You Asked: Is dementia training required for nurse aides?
We Answered: Yes, under §483.95(g) nurse aide training must include dementia management training and resident abuse prevention training. Additionally, for nurse aides providing services to individuals with cognitive impairments, training must also address the care of the cognitively impaired. The State Operations Manual Appendix PP, notes that the adequacy of the in-service education program may be measured not only by documentation of hours of completed in-service education, but also by demonstrated competencies of nurse aide staff through written exam and/or in consistently applying the interventions necessary to meet residents’ needs as identified in the facility assessment. Observations of nurse aides that indicate deficiencies in their nurse aide skills may be the result of an inadequate training program and/or inadequate performance review.