Nursing assistants' perceptions of their role in the resident experience

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine nursing assistants' perspectives of their role in the nursing home resident experience. Recent efforts to improve nursing home quality are focused on providing person‐centered care and improving the resident experience. However, the literature on nursing home quality lacks the perspective and experiences of nursing assistants themselves, despite their crucial role in the resident experience. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 nursing assistants from 17 organizations and seven states. Data were analyzed using an interpretive approach that identified relevant codes and themes. Respondents perceived that they play a pivotal role in the resident experience by providing choices, communicating important information, comforting, and living within the daily reality of cognitively impaired residents. Nursing assistants' challenges included using non‐verbal communication, balancing personal care while maintaining boundaries, and dealing with a perceived lack of trust. Nursing assistants are integral to interpersonal engagement with residents and relationship‐based activities, such as communication, caring, and protecting. Increased nursing assistant input into programs and policies to improve the resident experience is warranted. Quality assessment should incorporate direct input from residents and nursing assistants regarding person‐centered care.

Enablers and barriers to implementing care quality improvement program in nursing homes in China

“…Registered nurses are a minority in the workforce of nursing homes, with the majority of positions being held by nursing assistants [ 22 ]. However, most nursing assistants in Chinese nursing homes are not well educated, their social and economic status is usually lower than middle class, and most of them do not have knowledge of professional care concepts [ 23 ].…”

Nursing assistants' desired roles, perceptions of nurses' expectations and effect on team participation: A cross‐sectional study

“…A literature review found that one reason for people becoming nursing assistants was a wish to contribute to patient care (Hewko et al., 2015), suggesting that some nursing assistants already had a strong sense of their desired roles when they started to work. Additionally, previous studies showed that nursing assistants were aware of minor changes in patients, as they were close to the patients, and perceived their role in patient care and safety as communicating with patients (Abrahamson et al., 2019). Therefore, nursing assistants may have higher perceptions of their desired roles than nurses expect, since they perceive close relationships with patients and engage in daily patient care.…”

“…Additionally, previous studies showed that nursing assistants were aware of minor changes in patients, as they were close to the patients, and perceived their role in patient care and safety as communicating with patients (Abrahamson et al, 2019). Therefore, nursing assistants may have higher perceptions of their desired roles than nurses expect, since they perceive close relationships with patients and engage in daily patient care.…”

“…Each nursing assistant may perceive the roles expected of them by the nurse, and these roles may differ from those that each nursing assistant desires. Abrahamson et al (2019) studied nursing assistants in nursing homes and found that while they perceive themselves as playing an important role in a patient's experience, they are aware of the boundaries that nurses set for them.…”

“…Abrahamson et al. (2019) studied nursing assistants in nursing homes and found that while they perceive themselves as playing an important role in a patient's experience, they are aware of the boundaries that nurses set for them. That is, nursing assistants want to do what they can to help patients recuperate safely but may feel that nurses do not require them to do so.…”