Frequently Asked Questions

TRAINERS CONNECTION ONLINE

How to request reciprocity

Reciprocity is the term used when you are asking one state to accept your approval from another state.

If you are currently Licensed, Certified, Registered or State Approved in your own State and do not have findings of abuse on your records, you have the right to work as a NA in that state. If you want to move to another state, you will need to request Reciprocity. This means that you are asking the new state to recognize the approval you received from your home state. If you choose to keep your approval in both states, you must work in both states at least 1-2 shifts (see your States requirements) and be able to produce documentation of your work for both states. This can be a pay stub or verification letter from your employer.

By Federal and State Laws, you must pass a State prescribed course and test in order to work as a nursing assistant in a nursing home. You also cannot work as a nursing assistant in a nursing home in any state unless you are approved by that state. The states laws differ and some states have more stringent standards than others. You need to know if the state to which you are moving expects you to attend additional classes.

You must work at least one day every 2 years in order to keep your state approval. If you have not worked as a NA in the past 2 years, you will have to re-take the training.

Action Steps

The first step is to contact the Nurse Aide Registry in your home state and request an "Application for Enrollment by Reciprocity". Ask them if you should send the completed form to them or to the state to which you are moving.

Then contact the other state and ask them the same thing. Ask them if you will need to take additional classes in order to work as a NA in that state. Some nursing assistants have been able to fax their request directly to the state to which they are moving, some are required to send to the existing state, one state asks you to get a job in the new state and the facility will handle your reciprocity.

So states do differ --do not take chances, ASK. Be sure to get the name of those who talk with you and their phone numbers. Call them by name while you are talking so they remember you. Take good notes.

If the agency in your new state says it is acceptable for you to fax or mail info, then do this right away. Be sure to clarify the fax number and the mailing address. Then fax or mail your info to the attention of the person you spoke to.

Ask them what items you will need to fax or mail but be prepared to send at least the following:

Copy of your Social Security Card
Copy of your drivers license (or other photo ID)
Copy of your present State approval
Copy of a recent pay stub, verification letter from your previous facility or something to document that you have worked in a nursing home in the past two years.

Tell them where you are moving from and where to and where they can send the new card.

They may ask for other info as well

When you send your info, include a brief note to thank the person who took time to talk with you and ask them to call you if they need more information.

When you call, you may get an automated line. Most automated lines are free 800 numbers and can provide some good information. Do listen and be prepared to write down numbers, but also always try to get a connection to a real person.

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How to find a NA Training or Testing Program in your area

Every nursing home in the country must be prepared to provide for training and testing for their nursing assistants, and should have information about the training and testing sites that are local to you. Each State is different so you need to contact the NA Office in your State.
The best way to get information about the training and testing programs in your area is to go to a local nursing home and ask to talk with the DON or Trainer about this. They may already have a training program that you can get into. If you decide to work with them, they should not charge you for this training.
You also have Federal Workforce dollars in your area for training of NAs. You may be eligible to receive training at no cost. Call your County Jobs and Family Services for info and an appt for an interview. This info may also be available through your library or the Area Agency on Aging – you will have to do a little detective work but it will be worth it if you are eligible. If you are accepted in the workforce program, they may help you find a job as well.
You can also contact the State NATP to find out who is doing the training in your area. You can find more info about your States requirements by contacting the State Agency for Nursing Assistants.
The State NATP may also have an 800 number. Use this. You will not talk with a person but they have lots of good info on this line. Since it does not cost I suggest that you call. Be prepared to write down the info they give you. Also go to the State agency's web site if one is listed.
You may want to bookmark this website so you can continue to find the info you need in your career as a nursing assistant. We are always adding or changing so is sure to keep checks on the message board and other sections.
Please also consider joining the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants, a professional organization for NAs for more than 27 years. Members receive regular info about their chosen career and also for other projects such as the NA On-Line Project, NA Authors Project, the National Twenty Year Club and other.

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how to contact your state NA agency

The following is the latest information we have received from State Agencies for Nurse Aide Training Programs. You can contact your state directly for information about NA Reciprocity, Testing and Training.

Compiled by the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants. You can help us keep this list up to date - send changes to cnajeni@aol.com.

Click on the state/territory abbreviation:

AK	AL	AmS	AR	AZ	CA	CO
CT	DC	DE	FL	GA	GU	HI
IA	ID	IL	IN	KS	KY	LA
MA	MD	ME	MI	MN	MO	MS
MT	NC	ND	NE	NH	NJ	NM
NV	NY	OH	OK	OR	PA	PR
RI	SC	SD	TN	TX	UT	VA
VI	VT	WA	WI	WV	WY

AK 10/04	Theresa Thacker Dir Dept of Commerce, Community & Eco Devel Div of Occup. Licensing 550 W 7th Ave S-1500 Anchorage, AK 99501 907-269-8169 907 269 8196 – fax	Web site www.dced.state.ak.us/occ Background with application for testing. TTT – offered Univ. Approved by DCCED theresa_thacker@commerce.state.ak.us return to state list
AL 2/03 9/05	Department of Public Health Nurse Aide Program PO Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 35130 334-206-5169	8/29/03 – update Caroline Harvey To request reciprocity, first get a job in a nursing home and the NH will call the AL NATP to request reciprocity. email - charvey@adph.state.al.us web site – www.adph.org
AmS	American Samoa Health Serv and Reg Board LBJ Tropica MG, Pago, Pago Samoa 96799 800 468 4644	return to state list
AR	Office of LTC Slot 405 PO Box 8059 Little Rock, AR 72203-8059 501-682-8484 automated
AZ 2/03	State Board of Nursing 1651 E Morten Suite 150 Phoenix, AZ 85020-7605 602-331-8111	Web site www.azboardofnursing.org return to state list
CA 7/05	Dept of Hlth Svs Regis Unit Aide & Tech Cert Section PO Box 942732 Sacramento, CA 94234 916-327-2445	Web site http://www.dhs.ca.gov/lnc/cert/default.htm
CO 2/03	Board of Nursing 1560 Broadway Ste 670 Denver, CO 80202 303 894 2816	Web site www.dora.state.co.us/nursing return to state list
CT 2/03	Dept of Health 410 Capital Ave MS # 12MQA PO Box 340308 Hartford CT 06134-0308 (860) 509-7596 (860) 509-7607 fax	Web site www.asisvcs.com
DC 2/03	ASI DC Nurse Aide Registry 3 Bala Plaza West Philadelphia, PA 19101-3481 1-800-566-8668	Web site www.asisvcs.com return to state list
DE 2/03	Hlth Fac Licensing & Cert Division of LTC 3 Mill Road, Suite 308 Wilmington, DE 19806 (302) 577-6666	Web site www.asisvcs.com
FL 10/04	Barbara Conditt, Supervisor Dept of Hlth CNA Program 2020 Capitol Circle SE BIN # C04 Tallahassee, FL 32399-3254 (850) 245 4567	Web site www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa Testing Click here: Experior Assessments, LLC, a Division of Capstar, Home Page at www.experioronline.com go to test takers click on Fl click on CNA testing Click here: Florida Certified Nurse Assistant Exams Click here: http://www.experioronline.com/pdf/FLCNABulletin_20030922.pdf return to state list
GA 4/07	GA Nurse Aide Registry GA Health Partnership - GMCF 1455 Lincoln Parkway East, Suite 750 Atlanta, GA 30346-2200 Phone: (678) 527-3010 (local) or (800) 414-4358 FAX: (678) 527-3001	Online NAR: www.ghp.georgia.gov
GU	State Survey Agency PO Box 28 Agana GU 96910	return to state list
HI 2/03	Dept of Commerce & Consumer Affairs Prof & Voc Lic Branch PO Box 3469 Honolulu, HI 96801 (808) 739-8122	Web site Townsendp@hawaii.rr.com
IA 2/03	Dept of Innspec & Appeals Health Fac Division 321 East 12th Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 242-5991 (515) 2425022 fax (515) 281-4114	Web site www.dia.nfd.state.ia.us return to state list
ID 2/03	Idaho Board of Nursing P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0036 (208) 334-6626 (208) 364-1888 fax	Web site www2.state.id.us
IL 2/03 8/05	IL Dept of Public Health Ed & Training Section 525 W Jefferson Springfield IL 62761 (217) 782 3070- for general info and to verify status on the Registry (217) 785 5133 – to talk to a person	Web site www.idph.state.il.us to email go to web site and email from there. return to state list
IN 2/03	Dept of Health Div of LTC 2 N. Meridian St Sec 4B Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 233-7615 (317) 233-7322 fax	e-mail DMMILLER@ISDH.STATE.IN.US Website www.state.in.us/isdh
KS 2/03	KS Dept Health & Env, 1000 SW Jackson St. Suite 330 Topeka, KS 66612-1365 (785)296-1240 (785) 296-3075 fax	e-mail dstaab@kdhe.state.ks.us Web site www.kdhe.state.ks.us/hoc return to state list
KY 2/03	Kentucky NA Registry 312 Whittington Pkwy Ste-300 Louisville, KY 40222-5172 (502) 329-7047 (502) 696-3957
LA 9/14/05	Nurse Aide Program5647 Superior Drive Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816 Nurse Aide Registry Phone (225) 295-8575 Fax (225) 295-8578 www.labenfa.com	7/29/05 - D’Juana Lanning testing Chauncey, Promissor NAs go to NH to find training Can work for 4 months in a NH before applying for reciprocity or approval return to state list
MA 2/03	MA NA Registry Dept of PH 10 West St. 6th Fl Boston MA 02111 (617) 753-8000 (617) 753-8096 fax	e-mail Thankinson@state.ma.us
MD 2/03	Lic & Cert Admin 4201 Patterson Ave Baltimore MD 21215-2299 (410) 764-2770 (800) 470-8761 verification	Web site www.asisvcs.com return to state list
ME 2/03	Maine Registry of CNA 35 Anthony Ave. Sta #11 Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 624-5205 (207) 624-5237 fax
MI 9/05	Dept of Consmr & Indstry Svs Div of Fed Supp Svs PO Box 30664 Lansing MI 48909 To request an application for waiver of training or reciprocity (517) 241-0554. Nurse Aide Registry (800) 748-0252	For info about testing www.chauncey.com/State_Nurse_Aide/michigan.htm . 800-752-4724. iris.sabree@thompson.com return to state list
MN 2/03	Fac&Provider Compliance Div NA Registry PO Box 64501 St Paul MN 55164-0501 (651) 215-8705 (800) 397-6124	Web site www.health.state.mn.us
MO 8/05	MO Dept of Health and Senior Services Health Education Unit PO Box 570J efferson City, MO 65102 (573) 751-3082 – General info (573) 522- 6203 – NA Unity (573) 526-5686 verification (573) 526-7656 - FAX	Web site – in process Call for info www.dhss.mo.gov return to state list
MS 2/03	pt of Health Div oh Health Facilities LicCert PO Box 1700 Jackson MS 39215 - 1700 (800) 204-6213 (800) 204-6215 automated	Web site www.asisvcs.com
MT 2/03	Dept of Public Health & Human Services Nurse Aide Registry P.O. Box 202953 Helena, MT 59620-2953 (406) 444-4980 (406) 444-3456 fax	e-mail roefta@state.mt.us return to state list
NC 2/03	Dept of Health Human Svs Div of Facility Services 2709 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2709 (919) 733-2786	Web site www.ncnar.org
ND 7/05	Board of Nursing Div of EHS 600 E. Boulevard Ave Bismarck, ND 58505-0200 (701) 328-2675 ND Board of Nursing 919 S 7th ST. Ste 501 Bismarck, ND 58504-5881 (701) 328-9784	Website: Click Here to Go to the site return to state list
NE 2/03	Dept of Reg & Lisensure P.O. Box 94986 Lincoln, NE 68509-4986 (402) 471-4971 general (402) 471-0537 registry	Web site www.hhs.state.ne.us
NH 2/03	NH Board of Nursing is responsible for approval of agencies and programs: Board of Nursing P.O. Box 3898 Concord, NH 03302-3898 (603) 271-6282 (603) 271-6599-verification	Web site www.state.nh.us/nursing return to state list
NJ 2/03	Project Manager NA Section Div of LTC Sys Dev & Qual PO Box 367 Trenton, NJ 08625-0367 (609) 633-9051 (800) 274-8970 verification	email henry.kozek@doh.state.nj.us Web site www.state.nj.us/health/ltc Testing http://www.promissor.com/
NM	LTC Program Bureau of Lic Cert. 525 Camino del los Marquez Suite 2 Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 827-4200	return to state list
NV 2/03	NV Board of Nursing PO Box 46886 Las Vegas, NV 89114 (702) 486-5800 (702) 486-5803 fax	e-mail Lasvegas@nsbn.state.nv.us Web site www.nursingboard.state.nv.us
NY 5/05	NYS Dept. of HealthOffice of Continuing Care 161 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054-1393 (518) 408-1297	Web site http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/healthinfo/nar.htm Web site offers NA Certification handbook, sample tests and offers NA on line project for questions. return to state list
OH (Cindy) 7/05	Dept of Health NA Registry 246 N High st PO Box 118 Columbus OH 43266-0118 (800) 582-5908-Ohio only 614 752 9500 – Outside Ohio (614) 752-8285 (614) 995-5085 fax	Web site http://www.odh.state.oh.us Effective 4/1/2009 D&S Diversified Technologies dba HEADMASTER 333 OAKLAND AV FINDLAY, OH 45840 PHONE: (877) 851-2355, F AX: (419) 422-8328 Web site: http://dandsdiversifiedtech.com/
OK	Nurse Aide Registry 1000 NE 10th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73117 (405) 271-4085 (800) 695-2157	Web site Nurse Aid Registry And Abuse return to state list
OR 2/03	Board of Nursing 800 NE Oregon St Ste – 465 Portland, OR 97282 (503) 731-4745 (503) 731-3459 verification	Web site www.osbn.state.or.us
PA 10/5/04 (Miss Mann	Dept of Health - Div of Nursing Care Facilities PO Box 90 Harrisburg PA 17108 Ph: (717) 772-3815 Toll-Free: (800) 852-0518	Promissor PO Box 13785 Philadelphia, PA 19131-3785 return to state list
PR	Commonwealth of PR Board of Nurse Ex Call box 10 Santurce PR 00908
RI 2/03	RI Dept of Health Division of Professional Regulation 3 Capitol Hill Room 104 Providence, RI 02908-5097 Phone: (401) 222-5888 Fax: (401) 222-3352	e-mail Michelle.Arrighi@health.ri.gov Web site www.health.state.ri.us return to state list
SC 2/03	Dept of Health and Environmental Central Division of Certification 2600 Ball St. Columbia, SC 29201	Web site www.asisvcs.com
SD 2/03	Board of Nursing 4300 S Louise Ave St. C-1 Souix Falls, SD 57106 (605) 362-2760	Web site www.state.sd.us/dcr/nursing return to state list
TN 2/03 8/05	Jacqueline Johnson, Dir Board of Nursing 426 5th Ave N 1st floor Nashville TN 37247 – 1010 (615) 532-5171 (888) 310-4650	Web site www.state.tn.us/health
TX 2/03 8/05	Nurses Aide Registries Credentialing Dept PO Box 149030 MC W-240 Austin, TX 78714-9030 (512)231-5800 (800) 452 5858 (512) 8346764 fax	E-mail: credentialing@ dads.state.tx.us Website: www.dads.state.tx.us/programs/ltc/credentialing per Kelly 8/20/05 reciprocity – 512 231 5829 option 2 Abuse inquiries – 512 438 5495 Also approve Medication Aides return to state list
UT 2/03	Utah Health Technology Cert. Center 550 E 300 South Kaysville UT 84037 (801) 547-9947
VA 2/03	Board of Nrsg NA Regist. 6606 West Broad St 4th fl. Richmond, VA 23230-1717 (804) 662-7310	Web site www.dhp.state.va.us return to state list
VI	Board of Nurse Licensure PO Box 4247 Veterans Dr. Station St. Thomas, VI 00803 (340) 776-7397
VT 2/03	VT. Board of Nursing 109 State St. Montpelier, VT 05609 (802) 828-2819 (802) 828-2453	Web site www.sec.state.vt.us return to state list
WA 2/03	OBRA NA Registry PO Box 45600 Olympia WA 98504-5600 (360) 725-2597 (360) 493-2581 fax	e-mail MAUDSLM@dshs.WA.gov Web site www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov/professional/nat
WI 2/03	Wisconsin NAT DeptHealth & Family Services Caregiver Regulation & Investigation Section 2917 International Lane, Suite 300 Madison, WI 53704 (608) 243-2019 Testing - WI NARegistry Promissor PO Box 13785 Philadelphia, PA 19101-3785 (877)329-8760 IVR (877)224-0235 Web site	Web site www.dhfs.state.wi.us click on "Licensing," "Licensing-Health/Medical Care," "Nurse Aide Training & Registry." email : caregiver_intake@dhfs.state.wi.us return to state list
WV	Nursing Assistant Program: Office of Health Facility Licensure & Certification (OHFLAC) Address-Bldg3, Rm 550; 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E Charleston, WV 25305 (304) 588-0688
WY 2/03	State Board of Nursing 2020 Carey Ave Ste.110 Cheyenne, WY 82009 (877) 626-2681 (307)777-6127 (307)777-3519 fax	e-mail msmedlastate.wy.us Web site www.nursing.state.wy.us return to state list

HOW TO SCHEDULE TRAINING AT YOUR SITE

The following programs address specific issues of nursing assistants in long term care. Certificates and Inservice reports are provided. Most classes are eligible for contact hours from professional organizations.

Each workshop provides the opportunity for the NA to develop specific skills and a plan for applying these new skills in the work setting. Trainers, supervisors and nursing assistants are encouraged to attend.

To schedule a course or workshop or for more information about a session, please feel free to email cnajeni@aol.com.

Advanced Nursing Assistant Program

The Advanced or Career Path Program is comprised of four courses, each of which includes 12 class-hours and six months of guided implementation and assignments.

The Advanced Course of study for nursing assistants is comprised of four sections which are:

Leadership skills for NAs in groups, committees and clinical settings.
Clinical Teaching Skills: working with the new nursing assistant to develop competency and confidence in the performance of tasks of care.
Advanced Clinical Practice: critical thinking in the performance of care - select 3 practice areas from a list including: Bathing Without a Battle, Assuring Adequate Fluid Intake, Preventing Pressure Sores, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Bowel and Bladder Program, TEAMWORKS, Issues and Concerns of Night NAs, Care of Residents with Dementia, and behavior related care needs, and others.
Anchoring the New NA: Increasing retention rates for both new and experienced NAs. Specialized skill development based on 27 Principals of Anchoring.

Clinical Teaching Skills for Instructors, Supervisor and Nursing Assistants Mentors (Anchoring Program)

This 12 hour course focuses on the transfer of learning from classroom to clinical setting and prepares teaching teams (instructor, supervisor and mentor nursing assistants) to work effectively with the new nursing assistant. The goal of the course is to increase retention rates for new nursing assistants and to formalizing the role of the mentor within the facility. In this course, students will explore and practice a repertory of clinical teaching skills. Attention is directed to building the teaching team as an effective unit.

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Workshops and Conference Sessions

The WH2O Patrol © (3 hr) Dehydration is a major issue that contributes to skin breakdown, confusion, bowel and bladder problems, and other problems for the resident.. Studies have shown that as many as 90% of the residents and clients receive less than adequate fluid intake on a daily basis. This workshop provides both individual and unit specific skills and plans for assuring adequate fluid intake by residents.

Encouragement: The Language of Caring © (3-5 hours) Encouragement requires that a person develop a special language that communicates confidence and respect for differing perceptions and beliefs of others. Encouragement provides a framework in which difficult issues of diversity, abuse, neglect, low esteem, and job dysfunction can be addressed with an aim to create positive outcome. In this session, students will discuss and practice a variety of skills for encouragement in a variety of situations.

Telling My Story: Portfolio Development for Nursing Assistants © (3-5 hours) Today’s health care system is changing rapidly and the NA who provides 80-90% of all direct care in nursing homes also must be prepared to face this kaleidoscope of changing roles and expectations. Often, NAs do not give words to their own experiences, knowledge and strengths. This session provides a framework in which the NA can begin to define her/his role and responsibility within the health care system and develop a plan for future growth.

Working with Groups and Committees (Part 1 and Part II - 5-6 hours each) This session provides skill training to help the nursing assistant and others to be effective member of the facility’s care planning, safety, purchasing, or other committees. Working with Groups Part 1 is directed to nursing assistants or others desiring to work more effectively in a group or committee. Part II focuses on the facilitator role in the group process and provides skill training for group leaders.

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SCHEDULE A TRAINING

Especially for Administrators and DONs

The Seven Critical Decision Points in the Career of a Nursing Assistant (1- 1.5 hour or 4 hours) The largest investment any facility makes is in its direct care staff. Being able to find and keep good workers is important to the stability of care. Findings of empirical studies indicate that “leaving” tends to cluster around specific trigger points. The question that emerges is “Do I stay or do I leave?’ The prudent administrator watches for signs of impending triggers, establishes programs and processes to eliminate or diffuse these triggers, and develops strategies for dealing with fallout when an experienced NA chooses to leave.

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SCHEDULE A TRAINING