By: Samantha Stauf
Sometimes our careers find us, and other times, we just fall into
them. Many people may find themselves fulfilling the duties of “caregiver” without
ever having considered it as a career. Lots of people find themselves in situations
where they provide basic care for another person. Some of these are:
·
- Parents, especially of children with illnesses or disabilities, who usually have to learn nursing skills, including the delivery of medications.
·
- Those in the “sandwich generation”, who are raising kids and taking care of their aging parents simultaneously.
·
- Adults whose parents have moved into their family homes - parents can be affected with Alzheimer’s or other medical conditions.
Licensed Practical
Nurse
If you find yourself helping someone perform basic daily
tasks, assisting with bedside functions like applying bandages, bathing, and
dressing, you are performing the job of a licensed practical nurse (LPN). With a
one-year certification course and the right licensure, you could make between
$30,000 and $60,000 a year performing these tasks professionally. Your
experience will probably help make the learning process easier as well.
Registered Nurse
If you’ve collaborated with doctors to create care plans for
a loved one, are used to monitoring behavior and reaction to medications, and
can administer medication, you might consider a career as an RN. You’ll need to
spend longer in school, earning the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree. This is because
an RN’s job also involves a lot of work with medical equipment, performing
diagnostic tests, and analyzing test results.
On average, RNs earn between $45,000 and $95,000 a year. Take an in-depth
look at different nursing options to see what field might be best for you.
Personal Support
Worker
Another career option for those who help with daily
personal needs is that of a personal support worker. PSWs work directly with patients, providing
household and personal care support, overseeing the patient’s condition, and
providing informal counselling as needed. A certification is not an absolute
requirement for this job, but many institutions require one. Retirement homes
and community care centers often hire PSWs, so if you have experience with and
enjoy working with the elderly, this might be a great career move.
Choosing the Best
Career for your Skills
We learn best from personal experience. If you’ve had people
in your life with dementia, developmental disabilities, physical ailments, or other
specific conditions that you aided with, you’re likely to be more inclined to
be able to help people with the same or similar conditions. If you’ve talked
friends through hard psychological issues, you might consider a specialty in
therapy. If you’ve had experience with diabetic loved ones, assisted living
homes might find your skills particularly useful.
Draw from your personal experience when considering a career
change; do the research and decide what the best path is for you.
Samantha Stauf spends her free time losing at Scrabble to her wordsmith grandmother and reading about recent strides in healthcare.
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