Nursing Assistant Certification: Key Regulations and Procedures
Nursing assistant certification in the United States is governed by federal regulations under 42 CFR Part 483, which implements the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA). The Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) must provide at least 75 clock hours of training, including a minimum of 16 hours of supervised practical training, and must cover required curriculum areas such as communication, infection control, safety/emergency procedures, residents' rights, personal care skills, and care of cognitively impaired residents . Training must be conducted by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse with at least 2 years of nursing experience, including at least 1 year in long-term care . The competency evaluation consists of a written or oral examination (the candidate may choose) and a skills demonstration of randomly selected tasks from a pool of skills generally performed by nurse aides; candidates must pass both components and must be given at least three opportunities to succeed . The state nurse aide registry must contain information on each individual who has successfully completed an approved program, including any documented findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, and must remove individuals who have performed no nursing-related services for 24 consecutive months unless such findings are documented . Nurse aides employed by or with an offer of employment from a facility cannot be charged for training or evaluation, and those hired within 12 months of completing training must be reimbursed for costs .
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