Home health care is growing rapidly.
Health care offers many lucrative careers, and home health care is among the fastest growing sections of the industry. Home health care professionals provide care to patients in hospitals, assisted living facilities, mental health facilities and private homes. Three types of home health care jobs require different levels of education.
Companion
Companions assist patients with day-to-day tasks.
An entry-level position for people interested in home health care as a career is home health companion. A companion offers valuable emotional support to patients in the comfort of the patients' home, and she may provide assistance to patients with tasks such as grocery shopping and cleaning. This position generally requires little or no training, and it can provide valuable experience. Training may be available through medical facilities if required. Most home health care companions are required to have cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid certification at the discretion of the employer. A prospective companion should check with her city or county's department of health for requirements.
Home Health Care Aide
Home health aides monitor vital signs and report changes to nurses.
A home health care aide (also called a nurse's aide or certified nursing assistant) works under a nurse to assist patients with everyday living tasks, such as grooming, bathing and feeding. An aide also communicates important information about patients' health to the nurse, assists with medical equipment and performs basic medical tasks, including checking vital signs. To become a home health care aide, an individual with a General Educational Development (GED) or high school diploma must complete a six- to 12-week certification program at a community college, technical school or medical facility. Certification programs include classroom instruction on anatomy and physiology, nutrition and basic nursing skills. Many programs also include hands-on instruction of clinical practices in a medical setting. Most states require a prospective aide to pass a licensing examination.
Registered Nurse
Registered nurses provide more advanced at home care, including administering medication.
The third type of home health care position is registered nurse (RN). An RN can administer intravenous (IV) medications and supervise nurse's aides. An RN is generally assigned to patients who are more medically dependent than other patients and offer them the opportunity to receive care in their homes as opposed to an institution or long-term care facility. Three educational paths are offered to become an RN: a diploma from a licensed nursing program, an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree in nursing. The licensed nursing program offers similar training to the nurse's aide programs with more advanced training and experience. An associate's degree in science of nursing usually takes two to three years to complete, and a bachelor's degree takes four years. After completing the degree, the graduate must complete a national licensing examination.
Path Selection
Education is the key to becoming a home health care provider.
A person interested in a home health care career should begin by speaking with a career counselor at a community or technical college to decide which career path is best for him. Counselors can advise the prospective home health care professional on whether to enter a nurse training, associate's, or bachelor's degree program.
Continuing Education
Home health care providers must stay aware of current medical trends.
Most licensed home health care positions require continuing education to maintain certification and stay current on health-care trends. Continuing education classes for nurses are generally coordinated through the licensing agency. The particular requirements vary depending on regional laws. The licensing agency provides information about what is required to maintain a license.
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