Understanding interdependence of nursing home staffing types is crucial to quality of care, UC Irvine-led study finds
CNAs and RNs have complementary skills that benefit patients
July 24, 2024
IN THE NEWS: A UC Irvine-led study reveals the complex relationship between different nursing home staffing types and quality of care.
The study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (JAMDA), showed how the various skill sets of nursing home workers complement each other, according to lead author Dana B. Mukamel, PhD, a professor of medicine at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health and the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. She spoke to McNights Long-Term Care News about the findings.
“These outcomes suggest that RNs and CNAs have a different focus in their roles. CNAs are often closer to residents. This enables them to develop insights into residents’ routines and offer behavioral modifications to mitigate symptoms, while RNs might focus on communicating behavioral issues to prescribing providers and developing overall care plans.
“Understanding the interdependence between disciplines is crucial for developing effective staffing regulations and ultimately improving the quality of care in nursing homes.”
Mukamel is also the director of the iTEQC Research Program. Her research interests include quality of care, long-term care, racial disparities and health economics.
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