Unit 1
The purpose of this curriculum is to gain knowledge and skills needed to work with/care for people who live in Kansas adult care homes (also called long-term care communities or nursing homes) and long-term units of hospitals. After successfully completing all course requirements you will be eligible to take the state exam to gain certification as a nurse aide in Kansas. Once certified, you will need to work at least eight hours as a CNA within two years to retain active status.
You need to be aware that certain criminal convictions will prohibit employment in adult care homes. Prohibited offenses will be explained in more detail.
Federal Law
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) was first enacted in 1987. It’s sometimes referred to informally as the Nursing Home Reform Act but more commonly just OBRA. OBRA’s purpose was to improve the quality of care in nursing homes for the health and safety of nursing home residents. OBRA is quite extensive setting forth a long list of duties and requirements for nursing homes, staff, nurses and physicians. OBRA sets the ground rules for nursing home care.
OBRA established minimum standards intended to improve the quality of life and quality of care for residents of long-term care facilities, then called nursing homes.
One component of this law was the requirement that all states maintain education and competency testing standards for workers who provided direct personal care to these residents. Federal law established that "A resident assessment process leading to development of an individualized care plan 75 hours of training and testing of paraprofessional staff." Although the federal requirement for long-term care facility employment, the skills learned in this nurse aide class are the same basic skills needed for beginning positions in many health care settings. The state of Kansas requires that CNA students participate in a state-approved nurse aide program for a minimum of 90 hours.
This course includes 45 hours of didactic work (computer work) and 45 hours skills and clinicals (online and in-house). The bulk of this course covers nursing tasks and how to work safely. These activities are to be carried out with an understanding and appreciation for the person who lives in a long-term care (LTC) settings.
Studies have shown that residents in LTC communities will start losing their ability to do a skill if they do not preform a skill 10 days in a row. It is important that we encourage a resident's independence and perform resident-centered care.
Maria Montessori once said, "Anything you do for me, you take from me."
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) play a crucial role in patient care. They attend to the fundamental needs of patients or residents, freeing the nursing staff for those duties that require advanced education and skill. Like other healthcare professionals, CNAs can pursue several career paths and work in areas beyond the traditional hospital or long-term care community. So where do CNAs work? They can pretty much work in any facility that provides health care. Always keep in mind that CNAs must work under the supervision of a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse since they cannot practice on their own.
Types of Kansas long-term care communities:
Nursing communities
Assisted living communities
Residential health care
Home plus
Boarding care home
Adult day care
Continuing care retirement communities are a blend of several types of independent living housing. Long-term care units in hospitals may also be employment sites for CNA's.