The Alabama Board of Nursing is implementing a new certification process for nursing support technicians (NSTs) in an effort to streamline education and testing, as well as alleviate nurse shortages. This new process, which went into effect this month, will create a uniform credential for NSTs, who currently work under various titles without any regulation. The certification process was mandated by Senate Bill 25, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, the only nurse in the Alabama Legislature.
According to Peggy Benson, executive officer for the nursing board, the current lack of regulation for NSTs has led to burnout among nurses, contributing to the state’s nurse shortage. By certifying NSTs, nurses will no longer be held responsible for the actions of NSTs under their supervision, and every NST will be required to undergo the same education and training program.
The new certification process aims to improve patient safety by ensuring that all NSTs have the same skill set and are held accountable for their actions. It is estimated to take between three to five years to fully implement the certification process, with existing NSTs being grandfathered in and only required to take a competency test.
Overall, the new certification process for NSTs in Alabama is seen as a major step toward improving healthcare outcomes and alleviating nurse shortages by providing uniform standards for nursing support technicians across the state.
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