What do certified nurse assistants actually know about dysphagia and feeding nursing home residents?
The purpose of this study was to examine certified nurse assistants’ (CNAs’) knowledge of dysphagia and how to feed nursing home residents using nonparticipatory structured feeding observation, critique of staged feeding behaviors on film, and semistructured interview in a triangulation methods design. Content analysis of the data confirmed previous studies that suggested CNAs lack knowledge about dysphagia and how to feed residents. A surprising result was the lack of accurate, comprehensive information in CNA texts and classrooms about dysphagia and how to manage challenging feeding behaviors. Speech-language pathologists are uniquely trained to improve CNA communication skills and provide accurate information to nursing colleagues. Specific recommendations of how to improve CNA feeding training programs are provided.
