When a skilled nursing agency builds your care team, you may hear several titles. Here is a quick guide.
- RN – Registered Nurse: performs assessments, creates and supervises the plan of care, manages complex medications and treatments, and coordinates with your physician.
- LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse: provides skilled nursing tasks such as medication administration and wound care under RN supervision.
- CNA – Certified Nursing Assistant: delivers hands-on personal care, takes vital signs and reports changes to the nurse.
- RNA – Restorative Nursing Assistant: carries out restorative programs — range-of-motion, walking and mobility routines — to maintain function after therapy.
- HHA – Home Health Aide: helps with bathing, dressing, mobility and daily routines as part of the care plan.
- PT / OT / ST: licensed therapists who restore movement, daily-living skills, and communication or swallowing.
Working together, this team allows many people to recover at home safely instead of in a facility.