Patient Care Assistants

Patient care assistants carry out a variety of tasks such as observing patients, assisting with daily living activities, taking vital signs, charting changes in patients’ health or behavior, obtaining lab specimens, escorting patients among other tasks. These healthcare individuals work in hospitals clinics, nursing homes or other health care environments. They are generally under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Programs for patient care assistants are offered in vocational schools and community colleges. Training can be acquired through nurse technician, patient care technician or personal care assistant/technician programs. Requirements for admission may vary. Some programs may require that an aspiring patient care assistant be a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Certified Home Health Aide prior to admission. Others may only require a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

patient-careSuch programs prepare graduates to perform their duties in hospitals, general surgery units, homes and nursing homes. Training usually consists of lectures, clinical rotations and lab work, including studies in in pre- and post-operative care, anatomy, physiology and nutrition. Students in medical assistant programs are also supplied with instruction in medical terminology, lab procedures, physiology and pharmacology. Graduates can either pursue the CNA credential or take other certification exams.

Employment for home and personal care aides are seen to grow by 70% between 2010 and 2020 – a growth rate much faster than many other job sectors. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) predicts that there should be an increasing demand for care in the growing elderly population and in-home setting.  The average salary for patient care assistants was around $20,830 as of 2012, while home health aides made an average of $21,830 annually.  According to the BLS, there are no certifications or licensure requirement for these types of jobs. Some may be required to pass a competency test to break into this field.

Programs Teaching Fundamentals of Nursing

If you are among those who find satisfaction in helping and looking after people, then nursing is the best suited profession for you. There is a great demand for nursing staff in the health care sector that can look after sick patients. These days, nursing staff are not only limited to medical centers, but they are equally in demand at treatment centers, voluntary organizations, pharmaceutical companies, hospices, jails, residential areas etc. Nursing is a growing profession with no signs of saturation or decrease. Hence, the first step to start a profession in patient care is to get registered in a college of nursing. There are many universities, colleges and community colleges that provide programs on nursing for learners desperate to learn basic skills and fundamentals of nursing.

fundamentals_of_nursingHowever, the qualifications for an individual to engage in a diploma or a degree in nursing are only after finishing secondary school. Once registered in the course, an individual is taught the basics of human anatomy, physiology, biology, other primary principles, nursing skills and ideas to handle sufferers properly. The fundamentals of nursing include the basic and important jobs of a CNA in the healthcare industry. These primary responsibilities are activities of everyday life like bathing, cleansing, grooming, dressing, ambulation, exercising, feeding etc. Apart from correct diagnosis and medications, the recovery of an individual also depends on the type of care and support he gets from the hospital staff. Hence, it is necessary to know and carry out the fundamentals of nursing process and practice efficiently. Most of the training programs accomplish direct placement to people who qualify with good grades.

A degree program in nursing is generally of three to four years long. This program is separated into two parts. One part of the training is done in classes where learners are introduced to the fundamentals of nursing. This is called the Common Foundation Program. While the other aspect concentrates on the working experience and is performed in medical centers or medical organizations. After studying the primary principles in nursing, an individual is needed to choose his/her field of expertise. For example, specializing in psychological health or specializing in learning disabilities or in nursing for children. Those people who opt for a diploma course in nursing spend three years, while those who opt for a degree program in nursing are required to study for four years. However, there are some organizations that offer a degree in nursing in just three years.

Teaching Fundamentals of Nursing

If you are among those who find satisfaction in helping and looking after people, then nursing is the best suited profession for you. There is a great demand of nurses in the healthcare sector. Today, nursing staff are not only limited to medical centers, but they are also in demand at treatment centers, volunteer organizations, pharmaceuticals, hospices, jails, residential areas etc. Nursing is a growing profession with no signs of decline. Hence, the first step to start a profession in the patient care market is to get registered in a college of nursing. There are many universities, colleges and community colleges that offer programs on nursing for learners desperate to learn primary skills and fundamentals of nursing.

fundamentals_of_nursingHowever, the qualification for a person to engage in a degree in nursing is only after finishing secondary school. Once registered in the course, a person is taught the basics of the anatomy of the human body, physiology, chemistry, other basic nursing skills and ideas to handle sufferers properly. The fundamentals of nursing include the primary and important jobs of a CNA in the healthcare market. These primary responsibilities are activities of everyday life like bathing, washing, grooming, dressing, ambulation, exercising, feeding, etc. Apart from correct diagnosis and medications, the recovery of an individual also depends on the type of care and support he gets from the hospital staff. Hence, it is necessary to know and carry out the fundamentals of nursing concepts and practice efficiently. Most of the training programs accomplish direct placement to people who qualify with good grades.

A degree program in nursing is generally of three to four years. This program is separated into two parts. One part of the training is conducted into classrooms where learners are introduced to the fundamentals of nursing. This is called the Common Foundation Program. While the other aspect concentrates on the working experience and is performed in medical centers or medical organizations. After studying the primary principles in nursing, a person is needed to choose his/her field of expertise. For example, specializing to emotional wellness issues or specializing to studying problems or in nursing for children. Those people who opt for a degree course in nursing spend three years, while those who opt for a degree program in nursing are needed to study for four years. However, there are some organizations that provide a degree in nursing in just three years.

What RN Classes Give to Students

In the U.S., RN training is regarded to be extremely essential in preparing learners to take on the obligations that lie before them. If you want to become a nurse, it would be best for you to examine the various training choices that are available. You can start by determining accepted educational institutions that provide state-approved RN programs. You can also evaluate different educational institutions and choose the one that is not only ideally situated, but also one that costs a training fee that you can manage to pay. It is important for you to observe that the specifications for applying for RN classes vary from one school to another. The cost of training also varies based on the program of each school. It is also essential for you to be aware of the aspects that can disqualify you from searching for RN classes. One of the aspects is unable to successfully pass the criminal background check.

Most states also require every student to provide a duplicate of his/her criminal record report before he or she can be permitted entrance in any of the RN training facilities. Another thing that can disqualify you from applying for RN classes is deficiency of expertise in writing, reading and speaking English. It is also required that all candidates must hold at least a secondary school degree or a GED certification.

RN_classesIt is a comfort for economically deprived learners to know that there are various free RN training choices that are available. Such learners are recommended to check out local medical centers, assisted living facilities, treatment centers, recovery facilities and community facilities within the state and find out about the requirements used to figure out the qualifications free RN training. There are also various medical care facilities that provide free training to those who desire to become RNs. If you are already applied and would like to relocate from a CNA to an RN, you can talk to your company and your training may be assisted. However, your company will require you to sign an agreement in which you will have to accept to stay applied by that particular company for a particular period of time after your training. Take advantage of the various choices that are available for RN training and increase your possibilities of obtaining a reasonable job in the nursing field.

Transition from CNA to LPN

It is good to start your profession in the healthcare field as a CNA, but to advance in your profession and to take up higher patient care obligations, a CNA to LPN (licensed practical nurse) program will be of excellent help. Although both the CNAs and the LPNs work under the guidance of a nurse (RN) or a doctor, the obligations managed by them are different. Typically, an LPN must finish one year of training before getting hired. However, a CNA can find work after attending a course for 6-24 weeks, based on the schedule of classes chosen, that includes 75 hours of approved training.

lpnIn a CNA to LPN program, you get trained to work as a licensed practical nurse through classes and clinical experience in medical centers. You learn to take vital signs such as blood pressure and help doctors with various surgical procedures. You can enroll for a CNA to LPN bridge course at a college or a vocational training school. Online CNA to LPN bridge programs are also available. In order to get registered into a CNA to Licensed Practical Nurse program, you must have a secondary school degree or GED. You should also have excellent scores in college placement exams and must complete background checks. It is not essential that you have training as a CNA to seek admittance to a CNA to LPN training course, but you stand a better chance of getting selected if you have experience as the entrance process for an LPN program is very competitive. Some institutions may require you to clear the ACT test.

The CNA to LPN education and training specifications vary from state to state. For example, you need to have 51 months of experience in an acute care hospital in the state of California. Clinical specialty requirements consist of 200 hours in pediatric medicine, 200 hours in genitourinary or maternity and 64 hours in Pharmacology. 64 additional hours in one of these specialized areas is also needed. After finishing the CNA to LPN program, you need to take the NCLEX-PN to get qualified as an LPN. To be able to get employed in any wellness care facility in any state, it is important that you get licensed as an LPN. As an LPN, you will find perform in nursing care features, residential care features, physician’s offices, out-patient care centers, medical centers and also with home nursing services.

National League for Nursing Accredited Programs

Nursing programs are your first step towards a career in the health care field. At this time, there are various ways that you can get started as a health professional, but just about all require finishing an approved nursing training from a approved university of nursing. The simplest way to get into the profession is to become a CNA or licensed practical nurse. This can be carried out by acquiring a nursing degree or an associate nursing degree through any of the programs provided at local or community educational institutions. When looking for a good nursing school or program, you need to properly consider the kind of nursing program it gives you, the price of educational costs and/or grants, financing or other financial aid is available. In addition, be sure that the university is identified by the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) or the Percentage on Commission on Collegiate Nursing and Education (CCNE).

If it gives you this certification, then you can be certain that the standard of the education is high quality and you will get the top quality nursing information that you are after. Make sure the school provides hands-on clinical experience as well and has an excellent history of nurses passing the NCLEX. Graduates from approved school of nursing programs have a better chance of getting a job quicker as medical centers and other medical features look for the better top quality nursing training that you have been given.

The most realistic nursing degrees are the two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which provides a great structure for your profession in nursing, along with the four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), which is a far more in-depth course that gives additional comprehensive learning and better nursing information. As well as providing a complete and curved nursing education and learning, a lot of nursing programs provide you with a way to acquire skills in a specialized area. This is why National League for nursing accredited programs is very important in choosing a nursing education.

RN Career Potential

RNs take proper care of patient’s fundamental health care needs. They help doctors throughout medication as well as encourage health and hygiene among patients. Along with State Licensure, RNs hold either bachelor’s or associate’s degree upon finishing certified nursing assistant certification course. All nursing courses contain class instruction in addition to supervised clinical experience inside nursing facilities along with other healthcare services. Anatomy, physiology, chemistry, diet, psychology, microbiology really are a couple of the courses of RN programs. Course work includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students.

Mainly, you will find 2 kinds of RN Levels. They’re Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) and Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN). Each type of degree provides RN licensure. Every nursing course contains theoretical classes together with clinical practices. It is way better to carry Bachelor degree instead of Associate degree to possess far better job possibilities. The Two-year associate’s degree concentrates more about technical abilities instead of theory and it is frequently a bridge towards the BSN. The associate’s degree enables a pupil to become an RN and produce money more rapidly than the usual 4-year BSN program, so it truly does work far better for a lot of students. The amount can also be regarded as fundamental degree nursing degree.

The Bachelor’s Degree is more preferable than Associate’s Degree due to the fact the course work of Bachelor’s Degree tend to be detail oriented. The courses contain interaction abilities, use and upkeep of medical machines, medical terminology and patient treatment techniques. The school organizes theoretical studies in class and clinical training in hospitals along with other health care facilities. It takes four years to complete Bachelor’s Degree. Numerous Bachelor’s Degree courses provide semester long internship at health care centers. The health care center can propose you to dedicate yourself to them after finishing college. You may also arrange for openings in health care amenities like hospitals, treatment centers, nursing facilities and home health agencies. While operating for healthcare amenities, RNs frequently attend training courses or conferences to remain up-to-date on nursing trends and improve patient treatment. RNs must attend such type of conferences to enhance their nursing proficiency and get a better job position.

 

Online BSN Degree Program

Online BSN degree programs are perfect for peak career individuals who are already employed but really want to upgrade or perhaps a licensed practical nurse that really wants to improve his or her position.  Even when you’re a CNA or Certified Nurse Assistant, you are able to make an application for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and employ your experience to assist using the beginning clinical work. Online BSN degree programs require regular liberal arts training to start.  You will find several online correspondence courses, although not all schools are produced exactly the same.  Make sure to seek advice from your potential employer to verify they’ll accept the internet nursing degree you’ve selected.  Each school has different criteria for admittance, the clinical work, and also the degree needs.  Obviously, each school also charges in a different way while offering varying scholarship grants.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Nursing schools reject 40,000 applications annually due to the coveted spaces within the class for any area that’s growing more every single day. Nursing schools take a look at several factors before selecting students. If you’re deficient in a single area, make it up in another section.  For instance, if you have been absent from school in a long time, acquire some current experience within the medical area like an aide or licensed CNA (Certified nursing assistant).  These are areas that you are examined: grades, experience, prerequisites, application, and presence.

You can expect that the school will provide class instruction along with a testing site in your area in a college or university for the exams.  Online colleges use local schools as a spot for your results and final exams to be supervised by a proctor.  You’ll be needed to furnish identification and meet on campus at least one time per month of these exams. It’s also wise to expect the vast majority of the instruction to become on-site in a hospital or clinic.  Online schools supply the instruction for the class section, but nursing is really a vocation as well as an academic degree. There are some limited accelerated online nurse training programs typically for LVN or LPN nurses that can make the leap to RN in less than 2 years accomplished completely online by obtaining an ASN degree. However, you’ll need on-the-job training provided in tangible situations and configurations.  Your accredited online BSN degree program may have an arrangement with a local hospital to get your working experience and become rated by their professional teachers.