Unlicensed assistive personnel

Unlicensed Assistive Personnel

Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) (pronunciation: un·li·censed as·sis·tive per·son·nel /ˌənlīsənsd əˈsistiv ˌpərsəˈnel/) are paraprofessionals who assist individuals with physical disabilities, mental impairments, and other health care needs with their activities of daily living (ADLs) and provide bedside care—including basic nursing procedures—all under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or other health care professional.

Etymology

The term "unlicensed assistive personnel" is a broad term used in the healthcare industry to refer to many different types of healthcare providers. The term "unlicensed" refers to the fact that these individuals are not licensed by a state board of nursing, and "assistive personnel" refers to their role in assisting patients with activities of daily living.

Related Terms

Activities of daily living (ADLs): Routine activities that people tend do everyday without needing assistance.
Registered Nurse (RN): A nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body to obtain a nursing license.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): A nurse who has completed a practical nursing program and is licensed by the state to provide routine patient care under the direction of registered nurses and doctors.
Paraprofessional: A trained worker who is not a licensed professional but assists a professional in their work.
Healthcare Professional: A person who delivers proper health care in a systematic way professionally to any individual in need of health care services.