"It doesn't require much effort once you get to know them": Certified nursing assistants' views of communication in long-term care

Christen G. Page, Graham D. Rowles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)42-51
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Gerontological Nursing
Volume42
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© SLACK Incorporated.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nursing (all)
  • Gerontology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '"It doesn't require much effort once you get to know them": Certified nursing assistants' views of communication in long-term care'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this