Perspectives of Certified Nursing Assistants on Their Knowledge of Communication Disorders in Nursing Home Residents
Open Access
- Author:
- Kielbasa, Sara Ann
- Area of Honors:
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Dr. Ingrid Maria Blood, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Ingrid Maria Blood, Thesis Honors Advisor
Ji Min Lee, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Certified Nursing Assistant
Communication Disorders
Dysphagia
Tinnitus
Presbycusis - Abstract:
- The influence of a communication disorder on a person depends primarily on the services provided by a speech-language pathologist, but also by the communication partners the individual has. When working with someone with any communication disorder, the healthcare provider needs to be knowledgeable on how to effectively serve that individual. The communication disorders of dysphagia, tinnitus, and presbycusis can frequently go unnoticed due to their unobservable nature, especially when the residents have been diagnosed with other comorbid communication disorders. Nursing home residents can see a number of healthcare providers in a single day, including numerous physicians, therapists, and nurses. However, the primary provider of care within a nursing home is a certified nursing assistant. This became motivation to survey 15 certified nursing assistants working within nursing homes on their knowledge of communication disorders. Based on previous literature, the biggest problem facing certified nursing assistants is that their knowledge of communication disorders is limited in terms of safety, skills, and communication. Gaps in their knowledge about these disorders may lead to health issues and decline in general well-being. Through survey these issues are reported, as well as addressing the importance of communication disorders on their career, and where they learned what they presently know about these disorders. Survey findings indicate that there is a gap in the knowledge of communication disorders shown by certified nursing assistants. 100% of participants agreed that knowledge of communication, swallowing, and hearing disorders are important to their career as a certified nursing assistant. Participants also acknowledge that they often work with residents with these disorders, however a large percentage indicate that they do not have an understanding of these disorders or how to serve those with these disorders. Another finding by the study is that a proportion of participants felt they learned the about these disorders while on the job, or not at all. In the future, observing certified nursing assistants to determine what communication disorders skills should be taught in training could allow for greater heath and quality of life in nursing home residents. All communication disorders found within nursing home residents should be trained and assessed. Finally, this data could be used to advocate for additional training for certified nursing assistants.