The purpose of the Forum is to create a national voice for nursing assistants. How can we, as a group of many groups and individuals, come together to accomplish this?

 The '98 Forum will:

• Showcase innovative and model programs and publications relevant to nursing assistants
• Discuss special issues of concern to nursing assistants
• Discuss ways to foster awareness and action relating to issues of direct care. Develop a list of Imperatives for Action for 1998-99.
• Present the Most Service Years Award for nursing assistants nationwide

What do you think are the issues facing today's nursing assistants? How are these issues being addressed in your region or state? What are your concerns and priorities?

• In what ways has your job changed with MDS, PPS and managed care?
• How do you know who you will care for today? How are assignments given and how does this affects your ability to provide quality care?
• What helps the career-nursing assistant to stay?
• How does turnover and 'working short' affect the care you provide and your morale?
• What direction is needed from your supervisor and inservice person in order to work effectively?
• What do you want the Medical Director to know about the care your provide to his/her residents?
• In what ways are you a specialist in the care you give?
• How can you make the work place a safer place for yourself and the people in your care?
• How do you want to be recognized for your efforts and accomplishments?
• What training or supervision do you need in order to train new nursing assistants?
• In what ways can nursing assistants work with the media to change stereotypes about nursing assistants?
• Others__________________

 Purpose: To create a national voice for nursing assistants.

 How can we, as a group of many groups and organizations work together to create a voice for nursing assistants?

 Imperatives for Action

1. Facilitate networking and cooperative projects among nursing assistants related groups, organization researchers and publishers. maintain visibility of nursing assistants with other related organizations.

APPROACH - Use nursing assistant friendly publications such as Network News, Renaissance, Contemporary Long Term Care, Nursing Homes, the Director, Balance, the Journal of Nursing Assistants, NurseAide/VIP and Nursing Assistant Monthly to showcase and encourage connections among these important people.

2. Promote peer support, group development and career opportunities for nursing assistants on facility, local, state and national levels.

APPROACH - Convene a National Leadership Conference for Nursing Assistants in 1998.

APPROACH - Seek input from facilities through the Network News. Submit articles about peer groups to nursing assistant related publications.

APPROACH- - identify model programs for peer support. encourage individual facilities and organizations

to involve nursing assistants in peer planning for Nursing Assistants' Week, Career Nursing Assistants' Day and other events and to provide for visibility for this effort through local, regional and state media and nursing assistant related publications.

3. Continue to provide a national forum in which nursing assistant related issues can be addressed.

APPROACH - Develop a planning committee to assist with development of Fifth Annual Forum on Nursing Assistants at the NCCNHR Annual Meeting, November 1998.

4. Establish a National Clearinghouse for, with, and by nursing assistants.

APPROACH - Explore options for using the Internet to establish a connection point and a web site. Identify potential funding sources and partners for planning. Continue to build a network of agencies and organizations willing to assist.

5. Develop a National Code of Ethics for Nursing Assistants.

APPROACH - Convene a task force to research and draft a Code of Ethics suitable for nursing assistants in a variety of long term care settings. Develop a process for gaining input from a large sample of nursing assistants nationwide. Encourage dialogues about ethics and values in providing care through the National Classroom project and nursing assistant related publications.

Compiled by Genevieve Gipson RN, MEd, Career Nurse Assistants Programs, Inc., OH