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Sunday, November 1, 2009
Learning Objective 1: describe professional communication practices currently utilized by RNs, LPNs and CNAs in nursing homes.
Learning Objective 2: discuss recommendations to enhance nursing team communication in nursing homes.
Currently, the bulk of nursing work in nursing homes is completed by personnel other than registered nurses (RNs). The “nursing team” is often comprised of RNs, LPNs and CNAs. Ideally, each member of this inter-professional team, lead by an RN, would have clearly defined roles, responsibilities and mechanisms for sharing information. Literature suggests that there are disconnects in the patterns of communication and group dynamics between RNs, LPNs and CNAs. The purpose of this project was to analyze professional communication practices currently utilized by RNs, LPNs and CNAs in nursing homes, and to develop a set of recommendations based on findings to enhance and encourage professional communication among nursing team members. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 nursing team members in 2 Philadelphia-area nursing homes. Emergent themes included; minimal clinical information sharing, no perceived professional role differentiation between RNs and LPNs, event-initiated nursing assessment, little feedback given to CNAs. Recommendations include the establishment of clinical reporting both between shifts and among nursing team members, and the development of a template for clinical reporting.