How to Become a Hospice Home Health Aide
Home health aides are angels in disguise, providing hospice patients help with bathing, dressing, transferring from chair to bed and carrying out other activities of daily living. Aides follow a care plan prepared by a registered nurse or case manager and report to that person. In addition, they visit patients on a regular basis and serve as an extra set of eyes and ears when their patient's condition changes.
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Instructions
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How to Become a Hospice Home Health Aide
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Research the job of a home health aide. Talk to home health aides and ask if you can shadow them in their workday if possible. Ask about the pros and cons about the job to see if the job is a right fit for you. Volunteering at a hospice is another good way to learn about the field.
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Enroll in a community college program to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Nursing classes may last up to six months or more, but they usually offer more thorough training than shorter courses available in some health care facilities.
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Study for and take the certified nursing assistant exam administered by your state board of nursing. Requirements vary from state to state, so research specifics before you sign up. Once you're hired at a hospice, you'll take another certification exam as well.
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Create a resume citing your CNA coursework and certification--plus any work or volunteer experience you have in the field. Send it to the department of human resources at your local hospice (see Resources).
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Tips & Warnings
Expect to continue your education once you have the job. Hospice programs require home health aides to attend a certain number of courses and/or conferences each year.
