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What is a Health Care Assistant?
The Health Care Assistant works very closely with clients. The Health Care Assistant may refer to nurse aides (NA), orderlies, male attendants, or personal care assistant. The assistant provides personal care such as bathing, feeding and dressing. The assistant also performs support functions such as taking vital signs, making beds, transporting clients, assisting clients with activities of daily living. The health care assistant works under the supervision of RN's, LPN's, and other medical personnel. The assistant may work in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, nursing homes or long term care, personal care facilities, hospitals, home health agencies, and private homes.
Advantages of becoming a Health Care Assistant/Nurse Assistant (NA or CNA) are many: it is a first step into Nursing; it provides an opportunity for job experience in patient care; and it looks great on a Nursing and other Healthcare/Health Science program applications-in fact many Healthcare/Health Science programs admission processes give credits/points toward admission to applicants who have healthcare experience/certifications. Health Care Assistant also provides a great way to see if Nursing is right for you, or if you prefer to pursue a different area of healthcare.
This program is provides basic nursing knowledge and work skills. Anyone interested in health care assisting should care about helping others, should be able to take directions from others, and demonstrate patience and caring.