• WHAT NURSING ASSISTANTS SAY THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE

• Realistic assignments and clear directions concerning the tasks to be completed.

• A personal clinical supervisor: a clinical nurse who can provide supervision and help adapt care to meet individual needs: a person who will advocate for the NA.

• Appropriate training for tasks to be performed.

• To be heard and have input to issues that concerns them and the people in their care.

• Adequate salary and benefits.

• Climate of respect and team support for lifting and other demanding tasks.

• Recognition of effort.

• A confidant.

• A work environment that is pleasant and provides the support and supplies needed in order to perform Tasks of care.

• NATIONAL NETWORK OF CAREER NURSING ASSISTANTS

Being a Member of the National Network for Career Nursing Assistants is an important part of your career growth The NNCNA is a professional organization especially by, for, and with nursing Assistants and those who support and endorse the work of the Career Nursing Assistant in long term care. Founded in Ohio in 1977, the NNCNA has provided services and a professional affiliation for nursing assistants nationwide since 1985.

Some of the benefits of membership include: Connections with nursing assistants and related groups, organizations, publishers, researchers and educators nationwide; membership pin and Certificate; Chapter development; discounts on educational materials; subscription to the Network News; committee appointments; and access to many programs for nursing assistants.

• Individual Nursing Assistant Membership -$25/Year

• Facility, organization, Provisional Chapter, or related group Membership - $100/Year

• Corporate or Supporting Membership - Based on size of organization

• Twenty Year Club Membership: The "Historians of Care" - No fee to qualified nursing assistants

• What is a network?

Connecting, linking, bridging, interconnecting,
a system of interlacing tracks or channels.

• "NURSING ASSISTANTS AS AUTHORS" ©

Tips by Nursing Assistants for Nursing Assistants 2000
"Caring: Time to Make it Personal"
Enter today!
Guidelines and Submission Form

For: All Nursing Assistants, Caregivers, Care Assistants, In-Home Care Aides, Geriatric Aides/Assistants, Resident Assistants, Restorative Aides, Health Care Assistants, and other direct care providers in Nursing Homes, In-Home Care, Hospice and other long-term care settings

By submitting your good ideas and experience to "TIPS" Publications, you can:

- Become a published author and see your wisdom and good ideas in print.
- Share your wisdom and ideas for improving care and enhancing your career as a nursing assistant.
- Help others to gain a better understanding of the important role of the nursing assistant.
- Receive a free copy of "TIPS."

The question is:

How Does the Savvy Nursing Assistant Juggle Time to Make Care Personal? ©

Just tell us how you, the Savvy NA, are able to get things done and your best tips about juggling time to "Make Care Personal." Just tell us in your own words, what you do to work with the individual resident, take the responsibility for your own wellbeing, or create positive changes in care practices. Judges will look for your best ideas about use of time, examples of ideas that work well, or what you learned from the experience.

These ideas are not new to nursing assistants! The "Savvy Nursing Assistant "© has been juggling multiple tasks for a long time. We hope you will share your wisdom with others. The word "time" refers to the ways you think about how you will organize or use small chunks of time to connect with others or care for yourself in positive ways. The word "personal" refers to the people in your care, your co-workers, supervisors and yourself.

The booklet, "Caring: Time to Make it Personal" will be the 7th in a series of "Tips by NAs for NAs" and will include more wisdom and humor by you -- the experienced NA. We want to include your ideas in this booklet. Won't you take a few minutes to tell us about your experiences. The NA Essay Contest has been a highlight of NA Week since 1978. All NAs who enter the contest will receive a copy of the completed essay manual.

In return, we will list your name as a contributor - this makes you a "published author" and you will learn how to include this new status on your resume. In addition, we will send you a complementary copy of "TIPS 7" as soon as it is printed.

Please print or type entries, but limit your essay to two paragraphs or two pages. If possible, please enclose photos of those involved. Submit your own entry - or you may work with other nursing assistant(s) to develop this as a joint entry.

• Entries must be received by November 15, 2000 to be included in "Tips 7."

How to enter
Be sure to include your name, address, city, state and zip code. Also include your phone number and email if possible. Please also include the number of years of service. If sending photos, please identify the individuals in the photo and how we can recognize them. Include your name and address on the back of the photo.

Three ways to submit

• By US Postal Mail to:
  Nursing Assistant Authors
  Career Nurse Assistants Programs, Inc
  3577 Easton Road
  Norton, Ohio 44203

• By Fax to:     (330) 825 9378

• By E-mail to: [email protected]

• WORKSHOPS AT YOUR SITE

The following programs address specific issues of nursing assistants in long term care. Each workshop provides the opportunity for the nursing assistant to develop specific skills and a plan for thinking about and applying these new skills in the work setting. These course are developed as National Network of Career Nursing Assistants' "Career Path Development" Series with extensive input from nursing assistants and empirical data.

The WH2O Patrol � (2-3 hr) - Dehydration is a major issue today in long term care because it contributes to skin breakdown, confusion, bowel and bladder problems, and other problems. Studies have shown that as many as 90% of the residents and clients receive less than adequate fluid intake on a daily basis. This workshop provides both individual and unit specific skills and plans for assuring adequate fluid intake by residents.

"Encouragement: A Key to Quality of Care" � (3-5 hours) - Encouragement requires that a person develop a special language that communicates confidence and respect for differing perceptions and beliefs of others. Encouragement provides a framework in which difficult issues of diversity, abuse, neglect, low esteem, and job dysfunction can be addressed with an aim to create positive outcome. In this session, students will discuss how perceptions may differ, identify and practice skills of encouragement in a variety of situations, recognize when another needs your support, and practice asking for and accepting needed support.

"Clinical Teaching Skills for Instructors, Supervisor and Nursing Assistants who Mentor New Nursing Assistants" � - (12 hours and assignments) This course provides skill training for experienced nursing assistants who have mentoring responsibilities to the new nursing assistant. The goal of the course is to increase retention rates for new nursing assistants and to formalizing the role of the mentor within the facility. In this course students will examine the ways adults learn; and practice a repertory of skills such as prompting, shaping, coaching, feedback and teaching for recall and transfer of learning to other similar situations.

"National Leadership Training Program for Nursing Assistants" (12 hours and assignments) - Nursing assistants provide leadership in many ways when they work with the new nursing assistant, serve on a safety or care planning committee, or work with peers in regional, state and national organizations. They also use skills of organizing, decision making and problem solving when performing daily tasks of care. The goal of the project is to build a repertoire of leadership skills that can be used in the clinical, committee, or group settings. Some themes include how to talk with others to get the job done, how to think about what you will do when providing care, how to ask for and accept peer support or delegation; how to advocate for self and the people in your care, and others.

"Telling My Story: Portfolio Development for Nursing Assistants� � (3-5 hours) - Today's health care system is changing rapidly and the NA who provides 80-90% of all direct care in nursing homes also must be prepared to face this kaleidoscope of changing roles and expectations. Often, NAs do not give words to their own experiences, knowledge and strengths. This session provides a framework in which the NA can begin to define her/his role and responsibility within the health care system. This session provides an opportunity for the NA to: examine her/his own strengths, knowledge, experiences, values and desires; validate accomplishments; identify future career goals; and develop a plan for future growth.

"Working with Groups and Committees" (3-5 hours) - This session provides skill training to help the nursing assistant be an effective member of a group such as the facility's care planning, safety, or purchasing committee. "Working with Groups" is presented on two levels. The first session is directed to nursing assistants who are or will be on a committee. The second session focuses on the facilitator role in the group process and provides skill training for group leadership.

To schedule a course or workshop or for more information about a session, please feel free to contact us: (go to Leadership) (go to Response form)

• PUBLICATION

The Network News
The Network News is a quarterly publication of Career Nurse Assistants' Program, Inc. in cooperation with a network of professional and NA advisors.

Annual subscription, $12.00 (4 issues, postage included).

A subscription to the Network News is included at no additional charge with paid CNAP membership.

Single copy $5.00. (go to response form)