If you ever wanted a quick, clear, jargon-free way to explain consistent assignment to someone else – or if you’re not too sure about it yourself — you might want to check out the new two-page fact sheet (pdf) from the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes campaign.

The fact sheet is part of a series that lay out the goals of the campaign. Consistent assignment, which is goal #8, is defined as ensuring that ”residents see the same caregivers (registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or certified nurse aide) or team of caregivers almost every time they are on duty” in order to “build and sustain relationships between individual residents, their families and friends and nurse aides.” 

The publication lists the benefits of consistent assignment for residents, caregivers, and nursing homes. It also offers tips for consumers, telling them how to tell if a home uses consistent assignment and how to encourage its use if it doesn’t.

The campaign considers a home to be successfully using consistent assignment if staff care for the same residents on at least 80 to 85 percent of their shifts. 

Elise Nakhnikian, Senior Online Editor
enakhnikian@phinational.org