Calif Department of Public Health - CNA/ HHA (Updated 4/15/2020)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Suspension of Specified Regulatory Requirements for Nurse Assistant Training Programs (NATPs) Updated April 15, 2020
AFL 20-40 CDPH is temporarily waiving specified statutory requirements and suspending regulatory enforcement for NATPs and nursing facilities that provide instruction and training to nurse assistants (NAs) seeking certification as CNAs.
Three areas of importance for programs include:
- Theory and Clinical Training
- HSC section 1337.1(b)(1) and Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 71835(k): A NATP may provide the 60 required hours of classroom training through an online or distance learning format and may begin providing online or distance learning training immediately upon electronic submission of notification to CDPH.
- Title 22 CCR section 71835(g) and (k): A nursing facility may conduct clinical training at any time of the day or night and on any day of the week and may implement an alternate schedule immediately upon electronic submission of notification to CDPH.
- NATPs and nursing facilities may also apply for waivers of other requirements not specified above, such as alternative ways to conduct clinical training such as simulation or laboratory return demonstration. Requests for specific emergency waivers must be submitted to the Medical and Health Coordination Center via email at CHCQDutyOfficer@cdph.ca.gov using the CDPH 5000A (PDF).
* HWI is working to develop a list of resources and practices to meet the needs of the simulation or laboratory return demonstration and will post those soon.
UPDATED 3/12/2020 1529
In consultation with the CDPH today we have recommendations based on the impact of COVD-19 and clinical displacements. Please consider this is information received from CPDH, as college districts are taking measures to move to online education and clinical sites are restricting assess for the student. If you must close the campus and move to online instruction, you are required to request program change approval if not previously approved.
- There will be NO approval for simulation use in place of clinical assignments/ experiences.
- CPDH is strongly encouraging other use of facilities for clinical assignments.
- If the program no longer has access to clinical facility, consider postponing the clinical portion of the approved course
- If the approved program moves the clinical portion of the course to a later time, then you will NOT need a program change approval
- Example: Program has approved Monday and Wednesday clinical days; you can postpone those clinical days to the summer session on approved Monday and Wednesday. This is not considered a program change
- If the approved programs move the clinical portion of the course to a later time, and your approved clinical days change, you will NEED to request program change approval.
- Example: Program has approved Monday and Wednesday clinical days, you postpone those clinical days to the summer session on new days Tuesday and Thursdays. This is considered a program change and you MUST seek program change approval
- It is highly encouraged to request another clinical site affiliate agreement to extend your options.
- If you are submitting an emergency clinical affiliate agreement for approval, please assure that on the application approval from you label on the top of the form “COVID-19”
- Submit via your Nursing Program Surveyor and they will expedite the approval process
- Clinical sites can be Long Term Care Facilities, Sub-Acute Care Facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities
- ACUTE care facilities are NOT an allowable use for clinical for Pre-Certified Nurse Assistant Programs
- Programs moving to online education
- If the current approved program is for in-classroom education, and your college district is moving to distance education, this is considered a program change.
- You will need to contact the eLearning Division of CPDH to request this change at the following
- elearning@cdph.ca.gov or (916) 552-9967
- In addition, you will need to contact your Nursing Surveyor for the program change approval
- You will need to contact the eLearning Division of CPDH to request this change at the following
- If the current approved program is for in-classroom education, and your college district is moving to distance education, this is considered a program change.
- Any facility requesting programs to postpone clinical affiliations due to the COVID-19 should provide this in writing. Request this from the facility contact or the Administrator.
- If there is no written documentation, then it is recommended to submit an email to the contact or administrator stating they are closed to student access for clinicals for your program file.
- You are open to contact the Nursing Home Administrator Program unit for any locations non-compliant with your requests. This would be a last resort.
- As always, this information is updated as we are receiving any news. Please reach out directly to your TPRU@cdph.ca.gov at CDPH for any questions related to your programs.
For any program change requests, please reach out to your Nursing Surveyor at the Training Program Review Unit. Please provide your program code and rationale for the program change. Further instructions from the Nursing Surveyor will be requested. If you are able to seek an alternate location, you can request emergency approval. To expedite the approval of new clinical training site agreements due to COVID-19, please indicate “COVID-19” on the application and we will process it immediately.