COMPARISON CHART - UNLICENSED ASSISTIVE PERSON AND CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• North Dakota Board of Nursing
• ND Administrative Code, Article 54-07 Unlicensed Assistive Person
• Individuals may be placed on the Board of Nursing registry either through competency evaluation by an employer or licensed nurse or through a national nurse aide competency evaluation testing program.
          -Application processed by North Dakota Board of Nursing for a fee of 
           thirty dollars.
          -Renew every two years.
• North Dakota Board of Nursing recognizes the Health Department Certified Nurse Aide Registry. NDAC 54-07-01-03.

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• The North Dakota Division of Health Facilities is designated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for registration of CNAs.
• Federal certification requirements for CNAs can be found in the Social Security Act at 1819(e)(2)(A) and at 1919 (e)(2)(A).
• North Dakota Administrative Code, Chapter 33-07-06
• Individuals may be placed on the Health Department registry after successfully completing a state approved competency evaluation program.
• The federal regulations prohibit charging fees to the individual for placement of their name on the Health Department registry.
• The Health Department registry is recognized by the Board of Nursing as specified in NDAC 54-07-01-03.
          -Renew every two years.

DEFINITION

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• Unlicensed assistive person means an assistant to the nurse who regardless of title is authorized by the board to perform nursing interventions delegated and supervised by a nurse.

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• Certified nurse aide means any individual who has successfully completed the requirements for the Health Department approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program, or department-approved competency evaluation program and is entered on the department’s nurse aide registry.

SCOPE OF WORK

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• A licensed nurse may delegate a nursing intervention to a competent unlicensed assistive person if the licensed nurse utilizes a decision-making process to delegate in a manner that protects public health, welfare, and safety. 
• Retain accountability for the action of self.
• Not transfer the authority of a delegated nursing intervention to another unlicensed assistive person.

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• The scope of work for a CNA includes infection control, safety and emergency procedures, promoting resident or patient independence, respecting resident rights, basic nursing skills, personal care skills, mental health and social service needs, care of the cognitively impaired resident or patient, basic restorative services, resident or patient rights, and communication and interpersonal skills.

DELEGATION

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• NDAC Chapter 54-05-04 Standards for Delegation.
• Unlicensed assistive persons complement the licensed nurse in the performance of nursing interventions but may not substitute for the licensed nurse.    Unlicensed assistive persons are generally responsible to the licensed nurse to assist with client care but may be responsible to an individual directing his or her own care or to the legally responsible person directing an individual’s care for services provided to that individual.

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• Refer to specific healthcare facility rules for nursing services.

EMPLOYMENT

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• Hospitals, Home Health
• Assisted Living/Basic Care Facilities
• Developmental Disabilities Facilities
• Consumer Directed

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• Medicare/Medicaid Nursing Facilities
• Other healthcare facilities
• Employment requirements to include at least eight hours of CNA duties in a 24 month period to maintain CNA certification (renewal process).

TRAINING PROGRAMS

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• Supply a verification of competence assessment from employer/licensed nurse.

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• 57 approved training programs.
• Onsite review of each training program every two years

COMPLAINT PROCESS

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• The ND Board of Nursing is required to investigate every complaint it receives.  If the NDBON takes action against a UAP registration, that action is noted on the registry and is public record.

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• According to federal regulations, when a CNA has had a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property or a criminal conviction, the CNA may not work in any nursing facility anywhere in the United States. A finding of abuse, neglect or misappropriation determined by the ND Department of Health, is noted on the registry. 

STATISTICS

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• 4400 active UAPs on NDBON registry
          -2100 Medication Assistant
          -245 Technician

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• 12,500 active on Health Department registry

VERIFICATION SYSTEM

Unlicensed Assistive Person
• Facilities/employers can verify registry status for UAPs on the "Verify Permits and Licenses" area under "Online Services" on this site's "Home Page".  The verification registration information generated from this system is considered primary source verification by the North Dakota Board of Nursing.
• Online services for name and address changes at www.ndbon.org.

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
• Division of Health Facilities has an online CNA Registry system where inquiry or verification, name and address changes, and CNA renewals can be completed at http://www.ndhealth.gov/HF/.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Unlicensed Assistive Person
      North Dakota Board of Nursing
      919 South 7th Street, Suite 504
      Bismarck, North Dakota 58504
      Phone 701-328-9788

North Dakota Certified Nurse Aide
   Division of Health Facilities
   600 East Boulevard Avenue Dept 301
   Bismarck North Dakota 58505-0200
   Phone 701-328-2353

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