Unlicensed assistive personnel

While providing this care, UAPs offer compassion and patience and are part of the patient's healthcare support system.

UAPs care for patients in hospitals, residents of nursing facilities, clients in private homes, and others in need of their services due to old age or disability.

They are collectively categorized under the group "personal care workers in health services" in the International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008 revision.

Unlicensed assistive personnel are important members of the health care team who often hold a high level of experience and ability.

While they do not require extensive health care training to practice their profession, manual dexterity and good interpersonal communication skills are usually necessary.

They often undergo some formal education, apprenticeship or on-the-job training in areas such as body mechanics, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, cognitive impairments and mental health issues, infection control, personal care skills, and record-keeping.

The National Association of Health Care Assistants defines the role of CNAs as: "In the United States, certified nursing assistants typically work in a nursing home or hospital and perform everyday living tasks for the elderly, chronically sick, or rehabilitation patients who cannot care for themselves.

Patients include those who have a physical or mental disability, are recovering from an injury or surgery, have a chronic illness, or are advanced in age.

In Mozambique, for example, surgical technologists are medical professionals trained and registered to perform advanced clinical procedures including emergency surgery.

They are distinguished from midwives, physicians, nurses, and other professionals who are trained and licensed to provide basic and emergency pregnancy and childbirth-related health care services and manage complications.

This allows an employer to verify experience and knowledge as well as assist in preventing individuals who have been "struck" (had registration/certification invalidated) from continuing to work in healthcare roles.

Each state is required to maintain an updated nursing registry under the 1987 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA).

Staff may leave because of low pay, long hours, mandatory overtime, physically taxing work, burnout, workplace violence, inadequate training, exposure to infectious disease, and a lack of opportunity for advancement in the organization.

Patients and residents, especially those who are cognitively impaired or mentally ill, may hit, kick, pinch bite, or verbally insult UAPs providing care.

[30] In a given year, 34% of American UAPs in long-term care facilities experience physical injury, including human bites, after a resident assaults them.

[27][33] Researchers and healthcare associations suggest that, to improve staff retention, employers should provide UAPs with higher wages, benefits, and pensions.