The Role of Assistive Personnel
Position Statement
The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) recognizes that assistive personnel (AP), previously referred to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) or nursing assistive personnel (NAP), are integral supportive members of the health care team that function under the supervision of the professional licensed nurse. In a nursing care team that represents a varied skill set, the role of the AP is critical to safe and efficient patient care. AP function at their highest level of education, competency, and scope of practice as defined by state regulations and organizational change to policies. Additionally, the professional licensed nurse is accountable for the coordination and delivery of the nursing care provided by the AP to whom the nurse delegates tasks.