WHY ARE CAREER NURSING ASSISTANTS SO IMPORTANT?

Each day, more than 2.5 million direct care workers provide hands-on care to our nation’s frail, elderly, or chronically challenged citizens in nursing homes and other long-term care settings. These important workers have various titles including Nursing/Nurse Assistant, Care Assistant, Caregiver, In-Home Care Aide, Hospice Assistant, Care Assistant, Geriatric Aide/Assistant, Resident Assistant, Restorative Aide, Health Care Assistant, Palliative Care Assistant, and numerous other titles.

Nursing Assistants provide as much as 80-90% of the direct care received by residents and clients in long term care facilities. The following findings are from the "Stayers Studies" (funded by the Administration on Aging, National Institute on Aging, 1997-98):

• 28% stay 5 or more years in positions as nursing assistants
• 12.6% stay 10-55 or more years
• Stayers maintain positive relationships with residents
• Stayers value job security and peer relationships
• Stayers are considered to be health care experts in their own families
• The majority of Stayers had a positive experiences with an older person early in life and this factor contributed to their decision to become a nursing assistants

Stayers provide predictability and stability to care, which in turn enhances the feeling of security for our aging, frail, or chronically challenged citizens. Career Nursing Assistants (Stayers) also bring wisdom, patience, humor and a general attitude of caring to the daily lives of these people