TY - JOUR
T1 - "It doesn't require much effort once you get to know them"
T2 - Certified nursing assistants' views of communication in long-term care
AU - Page, Christen G.
AU - Rowles, Graham D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© SLACK Incorporated.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide the majority of hands-on care and become highly sensitive to residents' communication behaviors. Yet, CNAs feel disempowered when communicating residents' concerns to higher levels of authority. A grounded theory approach using focus group interviews with 23 CNAs was used to describe the communication environment in long-term care (LTC) and explore CNAs' perceptions of the acceptability of communication plans, a recent Canadian intervention to facilitate resident-staff communication. Findings suggest the communication environment in LTC relates to three overlapping constructs: (a) CNA and resident communication style; (b) paradox of context; and (c) dedication to residents. Although CNAs frequently interact with residents, a division between "top and bottom staff" communication was apparent in the findings. The current study suggested that communication plans may improve the communication environment in LTC settings.
AB - Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) provide the majority of hands-on care and become highly sensitive to residents' communication behaviors. Yet, CNAs feel disempowered when communicating residents' concerns to higher levels of authority. A grounded theory approach using focus group interviews with 23 CNAs was used to describe the communication environment in long-term care (LTC) and explore CNAs' perceptions of the acceptability of communication plans, a recent Canadian intervention to facilitate resident-staff communication. Findings suggest the communication environment in LTC relates to three overlapping constructs: (a) CNA and resident communication style; (b) paradox of context; and (c) dedication to residents. Although CNAs frequently interact with residents, a division between "top and bottom staff" communication was apparent in the findings. The current study suggested that communication plans may improve the communication environment in LTC settings.
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U2 - 10.3928/00989134-20160104-01
DO - 10.3928/00989134-20160104-01
M3 - Article
C2 - 26870987
AN - SCOPUS:85015008088
SN - 0098-9134
VL - 42
SP - 42
EP - 51
JO - Journal of Gerontological Nursing
JF - Journal of Gerontological Nursing
IS - 4
ER -