What is Consistent Dedicated Assignment?
Consistent or Dedicated Assignment means that residents have the same staff caring for them every day whenever these staff are working.
This includes the Certified Nursing Assistants (or CNAs), the nurses, along with all other direct care and support staff – like housekeeping, activities, social services, and the different therapies.
The key to being person-centered is when all care partners are truly known.
It builds meaningful, respectful relationships with all care partners including the residents, families, and the staff.
Consistent or dedicated assignment transforms caregiving from focusing on just the task to focusing on the relationship.
Residents know who is taking care of them and feel comfortable and secure.
The residents grow to trust that “their CNA” knows “just how” to take care of them.
Families share that trust and feel they are in a true “partnership” with “their staff care partners.”
Consistent or dedicated assignment reduces complaints and grievances because the staff are better able to work with the residents and families
to meet their needs.
Consistent assignment is the foundation for high-quality, individualized care and good teamwork because staff know the residents so well they can anticipate their individual needs and preferences.
In long-term care settings, consistent CNAs have finely-tuned awareness of their residents and are able to notice changes in their condition.
They are able to catch early warning signs which can help keep residents out of the hospital.
Research demonstrates that consistent assignment leads to enhanced relationships; improved staff attendance; improved staff, resident, and family satisfaction; lower staff turnover; improved accuracy and timeliness of screening and assessments; improved clinical outcomes; and improved quality of life.
Wouldn’t YOU want the same people to care for you every day?
Think of ways you can share this information with people you know.
Adapted from “Engaging Staff in Individualized Care” via Pioneer Network.
