Becoming a Home Health Aide (HHA) for many is a start to a brighter and longer future as a Nurse. A Home Health Aide is actually the foundation and start of all basic nursing. So if you ever considered becoming a nurse, attending nursing school or want to have an idea of what it’s like to become a nurse and working in the healthcare field along doctors, nurses, etc; becoming a Home Health Aide (HHA) is the start to that new future. Thus, starting your career as a Home Health Aide is an exciting career start or change for many.
So, should you become a Home Health Aide?
To keep it quite simple, the answer would be yes. Reason being, you can’t go wrong when comes to choosing healthcare for your career. With healthcare comes security and a peace of mind, knowing that no matter what happens, you will always have a job. For example, in the year 2020 the world as we know it, was in a state of emergency due to the rapid spread of Covid-19. Millions of people lost their jobs due to force closures of every business to help slow down the spread of the virus; many people became homeless and many love ones where lost due to Covid-19. But, if we were a Home Health Aide (HHA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), LPN, RN, etc. you would have never lost your job because when care if needed, care will be given. Hence, during the pandemic in 2020, home health agencies were paying HHA’s up to $20/hr to work with patients infected with Covid-19 and Hospitals would pay up to $100/hr for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s) to also help those infected with Covid-19.
So what exactly is a Home Health Aide
A home health aide (HHA) is a someone who provides assistance to the chronically ill, the elderly, and family caregivers who need relief from the stress of caregiving. They also, perform assigned nursing tasks within the nursing field such as measuring vital signs (pulse, temperature, blood pressure and respiratory rate). Home health aides (HHAs) provide assistance to the chronically ill, the elderly, and family caregivers who need relief from the stress of caregiving. Many home health aides also work in assisted living facilities, which provide independent living in a homelike group environment as needed. As advances in medicine and technology extend the lives of people with chronic illnesses, the number of people needing health care will increase. The need for home health aides will also increase.
Within the nursing field, nursing assistants titles can vary based on the states requirements, in which nursing assistants are sometimes referred to as: certified nursing assistant, nurse aide, certified nurse aide, and patient care technician, these are a few examples. Thus, nursing assistants do important work and have many different career opportunities. Long-term care (LTC) facilities employ many nursing assistants as they provide 24-hour skilled care for people who is suffering from certain ongoing chronic medical conditions.
Job responsibilities of a Home Health Aide
The life of a HHA consists of many challenges and responsibilities. As modern medicine advances, more people are tending to live longer as home care needs are gradually increasing. So what is the nursing assistant’s role? Within the Hospital, nursing assistants spend most of their time with the patient than any other members of the care team, as they are the “eyes and ears” of the team. Henceforth, NA’s will be observing each patient condition carefully, while accurately reporting them to the nurse (RN) as needed. So, what is the care team? The care team is a group of healthcare professionals whose sole purpose is to provide excellent care for patients or residents. The care team consists of: Nursing Assistant (NA) or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), doctors, social workers, dietitians, specialist and therapists. In addition, negligence is a serious issue within the health care field. Its very important to notice the negligence when it happens. Negligence means actions, or the failure to act or provide the proper care for a client, resulting in unintended injury. Some examples of negligence are: an HHA does not notice that the client dentures does not fit correctly causing the client or resident to eat less causing them to be malnourished. An HHA does not observe that a client eyesight has gotten worse causing the client to fall. Keeping these form of negligence in mind can prevent many accidents from occurring.
The role of a Home Health Aide
The role is a Home Health Aide varies depends on where the Home Health Aide (HHA) is working. An HHA may be assigned to spend a certain number of hours each day or week with a specific client to provide care and specific services according to the care plan. While the client care plan and assignments are developed by the supervisor or case manager, input from al members of the care team is needed. All HHAs are under the supervision of a skilled, licensed professional: a nurse, a speech-language pathologist, or an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. Also did you know that working as a home health aide is similar to working as a nursing assistant? That’s right, most basic medical procedures and many of the personal care procedures will be the same as a nursing assistant even though you are a home health aide (HHA).
A nursing assistant has many important roles in the nursing field as different patients have different medical diagnoses that is determined by a doctor. Therefore, the role of a nursing assistant can then vary based on what the patient or resident diagnoses is. A nursing assistant (NA) has to be ready and alert at all times, to make sure they can meet the needs of all patients they are assigned; in order to provide the best possible care needed at that time. Many nursing assistants, will be working in a Long Term Care facility (LTC), so it’s important that the nursing assistant treat the facility as the clients home, ensuring that proper respect is even at all times. Also, its almost always important to always ask before moving the residents or patients things to prevent a lack of confusion.
The different stages of illness or disease that a person has will determine how much care a person needs. The most common roles of a nursing assistant may include the following:
- Assisting with range of motion exercises
- Transferring residents from bed to a chair or wheelchair
- Assisting with meals
- Measuring vital signs
- Helping patients dress and undress
- Making and changing beds linens
- Caring for supplies and equipments
- Helping patients with elimination needs
Remember to make a good first impression
When working as a Home Health Aide (HHA) its very important to be professional at all times. That means when the Home Health Aide is at work or a job, he/she should always try to look their best and have a positive attitude at work. Thus, as an HHA, professionalism also means following the the care plan, making important observations, and reporting accurately. Following policies and procedures is an important part of professionalism. Clients, coworkers, and supervisors respect employees who behave professionally. Thus, the home health aide (HHA) should always try his/her best to make a good first impression as this can ensure the future of your career. As a new hire on a job, the NA should always aim to make a positive first impression by:
- Keep your uniform clean and neat.
- Bathe and wear deodorant every day.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
- Do not wear or use scented products.
- Keep your hair neatly tied back.
- Keep beards trimmed and clean.
- Apply makeup lightly.
- Keep nails short, filed, and clean.
- Do not wear artificial nails.
- Keep your shoes and laces clean and in good condition.
- Wear as little jewelry as possible, except for a simple waterproof watch and identification badge.
- Keep your tattoos covered by clothing.
Home health aides must also be very compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic, and honest. The home health aide should never lie to a client/patient, no matter the situation, as many residents tend to dislike the caretaker or home health aide causing the client to lose trust in the home health aide (HHA). Also, the home health aide must also be tactful, conscientious, dependable, patient, respectful, unprejudiced, and tolerant.
Tip of the Day:
Keep in mind that residents may dislike or be allergic to certain scents. Scents should be avoided. This is an important part of meeting residents’ needs.
Remember to keep boundaries with your client, keep it professional. Home health aides are guided by ethics and laws that set limits for their relationships with clients.
Why is verbal and written communications important?
In the medical field, especially nursing, effective communication is a critical part of a nursing assistant’s job. Reason being, the nursing assistant must always communicate with members of the care team such as supervisors, nurses, doctors and family members. Moreover, the patients health all depends on how well the Nursing Assistant (NA) is able to make accurate observations or concerns to the nurse.
Noticing and understanding the different types of communications is vital in the certified nursing assistants (CNA) job. Communication is a way to exchange and understand information with others. In healthcare, it is very important to know the difference between verbal communication and nonverbal communication. To put it simple, verbal communication is spoken or written words and nonverbal communication is communicating without words.
In Addition, when communicating with the patient or resident, the nursing assistant should always remember to use proper communication, such as:
- Use appropriate words.
- Be aware of your body language.
- Use a friendly and professional tone of voice.
- Wait for responses and let pauses happen.
- Practice active listening.
- Use mostly facts when communicating.
Finding the right Nursing School
Many nursing students find it very important to find a nursing school that is worth investing in as it impacts how successful their future nursing career will be. Many schools lack sincerity, compassion and dedication when it comes to making sure each nursing student is successful. Why not invest into a school which cares about your success as a nurse?
Hence, having a school which cares about the success of their students is something every future nursing student should want for themselves. A school, which delivers on that promise is Truth Health Academy, they are located in Sunrise, FL; they even offer online classes. In other words, Truth Health Academy, cares about your success by making sure every one of their pass students are employed. Also, the best part; as a pass nursing student they offer benefits and job placements for you forever. So, when you are ready to find a CNA class near you, to become a Certified Nursing Assistant or Nursing Assistant (NA), Truth Health Academy is the nursing school to put your trust in.
How to study as a Home Health Aide
When it comes to studying, having a good study strategy is key to becoming an excellent learner, ensuring that you are able to pass all exams with a B or higher. As years of studies has shown that with hard work brings success.
Remember to take notes in class
Taking notes in class is one of the best things to do as a student, as it helps us to remember key points or discussions that is not in the textbook. These notes can even come in handy when taking the state certification exam to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Listen to your teacher
It’s a reason why they are the teacher. They have years of experience in this subject. Think of them as a walking or moving library.
Practice at home
It’s very important to practice at home for any given test. Studies have shown that 98% of students who choose to practice at home or on their free time, have a much higher success rate to passing any test, when compared to students that don’t. So, remember to pick up that note-book and practice,
Get ready to become a HHA
A dream for many is to become a Home Health Aide (HHA). A joy of knowing that life itself can finally begin. It’s time to take hold of your future, take hold of your career and become a Certified Nursing Assistant.
