Temporary Nurse Aide: 16 hr Course
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This course is free and was designed to meet the critical staff shortages occurring as a result of COVID-19. This training is intended for use in nursing homes not for agency staffing purposes.
When will the Temporary Nurse Aide Certificates Expire? Learn more here.
This 16-hour online training, in combination with the on-site training you will get at the facility where you are hired, will prepare you to work as a Temporary Nurse Aide, a temporary position intended to address the current state of emergency.
If you plan to work in the state of Oklahoma or Rhode Island, you will need to take the free 16-hour course.
Important Update:
Effective Jan. 19th, 2021, Illinois has updated its TNA requirements. Visit the Illinois website to learn more.
In Delaware, any individuals who have taken the course before July 13th can still work under supervision and have until December 31st to become fully certified as a Certified Nursing Assistant. In addition, there are opportunities for these individuals for expedited training and potential financial assistance. Contact Delaware Health Care Facilities Association to learn more.
What Does a Temporary Nurse Aide Do?
The Temporary Nurse Aide will help to provide aspects of resident care that include:
- Activities of Daily Living
- Bathing
- Oral Care
- Grooming - Shaving and Nail Care
- Dressing and Undressing
- Infection Control and Prevention
- Positioning, Moving, and Restorative Care
- Nutrition and Elimination
- Comfort Care and End of Life Care
- Ethics and the Law in LTC
- Communication
- COVID
Academic Statement of Integrity
By registering for this course, I certify that all related coursework will be completed by me. I recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of professional development coursework, inhibits my ability to grow in my profession, and does a disservice to the people I work with and to the people I care for. I understand that any commitment of academic dishonesty will lead to revocation of any credits and/or certificates earned and no monies for course fees will be refunded.
DISCLAIMER: AHCA/NCAL has created these courses to assist providers to recruit and train temporary staff during the national emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic. While the federal government has issued a blanket waiver for such temporary nurse aides, state requirements may need to be waived to permit individuals under this training program in your location. Employers should check with their state survey agencies and their state occupational licensing agencies, where applicable, to ensure individuals trained under this program are permitted to assist with care in your location.
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- If you are new to this site, you will need to CREATE AN ACCOUNT using your name and email only. You do not need to fill out a company name.
- After you create your account, you will be redirected back to this webpage to REGISTER.
- You will need to complete the registration questions in your CART. This course is free.
- To begin the course, click the Course contents tab. Then click on the first item and complete it. You can move through the course at your own pace, stopping and returning to where you left off anytime.
If you need assistance, please e-mail your questions to educate@ahca.org. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
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If you are having trouble logging in or registering for the course, click on How to Get Started.
Have a question? Check this list for some answers. If you still need assistance, please e-mail educate@ahca.org, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
1. What does the Temporary Nurse Aide do?
The Temporary Nurse Aide helps provide resident care such as: assisting with bathing, dressing, feeding, restorative care, and more. The exact job responsibilities will be determined by the facility that hires you.
2. Who is the TNA training for?
This training is intended for use in nursing homes not for agency staffing purposes.
3. Where can I work after taking this course?
Nursing homes or “skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers” and assisted living communities. Check the Overview tab, to confirm the list of states that have approved this training course.
To find a place near you that is hiring, search for nursing homes in your area. See if their website offers directions on how to contact them, and let them know you’ve taken and passed the AHCA/NCAL Temporary Nurse Aide training course. Each facility/company will have its own application process.
4. Do I need any previous experience?
No prior health care experience is necessary.
5. Are these temporary positions available in my state?
Check the Overview tab for a current list of states where this training program is accepted for use. To find a place near you that is hiring, search for nursing homes in your area. See if their website offers directions on how to contact them and let them know you’ve taken and passed the AHCA/NCAL Temporary Nurse Aide training course. Each facility/company will have its own application process.
6. Do I have to pay to take the course?
No. The course is free.
7. If I take the test and do not score 80% or higher, can I take it again?
Yes, you may take the test up to three times. If you do not pass the test after the third attempt, you will be asked to take the course again at no charge.
8. How do I get the certificate and share that with a facility?
Once you have completed the course and passed the exam, you can download and print the certificate of completion before exiting the program. You can also return to the online course at any time, log in, and access the certificate again if you need another copy. You can also email educate@ahca.org and ask that an email copy be sent to you.
9. What additional on-the-job training will I receive?
Each facility/company will have its own on-the-job training process. You will be helped and supervised by trained professionals while you learn your duties. You will need to demonstrate you are able to complete specific tasks with proper knowledge, skill, and behavior. Here is an example of a checklist that may be used by the hiring facility for on-site training.
Once you have completed this training, you must take and pass the exam. You will then receive a certificate of completion that you can print and show to your hiring facility.
For information and suggestions on how to find a skilled nursing facility or assisted living community that is hiring a Temporary Nurse Aide, search for facilities in your area. See if their website offers directions on how to contact them and let them know you’ve taken and passed the AHCA/NCAL Temporary Nurse Aide training course. Each facility/company will have its own application process.
On April 7, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo indicating that the waiver that allowed for the utilization of the temporary nurse aide (TNA) in nursing homes would expire on June 6, 2022. The TNA training will be available until June 5, 2022.
TNAs will have four months from June 6, 2022, to transition into certified nurse aides. Depending on the state, transition processes may include taking full nurse aide training classes, state written tests, and/or state competency/skills exams.
Nursing homes will not be allowed to employ TNAs after October 6, 2022, in the role of TNA, unless they have received approval from a state official.
To find out what is happening in your state, check with your state nurse aide registry. This Directory of Nurse Aide Registries provides contact information by state.
Here is an example of a checklist that may be used by the hiring facility for on-site training.
TNA Skills Competency Checklist
How to Ensure Temporary Aides Are Successful
The TNA and TFA online courses are only the first step for temporary caregivers to assist our nation’s long term care facilities. Providers play a key role in helping temporary aides carry out their duties successfully. Here are some ways you can help make sure the programs are beneficial to your residents and fellow team members:
- Temporary aides should receive hours of on-the-job training once hired. Have them shadow an experienced staff member during the on-boarding process.
- Before temporary aides can take on specific duties, they must pass a competency assessment (typically overseen by a nurse) to demonstrate they understand those tasks. A competency assessment is a federal requirement for nursing homes.
- AHCA/NCAL has a competency checklist for TNAs that long term care facilities may use.
- If temporary aides are not doing things correctly, they need to undergo further training and evaluation.
- Continue to have a licensed professional supervise temporary aides at all times.
- Establish an ongoing evaluation process for temporary aides. Similar to other positions that must demonstrate their competency on a rolling basis, temporary aides should be evaluated periodically to reaffirm they know how to fulfill their duties correctly.
- If you are working with an agency to hire temporary staff, you may inquire about any individual to validate their abilities. Request their certificate of completion as well as their skills competency sheet.
- Look for ways to help temporary aides transition to become certified nursing assistants. Remember that these temporary positions are only allowed for as long as the public health emergency declaration and/or corresponding 1135 waiver remains in effect. Follow your state’s specific process to help your temporary aides become permanent employees and build a career in long term care.
Thank you for your support of the TNA and TFA programs. We hope you have found them to be a lifeline during this pandemic as our industry faces a historic labor crisis. Together, we can help ensure these heroes have the training and support they need to provide the care and companionship our residents deserve.
If you have questions regarding the courses, please contact us at educate@ahca.org.
