Position Statement On Unlicensed Assistive Personnel

Members of the Certified Nursing Assistant Educators Association (CNAEA) consist of instructors and coordinators of the Illinois Department of Public Health-approved Basic Nurse Aide Training programs, which are taught in colleges, career and technical education schools (CTE), public high schools, and healthcare facilities.

CNAEA works to ensure the quality of resident/patient/client care, support standardized education and training for all entry-level workers who assist the licensed nurse, regardless of title. To that end, standardization of title for assistive workers must also be considered. CNAEA proposes that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) curriculum guidelines be adopted state-wide to ensure standardized basic training, not only for long term care, but also for the acute care setting and the home care setting. This training should be considered a minimum requirement for employment in all settings where workers are employed to assist the licensed nurse.