Which federal law includes minimum standards for nursing assistant training and resident rights in long-term care facilities?

• A. Ombudsman
• B. Living Will
• C. OBRA
• D. Mandated Reporter

Answer: (C)

OBRA, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, is the federal law that sets the minimum standards for nursing assistant training and the protection of resident rights in long-term care facilities. Enacted in 1987, it created the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), requiring a defined amount of training and a competency exam so that nursing assistants can competently care for residents. It also codifies residents’ rights—such as privacy, freedom from abuse, and participation in care—within facilities that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid funds, ensuring a nationwide baseline of care and protections.

Other terms don’t establish this nationwide training framework or rights protections. An Ombudsman focuses on advocating for residents and resolving complaints rather than setting mandatory training standards. A Living Will is an advance directive about future medical treatment preferences, not a training or rights standard. A Mandated Reporter is someone who must report suspected abuse, but it isn’t the law that defines nurse aide training requirements or resident rights in facilities.