Q. What is the Temporary Nurse Aide Bridge Program?

Pursuant to emergency rules adopted on by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities (BLHCF) (effective on ), the Tennessee Department of Health Nurse Aide Program (TDH NAT) is authorized to deem an individual serving as a temporary nurse aide (TNA) as satisfying the requirement of completing a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program if the individual meets certain eligibility requirements.

To transition to permanent status as a CNA and be placed on the Nurse Aide Registry, a TNA must have completed the following:

1. Have worked at least two hundred (200) hours in a nursing home during the public health emergency (PHE);
2. Passed a written or oral test, which can be the initial online test the TNA took to become a TNA (i.e., part of the 8-hour AHCA TNA Training program); and
3. Established the individual’s competency to perform the duties of a nurse aide by successfully completing an assessment in all areas of required nurse aide training as provided for in 42 CFR (b) (relating to requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program) by the hiring entity.

Attestation Form – Submit completed, notarized attestation form with proper payment and required documentation to by .

This online attestation form assures Tennessee nursing facility residents, patients, and employers of nurse aides that the named individual seeking nurse aide registry status is: (1) competent in skills and knowledge to perform all of the nurse aide duties as outlined by federal regulations at 42 CFR Part 483 and corresponding state regulations. Once the employer and individual have attested and declared to TDH NAT that the requisite eligibility requirements have been met, the individual shall be deemed to have completed all nurse aide training and competency evaluation program requirements and shall have their name enrolled on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry.

TNA Bridge Program Timeline

• : Online process begins, completed Attestation Forms may be submitted.
• Submit the American Health Care Association (AHCA) certificate of completion of the 8-hour online examination and the completed Temporary Nurse Aide Checklist confirming the individual’s competency to perform the duties of a nurse aide as outlined in 42 CFR (b) to by . NOTE: The AHCA certificate of completion must be prior to or on .
• : Deadline to submit Attestation Form through Submission Portal. All eligible TNAs must submit an attestation form by .
• : Termination of Emergency Rule.

A. The purpose of the bridge program is to transition qualifying Temporary Nurse Aides (TNA) to permanent status as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). The State of Tennessee approved emergency rules allowing the Tennessee Department of Health Nurse Aide Program (TDH NAT) to deem an individual serving as a TNA as satisfying the requirement of completing a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program if the individual meets certain eligibility requirements. To participate in the Temporary Nurse Aide Bridge Program, a TNA must complete the attestation form listing the information below:

1.Worked at least two hundred (200) hours in a nursing snap the site home during the public health emergency (PHE), which began in ;

3.Established the individual’s competency to perform the duties of a nurse aide by successfully completing an assessment in all areas of required nurse aide training as provided for in 42 CFR (b) (relating to requirements for approval of a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program) by the hiring entity (Temporary Nurse Aide Checklist).

Q. How Does A Temporary Nurse Aide Submit Information to Transition through the TNA Bridge Program? A. To enable TNAs to submit the information necessary to be placed on the Nurse Aide Registry as a CNA, the TDH NAT has created an attestation form , which can be accessed on the TDH website. Individual TNAs (or the facilities for which they are working) must use this attestation form to provide the information necessary, and attest that the information submitted is truthful and accurate.