Participating In HHA Classes In The Bronx Is A Worthwhile Endeavor

By Katrina Wheeler


Home health aides help mentally or physically disabled individuals in their own homes. They may also assist clients with standard activities of daily living. In some areas of the country home health aides also administer medication or take vital signs of their clients, as long as such tasks are completed under a nurse or other licensed practitioner's supervision. Educational requirements exist for those who want to work in this capacity, and anyone interested in pursuing such a career should participate in HHA classes in the Bronx.

Home health aides, also referred to as HHAs, may have to meet specific requirements depending on the state in which they live. Some certification requirements are regulated at the federal level, while others are up to the state. The main federal requirements include 75 hours of training, and an examination that tests the person's competency. A licensed trainer must oversee a minimum of 16 hours of the aforementioned seventy-five.

Curriculum varies from one course to the next, but the majority of HHA programs include practical skills training, infection control, food preparation, physical therapy principles, and anatomy and physiology. Mediation techniques are frequently included as well. Most classes also address privacy laws and patients' rights.

Because of the federal regulation concerning the aforementioned 16 of supervised training, online courses are not recommended if one wishes to become certified. However, certain individuals who work in this field choose to supplement their certification with online courses on specific home care skills. Such programs are often very beneficial for those who plan to make home healthcare their lifelong career.

Many programs of this type are offered in conjunction with CNA training programs, the latter of which stands for certified nurse's assistant. Certain students train for both positions at the same time. Regardless of a person's individual goals, additional training is something that essentially always comes in handy in the future.

A 69 percent increase in job opportunities for healthcare workers in this field is expected until the year 2020. This growth rate is much faster than average when compared to other employment options. This increase, according to the United States BLS, stems from the fact that more senior citizens are opting to stay in their own residences instead of relocating to long-term care facilities.

Many individuals use such training as a stepping stone to a career in nursing or another position in the field of healthcare. Other students plan to make home healthcare their permanent career. Regardless of one's plans for the future, appropriate training is essential. Most schools require that one have a high school diploma in order to qualify to enroll in the course. However, this may vary from one state to the next, and therefore prospective students are wise to find out about such details prior to selecting a school.

When planning to participate in HHA classes in the Bronx, enrollees must select the course that best suits their needs. Comparison shopping is good idea prior to making a final choice about a specific program. Ultimately, those who plan to pursue employment as home health care aides can expect good wages and steady work.




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