Did you know a few states are moving to offer the certification exam in other languages? In an effort to address the pressing workforce shortage in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, a groundbreaking policy has been introduced to offer nurse assistant certification exams in Spanish and Chinese starting next year in 2024. This policy aims to provide greater accessibility to hundreds of potential nurse aides and ease the entry of non-native English speakers into the healthcare sector.
Traditionally, the certified nurse assistant (CNA) exams were conducted exclusively in English, creating barriers for individuals with diverse language backgrounds, even those with extensive nursing experience in their home countries. The new policy was included as part of the fiscal 2024 budget, recently signed into law by Massachusetts Governor, Maura Healey. However, stakeholders emphasize that this is just the initial step towards empowering immigrant CNAs and improving care quality for non-English-speaking residents in nursing homes.
Immigrants often see the CNA role as a gateway to further education in the healthcare sector. However, due to language barriers, the pass rates for the written exam are lower compared to the clinical exam. The importance of creating accessible pathways for qualified individuals worldwide to contribute to the healthcare sector was emphasized.
Bill Graves, the President and CEO of South Cove Manor, a rehabilitation facility primarily serving Chinese-speaking residents, expressed the significant impact of this language expansion. He recounted instances where promising applicants were turned away due to their inability to pass the English exam, and he highlighted the potential for immediate staffing improvements and reduced burnout among existing employees.
The policy to diversify language offerings for the CNA written exam had been proposed earlier, but the former Governor returned it to lawmakers for further details. This year, Senators and Representatives resurrected the initiative with new legislation (H 3609 / S 1336) eventually being voted into law for Massachusetts.
The signed budget mandates that the Department of Public Health (DPH) offer the CNA exam in a language other than English by October 1, 2024, though efforts are being made to expedite this timeline. It’s worth noting that the CNA exam was previously available in Chinese prior to the COVID-19 pandemic under a different exam provider.
According to Senator Keenan, the demand for such multilingual options is urgent, considering the isolation non-English-speaking residents may feel when unable to communicate with caregivers.
Currently, there is a significant shortage of CNA’s, with a reported 20 percent vacancy rate, translating to 3,240 open positions, as indicated by a workforce survey from July 2023. This shortage underscores the urgent need for policies that support and expand the direct care workforce.
South Cove’s Manor’s Bill Graves pointed out the benefits of hiring CNAs fluent in the residents’ native languages, highlighting how this would enhance communication and care delivery. The Senate bill suggests expanding the language options beyond Spanish and Chinese, and DPH is expected to determine additional languages based on necessity in the future.
DPH is collaborating with the CNA testing provider to ensure that exam guides are translated and readily available. Public input will be sought as DPH modifies nurse aide regulations to accommodate the new language policy.
In summary, the introduction of multilingual nurse assistant certification exams in Spanish and Chinese represents a significant stride in addressing the workforce shortage in long-term care facilities and creating inclusive opportunities for non-English-speaking candidates. Stakeholders are hopeful that this policy will enhance communication, care quality, and workforce stability in the healthcare industry.
What are your thoughts on this? Is this good legislation? Should more language be added? If so, which ones?
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