Introduction of a non-clinical support role for care staff in nursing homes

• Nurses have many non-clinical responsibilities in long-term care homes (e.g., supporting residents’ mobility, nutrition, and social life), which can take time away from their clinical duties. 
• This project aimed to improve efficiency and productivity for one long-term care home in Saint John by introducing the “Care Assistant” role, responsible for providing non-clinical care for residents.  
  • Care Assistants were not licensed/registered care providers and did not have formal training. 
• Data was collected through surveys, focus groups, and incident reports from the following participants to evaluate the project’s impact on workplace efficiency and productivity: 
  • 187 residents (131 women, 56 men) 
  • 142 informal caregivers (73 women, 21 men, 48 preferred not to say) 
  • 12 social and healthcare workers (12 women) 

The qualitative findings showed that establishing Care Assistants in a long-term care home improved workplace productivity. Care staff experienced less stress when Care Assistants were present. Residents, their family members, and care staff expressed that quality of care improved when Care Assistants were present.  

The project team learned to adapt the Care Assistant role, and to maintain clear communication between Care Assistants and the clinical care staff.  

Many of the project team’s recommendations focused on expanding Care Assistants’ responsibilities, some of which include:  

• Carrying a phone during shifts to respond to resident calls as the project showed that about 60% of calls were non-clinical (e.g., help to put on a sweater and to fix a TV remote). 
• Training to perform safe mechanical lifts – the number of clinical care staff required for this task was reduced after some Care Assistants received partial training to act as a spotter while a clinical care staff member performed the lift. 

To learn more read the complete project findings (PDF 172 KB)