As a reminder, temporary nurse aides (TNAs) in Virginia are eligible to take the National Nurse Aid Assessment Program examination for as long as the federal public health emergency (PHE) and CMS 1135 waivers remain in place. It is unknown at this time when the use of TNAs will cease. 

Important reminders: 

• The 1135 Waiver is tied to the federal PHE. At present, the federal PHE exists under a 90-day extension that began on January 16, 2022. Any decision to allow the PHE to lapse after April 16, 2022 would come with 60 days of notice. We will relay any announcements related to the PHE and 1135 Waiver. (Read the Temporary Nurse Aide Q&A, which addresses common questions about TNAs, and the TNA2CNA pathway, along with links to training and testing resources.)

• CMS also clarified early last year that the four-month regulatory timeframe for completing the nurse aide training and competency evaluation requirements after hire will be reinstated when the blanket waiver ends and will start at that time. Nurse aides will have the full four-month period starting from the end of the blanket waiver to successfully complete the required training and certification, regardless of the amount of time worked during the time the waiver was in effect.