Becoming a Certified Caregiver at any Age
Are you thinking of becoming a professional caregiver?
Learn more about how you can help
your loved ones with in home care.
Caring for another person and helping them to improve or maintain their quality of life can bring welcome and appreciated relief for the care recipient and their families. Likewise, providing long-term care and assisting others to live full and fulfilling lives at their highest potential can bring deep satisfaction of a job well done.
In this article, you will learn how to become a certified caregiver and why this career is so incredibly rewarding
Reasons Why Being a Care Provider is a Rewarding Career
There are several reasons why being a care provider is such a rewarding career.
Many of these job positions offer above minimum wage salaries, and some also provide valuable job perks like healthcare insurance, travel expenses, and training. Most people that get into home health aide do so because they like helping others. Many have cared for family members or others like children, neighbors, friends, and even pets in the past. To be good at any caretaker service job, the person needs empathy and compassion.
Some character and personality traits can help indicate if a healthcare career is the right career path for you. Some indicators to look for include:
- You enjoy being around other people.
- Listening is something that you do well.
- Challenges motivate you to persevere or overcome them.
- People find it easy to talk to you.
- It makes you happy to help someone accomplish something important.
- You are organized, and managing time comes naturally to you.
- Your life is balanced and enjoyable.
- You are curious and like to discover new things.
- Friends turn to you for advice or help.
- You are self-motivated and handle criticism well.
- You are in reasonably good health and don’t mind hands-on care service to implement a care plan.
- It is second nature for you to make goals and plans.
- You love learning about others.
Job Description for a Caregiver
Home health aides assist others with daily activities that the care recipient cannot do independently.
A certified nursing assistant reports directly to nurses, physical therapists, doctors, and others. CNAs can work in healthcare facilities like hospitals, hospice care, nursing facilities, nursing homes, or provide in-home palliative care such as providing companionship or home watch services and working as a live-in caregiver.
If qualified, some provide Alzheimer’s patient caretaker services too. Most employers will also train nursing assistants to work with patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, or mental challenges if hired as a home care aide for long-term patients.
What are the Typical Duties of a Nursing Assistant?
The exact job duties for any caretaker position will vary somewhat depending on the needs of the patients in need of assisted living services.
Standard functions you would likely be responsible for include:
- Assessing your patients-A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse is responsible for assessments ultimately, but they rely on their nursing assistants for accurate reports on patient changes and status conditions.
- Performing ADL’s-Activities of daily living often includes bathing or grooming and dressing.
- Preparing meals, passing out food trays and water, or beverages. Feeding patients, then documenting food intake.
- Taking vital signs-BP, pulse, breathing, O2 sats, and temperature.
- Assist patients with bedpans or BR use as necessary.
- Changing soiled bed or personal linens, making beds, and stocking room with supplies.
- Promptly and courteously answering call bells.
- Patient rounds as ordered and report changes in patient condition immediately.
- Assisting with ambulation, positioning, and turning bedridden patients.
- Accurately implementing and documenting of the patient’s care plan.
- Patient lifting, sometimes with lift equipment, per protocol.
- Taking patients to tests and other transport duties.
- Sanitizing rooms, equipment, etc.
- Ensuring patient safety per protocol.
- Assisting doctors, nurses, and other staff as necessary
How Does One Become a Certified Caregiver?
Training requirements to become a nursing assistant, care provider, or certified caregiver varies from state to state. The average state-mandated training hours for certified caregiver s is approximately 75 hours. Some states mandate more hours and others less, and regulations vary depending on where you live. Research the right requirements before enrolling as a student in any caregiver class. A high-school diploma/GED and CPR certification are usually required.
CNA training lasts an average of 4 to 12+ weeks broken down into classroom and clinical hours per state regulations. After completing a state-approved CNA program, most states require students to pass a state-given written or oral test, with successful completion of required hands-on skills demonstrations, to meet state certification exam and license requirements. After that, they will usually start off in easier positions as a personal care assistant, and some medical environments even offer training programs for their staff.
CNAs are required to complete continuing education credits needed every 1 to 2 years to keep certification status active. Therefore, most facilities that hire CNAs will provide these continuing education credit hours on the job.
Each CNA must also pass a criminal background check, drug test, and physical exam.
Best Ways to Find Hospital or Other Facility Nurse’s Aide Positions
Healthcare facilities or a home care agency often list job openings in the newspaper, online, and by word of mouth. CNAs can also use many free online job search sites and lists. A well-written resume, combined with relevant work experience and proof of completing a caregiver certification course, can help land the best jobs.
Temporary staffing agencies often get knowledge of new job postings first. These agencies take a cut of the employee’s pay, but they provide many job search and preparation services.
Check with local senior community services, leave applications at healthcare facilities, rehab centers, doctor’s offices, walk-in clinics, and respond to job listings via newspapers and other information media sources. Many businesses and libraries have community bulletin boards that job seekers can use. Many hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities offer caregiver training courses, and even assistance with job placement.
How to Find Private Companionship or Caregiver Jobs
Many families post ads in newspapers looking for qualified caretaker service applicants for vacation or overnight home watch services. Families often need a qualified live-in caregiver to improve the quality of life, mental health, and personal care services for a beloved family member.
Online job search websites help connect employers with qualified job seekers. You can also search for “Alzheimer’s Senior Care Provider” on job sites to find local or distant job listings. This will help you find seniors who need medical care.
Home healthcare agencies hire skilled nursing assistants and companions. As a result, these agencies are an excellent resource for training opportunities and other job preparation services.
Many private-sector job openings for aide positions do not require advanced training or a license. Companion care specialists can run errands, perform light housekeeping duties, and ensure the patient’s safety when the regular family caregiver needs a break.
Insider Tips for Getting Good Caregiver Jobs
There are tips for finding good care provider jobs used by insiders in the healthcare profession. These include:
- Getting a professional resume that impresses bosses
- Asking other caregivers for advice
- Getting advanced training to land more lucrative jobs
- Improving job interview skills
- Prove consistent reliability traits
- Obtain character and past job or training recommendations with contact information
