Board of Nursing brings improvements to nurse assistant education, but retention issues remain

July 4, 2026 - 01:10

The state Board of Nursing has rolled out updated educational standards for nurse assistants, aiming to better prepare workers for the demands of long-term care. The changes include more hands-on clinical hours, updated curriculum on dementia care, and new requirements for infection control. Officials say the goal is to raise the quality of care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, which have faced intense scrutiny since the pandemic.

But while the training improvements are seen as a step forward, they do little to solve a deeper problem: keeping those workers on the job. Turnover rates for certified nursing assistants remain high across Washington, with many leaving the field within their first year due to low pay, physical strain, and emotional burnout. In Edmonds, where the median age is roughly 25 percent higher than the state average, the demand for long-term care is especially acute. Facilities there report chronic understaffing, with some relying heavily on temporary agency workers.

Industry advocates say better training is welcome, but without wage increases and stronger support systems, retention will stay an uphill battle. The board acknowledges that education alone cannot fix the shortage and is now working with state lawmakers on broader workforce initiatives. For now, the new standards take effect next quarter, and training programs are already adjusting their schedules to comply.