Working experience of certified nursing assistants in the greater New York City area during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a survey Study

• Published in: Geriatric nursing (New York) 2021-11, Vol.42 (6), p.1556-1561
• Main Authors: Ecker, Sarah, Pinto, Sanjay, Sterling, Madeline, Wiggins, Faith, Ma, Chenjuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Certified nursing assistants; COVID-19; Humans; Long-term care; New York City - epidemiology; Nursing Assistants; Nursing homes; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Working experiences
• ISSN: 0197-4572; 1528-3984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.10.007

•Of the 208 CNA respondents, 80.1% reported having contact with a patient with a known or suspected case of COVID-19.•The majority of CNAs (80.6%) reported having enough access to PPE during the pandemic, though 32.6% indicated having to provide their own at one point.•Almost all CNAs (91.3%) experienced a death of a patient in their nursing home or unit at the time of the survey, which increased their mental health hardship.•Nearly half of CNAs reported it was “harder” or “a lot harder” to afford basic needs (e.g., food and housing) because of the pandemic.•CNAs reported a mixed impact of the pandemic on their long-term career choice with 17.9% indicating less likeliness of continue in the nursing home industry and 20.4% indicating more likeliness to do so. This study aimed to examine the challenges and needs of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) working in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the greater New York City area. Between September and November of 2020, a telephone survey was administered to and completed by 208 CNAs in the study area about various aspects of their working experience during COVID-19. CNAs reported significant exposure to COVID-19 and experienced additional emotional and financial strain due to the pandemic. CNAs also expressed the influence of COVID-19 on their work schedules and intent to continue working as CNAs, and strong interest in financial support and further training. This study offers empirical insights into the experiences of CNAs working in nursing homes during the pandemic, which are of unique value to inform future efforts to support CNAs and other long-term care providers in general and during public health emergencies in New York and beyond.