Certified Nurse Aides and Scope of Practice: Clinical Outcomes and Patient Safety
Journal Article
December 28, 2015
This article analyzes federal data to determine whether certified nurse aides working in states that allow an expanded scope of practice produce better clinical outcomes than those in states with basic scopes of practice. The researchers found no difference in outcomes between the two types of states. They note that future studies on this topic should take more factors into account, such as staffing levels and facility characteristics.
"This study sought to understand the impact of scope of practice and allowable CNA tasks across states on clinical outcomes."
"There was no difference in clinical outcomes between states with expanded or basic scopes for CNAs."
"Many factors influence clinical outcomes among residents and additional staffing and facility characteristics should be considered in future studies."
