Negligence in Long Term Care: Avoiding Potential Liability
By: Betty Frandsen, MHA, RN, NHA, CDONA, FACDONA, C-NE, IP-BC and
Kimberly A. Keeman, B.S.
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) play a vital role in the delivery of healthcare to patients and residents. Specifically in long term care facilities, CNAs work very closely
with their residents. Their daily duties are diverse and include, but are not limited to:
feeding, bathing and dressing residents, incontinent care and toileting residents,
taking vital signs, positioning and transferring residents, using mechanical lifts, performing range of motion, assisting with ambulation, and observing changes in a
resident’s condition. Working in healthcare as a CNA comes with the potential
exposure to liability.