of nursing care practices.