Models of care using unlicensed assistive personnel. Part II: Perceived effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The integration of unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) into healthcare settings aims to optimize nursing care delivery.
• Understanding the practical application and effectiveness of UAP models is crucial for healthcare organizations.
• Previous research has explored various aspects of UAP utilization, but comprehensive data on current practices remain limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current utilization of clinical nursing assistants (CNAs) within hospital settings.
• To examine CNAs' role responsibilities, delegation extent, training effectiveness, and agency evaluation methods.
• To identify factors contributing to the success or failure of care models employing CNAs.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive design research project funded by the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON).
• Data collected via questionnaires from 53 hospitals across 31 states.
• Respondents included 53 nurse managers, 620 staff nurses, and 305 nursing assistants.

Main Results:

• Overall results indicate that care models utilizing unlicensed assistive personnel are not functioning effectively.
• Key impediments identified include a lack of role clarity for CNAs.
• Ineffective educational preparation for both nursing assistants and staff nurses was noted, alongside inadequate infrastructure and evaluation systems.

Conclusions:

• Current models for integrating CNAs into practice settings face significant challenges.
• Addressing role ambiguity, enhancing educational preparation, and developing robust support structures are essential.
• Effective evaluation systems are critical for assessing and improving the utilization of CNAs.