Recommendations for Integrating Certified Nursing Assistants Into Interdisciplinary Care Teams and Planning

Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are foundational to delivering hands-on care in nursing homes; however, persistent shortages and high turnover threaten care quality and workforce stability.1–3 Elevating the CNA role, particularly through meaningful integration in care planning and interdisciplinary care teams (IDTs), can help address these challenges by improving retention, job satisfaction, and resident outcomes. The 2017 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandate requiring CNA participation in IDTs offers a timely opportunity to strengthen this role, but gaps between policy and practice persist.