Who supervises nursing assistants during their duties?

Nursing assistants, also known as certified nursing assistants (CNAs), work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) in healthcare settings. RNs and LPNs/LVNs are responsible for overseeing the care provided by nursing assistants, ensuring that it aligns with medical directives and standards of practice.

This arrangement is critical because RNs and LPNs/LVNs possess the necessary training and licensure to provide comprehensive patient care, assess patient needs, and delegate appropriate tasks to nursing assistants. Their supervision ensures that nursing assistants carry out their duties effectively and safely, while also maintaining a high standard of care for patients.

While other nursing assistants may provide support and guidance among themselves, they do not hold the authoritative supervision required for medical and clinical decision-making. The health team acts collectively to address patient care but does not specifically supervise nursing assistants in task delegation or oversight. The medical director oversees medical staff and administration but does not directly supervise the day-to-day activities of nursing assistants. Thus, the most accurate answer to who supervises nursing assistants is RNs and LPNs/LVNs.