Wisconsin Legislature: DHS 129.07(1)(b)9.

(a) Interpersonal communication and social interaction. The program shall include the theory of and practice in communicating and interacting on a one-to-one basis with a client; serving as part of a team implementing client care objectives; demonstrating sensitivity to a client’s emotional; social and psychological needs through directed interactions; and skills that enable expressions of age-appropriate behavior by allowing a client to make personal choices and by reinforcing behavior that supports a client’s sense of dignity. After completion of this portion of the training program, a nurse aide shall do all of the following:

1. Identify the components of a caregiver-client relationship and be able to recognize and demonstrate understanding of all of the following:

a. The uniqueness of each client, in terms of that person’s age, disability, family status, financial status, gender, marital status, race, and sexual orientation, and cultural, generational, social, ethnic, religious or other background, values or characteristics.

b. The needs of a client with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, mental illness, intellectual disability, or other cognitive disabilities or impairments.

c. Ways both nurse aides and clients can cope with stress.

d. What constitutes caregiver misconduct.

e. The messages conveyed by body language, speech and facial expressions.

2. Demonstrate an ability to establish effective relationships with clients and be able to do all of the following:

a. Communicate with clients in a respectful manner that affords clients dignity.

b. Explain procedures and activities to clients before carrying out those procedures or beginning those activities.

c. Demonstrate concern for clients who have long-term or disabling illnesses or who are dying.

d. Identify developmental tasks associated with the aging process.

3. Demonstrate an ability to use appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication skills with clients and be able to do all of the following:

a. Recognize effective listening techniques.

b. Distinguish assertive from aggressive responses.

c. Identify the difference between non-acceptable and acceptable touching during job performance.

d. Identify therapeutic interventions and specialized techniques for responding to client’s wandering and confusion.

4. Recognize common barriers to communication, including language, vision changes, hearing loss, speech problems, memory loss, disorientation and pain.

5. Demonstrate an ability to promote the independence of clients within the limitations of their physical, mental and intellectual impairments by fostering self-help skills through appropriate responses to clients’ attempts to provide self care, including recognizing clients’ level of ability in self care activities.

6. Identify the role of the family and other persons of importance to the client in the client’s care and as resources for client emotional support.

(b) Basic nursing skills. The program shall include the theory of and practice in basic nursing skills, including bed making, taking vital signs, measuring height and weight, caring for the client’s environment, measuring fluid and nutrient intake and output, assisting in the provision of proper nutritional care, walking or transferring the client using body mechanics and appropriately selected equipment with regard to principles of client care ergonomics, and maintaining infection control and safety standards. A nurse aide shall do all of the following:

1. Use acceptable personal hygiene.

2. Recognize the components of working relationships.

3. Identify how and when to seek guidance, using the supervisory channels of communication within the facility or agency.

4. Use proper body mechanics.

5. Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of common medical terms and abbreviations.

6. Observe and report changes in client behavior and physical status, including signs and symptoms of common diseases and conditions.

7. Recognize when a client may be choking and respond appropriately.

8. Recognize the normal physical and psychological changes associated with aging.

9. Identify the basic principles of nutrition and hydration.

10. Recognize and report deviations from a client’s normal food and fluid intake and output.

11. Recognize the basic requirements of commonly prescribed therapeutic diets.

12. Use common measures to promote a client’s skin integrity, considering the client’s ethnicity, race and age.

13. Demonstrate appropriate techniques in walking, transferring, positioning and transporting clients.

14. Recognize and respond appropriately to unsafe environmental conditions, including damp floors, frayed electrical cords and loose hand rails.

15. Recognize and respond appropriately to emergency situations including following emergency evacuation procedures.

16. Demonstrate appropriate hand washing techniques.

17. Understand and use commonly used alternatives to restraints in accordance with current professional standards.

18. Maintain the safety and cleanliness of client care areas.

19. Make use of proper isolation technique.

20. Perform commonly accepted infection control practices, including proper gloving technique and proper disposal of blood and body fluids and secretions.

21. Make occupied and unoccupied beds.

22. Measure temperature, pulse and respiration.

23. Measure a client’s weight and height.

24. Record objective information.

25. Apply nonprescription ointments to unbroken skin areas.

26. Recognize the general effects of prescribed routine medications.

27. Recognize therapeutic interventions and specialized non-pharmacological pain control interventions.

28. Assist with care of clients when death is imminent.

29. Assist with post-mortem care.

30. Maintain the safety and cleanliness of areas where food is stored.

(c) Personal care skills. The program shall include the theory of and practice in basic personal care skills, including bathing, mouth care, grooming, dressing, toileting, and assistance with eating, hydration and skin care. A nurse aide shall demonstrate the ability to do all of the following:

1. Give a complete or partial bed bath to a client and assist a client in taking a bath or a shower.

2. Provide care of the client’s perineal area.

3. Apply appropriate oral hygiene practices when assisting a client with oral hygiene, including caring for the client’s dentures.

4. Care for a client’s nails, hair and skin.

5. Shave and shampoo a client, including applying nonprescription medicated shampoos.

6. Dress and undress a client.

7. Prepare a client for meals.

8. Assist in feeding a client, including helping a client use adaptive devices and feeding utensils and encouraging a client to eat nutritionally balanced meals.

9. Assist a client with bowel and bladder elimination.

(d) Basic restorative services. The program shall include the theory of and practice in providing restorative services. Basic restorative services include the application of assistive devices for ambulation; eating and dressing; maintenance of range of motion through appropriate exercises; proper turning and positioning both in bed and chair; proper transferring techniques; bowel and bladder training; and care and use of prosthetic devices such as hearing aids, artificial eyes and artificial limbs. A nurse aide shall demonstrate the ability to do all of the following:

1. Recognize the importance of bowel and bladder programs.

2. Recognize the method for maintaining and improving musculoskeletal functioning by promoting joint mobility, body alignment and movement, including being able to do all of the following:

a. Position clients by use of pillows, towel rolls, padding and footboards.

b. Perform simple range of motion exercises.

c. Assist clients in the use of crutches, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, prostheses and appliances.

3. Transfer clients safely and according to principles of patient care ergonomics and with proficiency in use of available equipment that is used to transfer clients.

Note: Equipment used to transfer clients includes, but is not limited to, mechanical lifts, friction reducing devices; wheelchairs and gait belts.

4. Reinforce breathing exercises, including coughing and deep breathing.

5. Help clients use hearing aids and visual aids.

(e) Rights of clients.

1. The program shall provide instruction on the principles of and requirements relating to clients’ rights. The nurse aide shall demonstrate an understanding of all of the following obligations:

a. Providing privacy for clients in treatment, living arrangements and personal care needs.

b. Maintaining the confidentiality of client health and personal records.

c. Allowing clients to make personal choices to accommodate the clients’ needs.

d. Providing help clients need in getting to and participating in activities, including client and family group meetings.

e. Maintaining the personal possessions of clients in good and secure condition.

f. Interacting with clients without abusing or neglecting the clients.

g. Interacting with clients without misappropriating the clients’ property.

h. Immediately reporting to appropriate facility or agency staff every instance of abuse or neglect of a client or misappropriation of a client’s property as defined in s. DHS 13.03 (1), (12), and (14).

2. The nurse aide shall demonstrate behavior that recognizes that clients have rights and that the aide respects those rights. The nurse aide shall do all of the following:

a. Demonstrate respect and concern for each client’s rights, preferences and awareness of age, color, disability, family status, financial status, gender, marital status, race, sexual orientation, and ethnic, cultural, social, generational and religious differences.

b. Show respect for cultural, ethnic and religious food preferences.

c. Recognize what constitutes abuse of clients and demonstrate an understanding of how to interact with clients without abusing them or without appearing to abuse them.

d. Demonstrate prevention and intervention skills with combative clients that balance appropriate client care with a need to minimize the potential for injury to the aide and others.

e. Recognize the role of state and federal regulatory agencies in licensing or otherwise approving providers and in investigating complaints of abuse of client property.

f. Demonstrate an understanding of the process by which a client or staff member may file a complaint on behalf of a client and seek redress for a perceived violation of client rights.

g. Recognize the role of client advocacy groups as client resources.