The role of certified nursing assistants in nursing homes.
OBJECTIVE Pilot study to examine the experiences of the certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in Colorado nursing homes.


BACKGROUND
CNAs provide 80% to 90% of the care to residents in nursing homes. Their reported turnover rate is as high as 400% in some studies, and the potential pool of CNAs is dwindling. As the demand for CNAs increases, their experiences must be understood to effectively address recruitment and retention issues.


METHODS
Minimally structured interviews of 12 CNAs in 6 Colorado nursing homes and observations of care provided were conducted. Atlas/Ti software was used as a data management tool for analyzing and coding data.


RESULTS
The overriding theme that emerged from the interviews was "we love our jobs." Three patterns of thought and behavior emerged: attributes of the CNA, working conditions of the CNA, and future success of the CNA and the nursing home.


CONCLUSIONS
Issues important to CNAs revolved around basic motivational factors, such as job enrichment opportunities, personal growth opportunities, recognition, responsibility, and sense of achievement. Leadership must become creative and build on that base, providing CNAs with job mobility, job enrichment opportunities, recognition, and increased job responsibility, producing positive outcomes not only for the CNA but also for the resident and the facility.
Pennington
Karen
K
Arapahoe Community College, Division of Math, Health, Science, and Engineering, Littleton, Colo, USA. karen.pennington@uchsc.edu
Scott
Jill
J
Magilvy
Kathy
K
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D002568:Certification; D003120:Colorado; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009042:Motivation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce