Eliminating Certification Barriers for Nursing Assistants

WHCA is part of a coalition that includes the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON), LeadingAge, and the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA) on a federal nursing assistant initiative. The aim is to reform federal regulations to permit incorporating NAC skills exams within training programs, standardize written examinations, develop a nursing assistant registry for all care settings and tie to licensure, and to develop a licensure compact for nursing assistants. Federal CMS regulations continue to impede entry and/or reentry into the workforce. We have approached Rep. Emily Randall to help champion a bipartisan effort to amend federal standards. The Washington Congressional delegation has been briefed on the issue. The joint memo detailing the barriers is provided.