Nursing assistants as co-therapists

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Developmental Disabilities
• Healthcare Staff Training

Background:

• Problem behaviors are common in children with severe subnormalities.
• Behavior modification programs aim to reduce challenging behaviors.
• The role of nursing assistants as co-therapists in such programs is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if nursing assistants can gain knowledge of behavior modification principles.
• To determine if nursing assistants can effectively implement behavior modification techniques.
• To evaluate the impact of nursing assistant-led interventions on problem behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A 12-month training program in behavior modification for nursing assistants.
• Application of learned techniques by nursing assistants with ten children exhibiting problem behaviors.
• Observation and recording of problem behavior episodes before and after intervention.

Main Results:

• Nursing assistants demonstrated an ability to employ behavior modification techniques effectively.
• Observed reductions in the frequency of recorded problem behaviors.
• While knowledge of principles may have been imperfect, practical application yielded positive outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Nursing assistants can be trained to become effective co-therapists in behavior modification.
• Interventions led by nursing assistants can successfully reduce problem behaviors in children with severe subnormalities.
• Applied research in clinical settings presents unique challenges and considerations.