Reasons to Consider a Healthcare Career (Part Five)

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NOTE: This piece is the fifth in a six-part essay that aims to further explore many of the key reasons to seriously think about paving a career pathway in the healthcare field. Click here to read the first blog post in this series. Click here to read part two, and click right here to read part three. Finally, click here for parts four and six. Enjoy!

There’s a whole host of undeniably great reasons to fit a healthcare occupation into one’s future career aspirations. Parts one, two, three and four of this six-part series of postings brought some desperately needed light upon a number of compelling reasons to consider a dynamic career in the healthcare sector.

Moreover, there’s more great news. This is due to the fact that some additional reasons exist for entering the ranks of the burgeoning healthcare industry. Continue reading to find out even more information about the myriad of wonderful reasons to have a healthcare career in the 21st century. This career information may or may not transform someone’s professional and personal life for the better.

REASON THIRTEEN: Healthcare workers tend to have comfortable, nice workplace environments.

The working environments of most healthcare workers are rather desirable places of employment due to cleanliness and image grooming for the public. The majority of people who work in the healthcare field report to places of employment that are cleaned on a routine basis, ergonomically designed for comfort, climate-controlled and welcoming to employees, patients, vendors and visitors.

A nice workplace environment is something a healthcare worker should be extremely thankful and grateful for. After all, think about the masses of hard-working ditch diggers, construction workers, mail carriers, long distance truck drivers and farm workers who toil outdoors in the extreme heat, heavy rain, high winds, snow, hail, sleet, freezing conditions, and all types of other inclement weather conditions.

REASON FOURTEEN: Healthcare workers have the opportunity to own a business.

One of the most alluring aspects about becoming a healthcare worker is the opportunity to own one’s business. Most healthcare workers will inevitably work for other people as employees of various companies. However, many individuals in the healthcare industry eventually own and operate their places of business. All it takes is an entrepreneurial spirit and some solid business sense to turn one’s dreams of business ownership into an awesome reality.

Healthcare workers and providers who own their businesses include the countless physicians who own their clinics and private practices, as well as the nurses who own and operate medical supply stores and med spas. Some home health aides and medical assistants utilize their work experience to successfully own and operate private duty personal care agencies. Meanwhile, some pharmacists own consulting firms and/or private pharmacies.

The ultimate appeal of becoming one’s own boss is a magnetic aspect that attracts many new entrants to the healthcare industry. A person could feasibly establish his or her own hours of business operations, run every aspect of the business, purchase or lease office space or a storefront, or even manage some types of businesses from home. In fact, many consulting firms and online businesses are owned and operated directly out of a spare bedroom in the owner’s home.

Even though owning and operating a business can induce anxiety at first, it is a highly popular route to travel. The sheer amount of flexibility and control that comes with owning a business can be mind-blowing. In addition, not every individual is cut out to be someone else’s employee. Some people are actually more appropriate for business ownership due to personality traits that make entrepreneurship a more suitable choice from which to generate a livelihood.

REASON FIFTEEN: Healthcare workers can work virtually anywhere.

Healthcare workers can work in almost any geographic region where health services are needed. After all, infants continue to be born in all 50 states, so the obstetrics profession is in demand in all 50 states. People continue to be terminally ill in all 50 states, so the reality of impending death results in job openings for healthcare workers in the hospice and palliative care sub-specialties.

People need healthcare at all stages in the circle of life from the moment they are born until the day they die. Infants, children, adolescents, young adults, middle aged people and senior citizens will all need care from healthcare workers at various points in their respective lifespans. This translates into an exciting array of employment opportunities in the healthcare sector regardless of one’s geographic location.

Place a telephone call to Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School at (682)626-5266 to enroll in either the 7-day CNA program, the 2-week CNA class, or the 3-week CNA course in the Dallas /Fort Worth area of Texas. Additionally, feel free to visit the school’s informative website at www.LegacyHealthcareCareers.com to gather more information about the affordable nurse aide training programs. Jump-start your legacy!

 

 

Medication Aide /Medication Technician Practice Test Questions (Part Two)

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NOTE: This post is the second one in a series that contains medication aide practice test questions similar to the ones a test taker will most likely see on the state Medication Aide Competency Examination, or MACE for short. Answers to the practice test questions are supplied, as well as rationales. Click here to read Part One.

QUESTION: When administering oral medications to a nursing home resident who needs assistance, where should the medication aide ensure the pills, caplets or capsules are placed?

A. Onto the center of the tongue

B. Anywhere in the mouth is okay

C. Under the tongue

D. Between the inner cheek and the teeth

ANSWER: A

RATIONALE: Oral medications such as pills, capsules and caplets are to be placed on the middle of the tongue to promote greater ease with swallowing. Sublingual medications are the only type of oral drug that should be placed under the tongue. Pills and capsules that are placed between the inner cheek and teeth of a client might dissolve without ever being swallowed by the resident.

QUESTION: The medication aide is permitted to crush a client’s oral medications (e.g., pills and caplets) and mix with puddling, applesauce or jelly only if the following condition is met:

A. If the client requests the medications be crushed

B. If the medication administration record (MAR) indicates that the medications may be crushed

C. If the facility administrator requests the medications be crushed

D. If the client’s family member requests the medications be crushed

ANSWER: B

RATIONALE: A medication aide should not crush or break pills, caplets or tablets or pills, or open and empty powder out of capsules, unless a pre-existing order on the client’s medication administration record indicates that the medications may be crushed. Some types of tablets, pills and capsules will not work as directed or may actually be harmful to the client if they have been crushed or opened prior to administration.

Many medications are in extended release form. This means they the medication is released in the client’s body patient over an extended period of time, typically several hours. If the client takes an extended release medication after it is crushed, this means the medicine will be released all at one time in the body. This might lead to the medication harming the client, similar to taking too much of a dose at once.

In addition, an extended release medication might be rendered less effective than the prescriber originally intended since it is no longer medicating the client during an extended period of time. For example, the anti-diabetic medication Metformin XR (Glucophage XR) is an extended release form of Metformin that is not to be crushed because it is intended to provide control over a client’s blood glucose levels over many hours.

Also, many drugs are coated to permit them to pass through the upper gastrointestinal tract undissolved with minimal side effects so they will be released in the small intestine instead of the stomach. Crushing a coated pill or caplet may result in unwanted side effects since the protective coating has now been crushed.

QUESTION: How would a medication aide determine that a medication should be given transdermally?

A. Ask a coworker

B. Find out from the client

C. Follow the directions on the MAR

D. Ask the manager

ANSWER: C

RATIONALE: The medication aide should always follow the directions printed on the medication administration record (MAR). The MAR contains the essential components of each medication order. These components include the medication’s name, current dose, frequency to administer the drug, route of administration, and original date the drug had been ordered by the healthcare provider.

Since the MAR contains the proper route of administration, a prudent medication aide would follow the directions on the client’s MAR to determine whether the drug should be administered in transdermal form.

 

Reasons to Consider a Healthcare Career (Part Four)

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NOTE: This piece is the fourth in a six-part essay that seeks to cast some light on the top reasons to think about entering a healthcare career pathway. Click here to read the first essay. Click here to read the second part, and click right here to read part three. Click here for parts five and six.

A number of amazing reasons exist for integrating a healthcare career into one’s future career plans. The overwhelming majority of people cannot lose out by becoming a part of the healthcare industry, regardless of their current skill level or prior educational attainment. Inexperienced entry-level workers are very much welcomed in healthcare, and so are the highly experienced career changers.

Parts one, two, three, five and six and of this six-part essay arguably succeeded at shedding some light on good reasons to think about selecting a career in the healthcare sector. Guess what? There are some additional reasons for joining the ranks of the healthcare sector. Continue reading to find out more about these fantastic reasons to become a healthcare worker in the near future.

REASON 10: The healthcare sector has a refreshing array of variety.

It has been previously said that “variety is the spice of life.” Healthcare contains plenty of variety that keeps things interesting for those who work in this booming industry. The healthcare industry is home to a number of diverse and fulfilling career pathways. There are healthcare careers that involve direct hands-on patient care, managerial duties, scientific research, administration, consultative services, educational instruction, and innovation.

Healthcare workers can work in a multitude of workplace settings. Healthcare workers can be found working in healthcare environments such as acute care hospitals, skilled nursing home facilities, insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry, jails, prisons, personal care group homes, colleges, the military, schools, and hospice. Healthcare workers also secure employment with the federal government, home health companies, clinics, physicians offices, elementary schools, and infusion centers.

REASON 11: Healthcare sector occupations have good opportunities for career progression.

Career progression, also known as career mobility, is a great process in which workers climb up the different rungs of the economic ladder in order to to earn higher pay and achieve more occupational prestige. For instance, a nursing assistant can go back to school to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), licensed vocational nurse (LVN), registered nurse (RN) or advanced practice nurse (APN).

A certified pharmacy technician can go to pharmacy school to pursue a lucrative career as a pharmacist, and a physician’s assistant (PA-C) can attend medical school to become a licensed physician who works in any number of great medical specialties. There are many more examples of career progression in the healthcare field.

In addition, the healthcare field has always welcomed entrants who have clear-cut aspirations of advancing their careers. In general, nurse managers love it when a patient care assistant expresses the desire to return to college part-time to become a nurse. Nursing home administrators are often supportive of employees who opt to take additional coursework to become licensed nursing facility administrators.

REASON 12: Healthcare workers play key roles to help clients improve and get better.

Healthcare workers play an integral role in assisting clients to improve their outcomes. Essentially, most types of healthcare workers help clients improve and heal, whether it is through direct patient care or more indirect methods. It is important that patients who enter the healthcare system start feeling better and improving as soon as humanly possible, and healthcare workers use their skills to facilitate these improvements.

Patients progress more optimally when an interdisciplinary team of healthcare workers and providers contribute to their care because each worker brings a different type of expertise to the table. For example, physicians diagnose and treat disease processes while nurses plan the care of their patients. Pharmacists do a number of important things to enhance compliance to medication regimens. Nursing assistants provide direct hands-on care while communicating changes in the patients’ statuses.

This is a gentle reminder that if you are in the Dallas /Fort Worth area of Texas, you can transform your life in only 7 days by training at Legacy Healthcare Careers to become a nursing assistant through our 7-day CNA program. Call Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School at (682)626-5266 to enroll in either the 7-day CNA program, the 2-week CNA class, or the 3-week CNA class.

You can also visit the school’s website at www.LegacyHealthcareCareers.com to apply online and/or collect additional info on the affordable, high quality nurse aide training programs that are offered. Now is the perfect time to jump-start your legacy…

 

Medication Aide /Medication Technician Practice Test Questions (Part One)

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Graduates of approved medication aide training programs must take and pass a state test called the Medication Aide Certification Examination, abbreviated as MACE for short, in order to receive a state-issued practice permit as a certified medication aide. In most states, the MACE typically consists of 100 test questions that directly pertain to safe medication therapy.

The best way to prepare for the MACE is to repeatedly answer medication aide practice test questions prior to sitting for the state exam. To prepare for this exam, a student should answer multiple practice test questions on a daily basis because repetition is the key to retaining the knowledge. In addition to answering test questions every single day, students should also review the rationales behind each answer.

QUESTION: What reason(s) should medication aides obey the six rights of medication administration each time medications are administered?

A. Recent changes might have been made on the dosage of the medication

B. Recent changes may have been made on the time the medication is to be given

C. Recent changes may have been made on the route the medication is to be given

D. All of the above

ANSWER: D

RATIONALE: Safe medication therapy involves checking the six rights of medication therapy each time medicines are administered. The six rights of medication administration include the following: 1) right patient 2) right medication 3) right dose 4) right route 5) right time, and 6) right documentation.

Due to the fact that a patient’s medication orders, times, dosages and routes often change at the physician’s discretion, adherence to the six rights of medication administration ensures patient safety in the realm of medication therapy. In addition, doctors often hold or discontinue medications, so the prudent medication aide would review the six rights of medication administration to avoid giving a medicine that the patient is no longer supposed to receive.

QUESTION: During the routine end-of-shift counting of controlled drugs, the medication aide notices that 10 pills of Xanax (Alprazolam) are missing from a prescription pill bottle. No one knows why the pills are missing. Which action should the medication aide take next?

A. Notify the charge nurse

B. Document the 10 pills as having been administered to a patient

C. Notify the administrator of the facility

D. Do nothing at the moment since 10 pills is not a large shortage

ANSWER: A

RATIONALE: The medication aide should notify the charge nurse each time the end-of-shift controlled drug medication count is inaccurate. This is true whether there is a shortage or overage of controlled medication. Controlled drugs are regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Additionally, the charge nurse knows the facility policies and procedures on how to proceed if the controlled medication drug count is not accurate.

It is not usually necessary to notify the facility administrator of issues relating to controlled medications. A medication aide who falsely documents the missing pills as having been given to a patient is engaging in falsification of medical records since the medication administration record (MAR) is an official medical record.

QUESTION: The medication aide is supposed to administer Metoprolol Tartrate (Lopressor) once per day at 8:00 a.m per the doctor’s order. The medication order has parameters to “hold if the pulse is less than 60.” The patient’s pulse is 55 this morning. What action should the medication aide take next?

A. Administer it anyway since a pulse of 55 is close enough to 60

B. Hold the medication and document it

C. Hold the medication, document it and immediately notify the patient’s nurse

D. Hold the medication, document it, and recheck the patient’s pulse to see if it reaches 60 beats per minute later in the morning

ANSWER: C

RATIONALE: It is common for some doctors to include vital sign parameters when ordering cardioactive medications that affect the heart rate and/or blood pressure. If the patient’s heart rate or blood pressure readings are less than the parameters associated with a medication order, the medication aide should hold the medication, document the action, and immediately notify the nurse.

Administering the medication could harm the patient by adversely affecting the heart rate. The prudent medication aide would not simply hold a medication and just document it without notifying the nurse because a low pulse may or may not signify a change in the patient’s usual condition.

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Reasons to Consider a Healthcare Career (Part Three)

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NOTE: This is the third installment in a six-part series of posts that aims to illuminate some great reasons to seriously think about obtaining a career in the healthcare field. Click here to read part one, and click right here to read part two. Also, click here for parts four, five, and six.

A myriad of solid reasons exist for incorporating a healthcare career into one’s life. Parts one and two of this five-part series brought up multiple compelling reasons to consider a career in the healthcare industry. Continue reading to find out about several more of these awesome justifications for becoming a healthcare worker.

REASON 7: Healthcare workers meet wonderful people on a day to day basis.

Healthcare workers cannot avoid encounters with a wide variety of interesting people. Some of these interesting folks include patients, family members, physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, case managers, clinical social workers, dietary staff, physical therapists, administrators, managers, pharmacists, psychologists, and so many other types of clinicians, healthcare providers and assistive support staff.

Not only do healthcare workers get to meet a variety of great people on a daily basis, but they have the opportunity to learn new pearls of wisdom due to the collective body of knowledge that every single one of these individuals bring to the table. Each person in the healthcare sector can teach valuable lessons that will surely enhance our lives regardless of one’s educational level or occupational status. Thus, interesting people can lead to constantly invigorating shifts at the workplace.

REASON 8: Jobs in the healthcare field are in continual demand.

The healthcare industry is continually expanding; therefore, all the jobs and career pathways related to direct patient care are in demand. Countless employment opportunities exist in the burgeoning healthcare industry. Direct care members of nursing staff such as bedside nurses, nursing assistants, home health aides and patient care technicians are in explosive demand due to the hands-on skills they possess.

For instance, nursing assistants are in astoundingly high demand. The number of employment opportunities for nursing assistants and nurse aides has been projected to increase by approximately 11 percent through 2026, which is faster than the average for all other jobs according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018). The projections are glowingly optimistic for the future of healthcare.

REASON 9: There are a whole lot of job opportunities in the healthcare field.

There is an abundance of opportunities for employment in the healthcare industry. A person can simply read the employment section of the local newspaper and see all the job openings for differing types of healthcare workers. On the other hand, those who are more technologically inclined can view the vast number of healthcare job openings on employment websites such as Indeed, Monster and Careerbuilder.

Prospective students who have opted to enter the healthcare industry will soon be able to pick from a large selection of great job opportunities upon successful completion of their education and training. There are opportunities and settings to suit all types of personalities and interests. Some types of healthcare workers can work in hospitals, extended care facilities, clinics, physicians’ offices, personal care group homes, and an array of other types of workplace settings.

Do you really need any other compelling reasons to enter the booming healthcare industry? You can experience a life-changing transformation by entering a new a career pathway as a nursing assistant in as little as one week (7 days) if you make the choice to do so.

Call Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School at (682)626-5266 to enroll in either the 7-day CNA program, the 2-week CNA class, or the 3-week CNA classes in the Dallas /Fort Worth area of Texas. Or, if you wish, you can feel free to visit the school’s informative website at www.LegacyHealthcareCareers.com to gather more information about the affordable nurse aide training programs. Jump-start your legacy right here and right now…

Informative YouTube Channel

A newer YouTube channel has been created! The YouTube channel for the Legacy Healthcare Careers Nursing Assistant School can be accessed by clicking here…

Legacy Healthcare Careers’ very own YouTube channel contains a host of informative videos on different topics that pertain specifically to nursing assistants and aspiring CNAs. Some of these topics include the CNA state test, hands-on skills for nurse aides, written practice questions with answers, dress codes, and additional information that nursing assistants might be able to utilize in their daily practice as healthcare clinicians.

In summary, if you are an experienced CNA, current nurse aide student, direct care worker, caregiver, or perhaps just entertaining the idea of becoming a nursing assistant one day in the distant future, you may wish to visit our channel on YouTube to see if the assorted pearls of wisdom found within the short videos may be of benefit to you.

As always, prospective students in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas should contact Legacy Healthcare Careers Nursing Assistant School to obtain quality, fast-track, affordable nurse aide training in as little as 7 days. Yes, you did read that last blurb correctly: Legacy Healthcare Careers offers a unique 1-week CNA program that could help you transition into a new healthcare career as a nursing assistant in just 7 days.

In the very near future, Legacy Healthcare Careers will also offer a brand new certified medication aide training program to prospective students in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. The staff of Legacy Healthcare Careers is in the beginning phases of adhering to the multiple regulatory steps associated with the addition of the medication aide classes to the school’s current course offerings. More details will be added as the development of the certified medication aide training program reaches completion time.

Call (682)626-5266 to schedule an appointment time to enroll or visit the school’s website to submit an online application for enrollment at www.LegacyHealthcareCareers.com.

 

Reasons to Consider a Healthcare Career (Part Two)

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NOTE: This is the second piece in a five-part series that aims to bring up some compelling reasons for considering a career in the healthcare industry. Click here to read part one of this series.

As some might already know, the healthcare sector is a huge industry that employs a whole lot of people in the United States and around the world. In addition, the healthcare sector continues to grow each and every day due to an array of factors. These factors include an increasing population, varied funding sources, and a large number of aging people that belong to the Baby Boomer generation who need healthcare since they have chronic illnesses that are associated with advanced age.

Hence, it would make logical sense that a massive field such as the healthcare industry would be loaded with plenty of lucrative opportunities for those with enough tenacity and grit to continually plug away at it until they meet their career goals. A multitude of great reasons exist for seriously thinking about paving a path into healthcare career. Continue to read in order to discover a few more of these solid reasons!

REASON 4: There is the potential to have a positive impact on patients.

Regardless of one’s role or job title in the healthcare industry, every single task will contribute in some way to helping patients and their families. A career in the healthcare field enables workers to achieve their goals of assisting people while simultaneously earning a paycheck and livelihood. Every duty and task in healthcare is meaningful and effective in some way.

As previously stated, one’s role in healthcare does not matter in relation to the positive things that can be carried out. For instance, a dietary aide can make a patient feel like his preferences matter when she asks him about his likes and dislikes concerning food. A nursing assistant can lift the spirits of the lonely elderly patient by paying attention to him. The activities director can spark interest and put smiles on the faces of bored nursing home residents.

REASON 5: Multiple career options exist for people with differing preferences.

Some people thrive when they have close contact with others. These people would be fulfilled with a healthcare career that allows them to provide direct patient care and build meaningful relationships during the course of each shift at work. Nursing assistants, nurses, and other members of direct care nursing staff typically have the closest contact with patients and their families.

Other people prefer to assist society in a more indirect manner while working behind the scenes. These types of people would also be fulfilled with a career in the healthcare field that allows them to be of assistance in a less visible way. For instance, case managers coordinate the care of patients and assist them with obtaining services without ever laying a finger on them. A few case managers work remotely via telephone, and therefore, never meet patients face to face.

REASON 6: Healthcare workers are held in high esteem by the public.

Individuals who work in the healthcare field are often held in high esteem as valuable members of society. This is due to the fact that they devote their time to at work to assist other people. Healthcare workers of all types are also regarded as important because they routinely provide services that are very much needed and potentially life-saving.

The nursing assistant who notifies the charge nurse on duty that one of her patients has left-sided chest pain might have saved a life by reporting a change in a patient’s status in a timely manner, thereby preventing a heart attack. The restorative aide who assists a choking patient with the Heimlich maneuver during mealtime might have saved a life by intervening with a sense of urgency.

Healthcare workers give so much of themselves throughout the course of a typical shift at the workplace. Most members of the general public are keenly aware of the sacrifices made by the selfless people who work in the healthcare industry. Therefore, the public tends to view healthcare workers in an immensely positive light.

Now is the time to enter the healthcare industry. You can enjoy a career as a nursing assistant in as little as 7 days (one week) in the D/FW area of Texas. Call Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School at (682)626-5266 to enroll in affordable certified assistant classes now. Jump-start your legacy today…

 

New Years Resolutions Related to Your Career

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Yes! The air is so thick with giddy anticipation that a person could figuratively cut through it with a knife. To some individuals, the new year is the most wondrous time of the year due to the professional and personal transformations that could be initiated if one is motivated enough to make changes. Another new year has entered our lives and consciousness along with the awesome promise of 365 new days that lie ahead.

Since everyone has been gifted with the same 365 days per calendar year, the ultimate goal is to avoid frittering those precious days away with lofty new years’ resolutions that turn out to be mostly unattainable. After all, it has been wisely said that time is an individual’s most valuable asset. Once a person wastes his or her valuable time, it is gone forever and can never be replenished again.

New years’ resolutions related to occupations and careers are of the utmost importance. After all, most people spend a considerable amount of their lives at work. In addition, the earnings from gainful employment often dictate how comfortable our personal lives will be. Bluntly put, money makes things happen, while a lack of money can cause even the best person to struggle with constant uphill battles related to finances.

For those who would like to make some career-related resolutions in the new year, the following is a brief list of ideas that may result in professional and personal self-improvement. Keep in mind that discomfort is usually the motivating factor that drives positive change in people. In other words, some of these new years’ resolutions might feel somewhat uncomfortable at first.

However, these new years’ resolutions are most definitely worth the time and effort in the long run for those who possess the perseverance and tenacity to keep plugging away at them. Without further ado, keep reading to find out about the actions that virtually any individual can take in order to transform one’s career prospects and overall value in the employment marketplace for the better.

Enter the healthcare industry…

People who are unhappy with their current jobs or careers may wish to consider a career pathway in the healthcare sector. No matter the educational level, there is room for all types of people in the healthcare industry. A fulfilling position in the healthcare industry can be a life-changing new years’ resolution for so many individuals who are disgruntled with their present situations in life.

A dishwasher with a ninth grade education who is dissatisfied with his current job can transform his life and financial situation by completing a certified nursing assistant (CNA) program to become a nurses aide. Likewise, an overworked, underpaid social worker with a masters degree can retrain to become a registered nurse (RN), physicians assistant (PA-C) or any number of fulfilling roles in healthcare.

Pick up a technical-related skill…

Let’s face it. Computers and technology are the towering waves of the future. Thus, it would be reasonable to say that those who are proficient with technical skills are the least likely to be left behind in this ever-changing, often brutal employment market. The olden adage advises people to either adapt or die! Knowledge is power, so empower yourself with relevant skills to boost your fund of knowledge.

People who are not very computer-literate might pursue an attainable goal of learning how to operate a basic computer. Those who are unfamiliar with the Microsoft Office suite of applications may wish to learn how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint since many employers like to see these skills on a job applicant’s resume. Those who are already proficient should consider learning the basics of coding.

Pursue a volunteering opportunity…

Volunteers often dictate the amount of time they can devote to their volunteering ventures. Furthermore, volunteering involves devoting one’s personal time to assist others, and providing assistance to others is an essential ingredient in altruism. Also, volunteering can cause the volunteer to feel good and build character by providing exposure to diverse life experiences.

Most hospice companies accept and train interested persons who want to volunteer their time to help terminally ill patients and their families. Another noble organization is Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit service that arranges deliveries of prepared meals to those who are homebound and unable to cook for themselves. Also, many emergency medical services (EMS) companies readily accept volunteers.

Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School offers a 4-week CNA program as well as a 1-week (7 day) CNA program to prospective students who are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. Both the 1-week and the 4-week CNA classes are state-approved.

Call (682)626-5266 to enroll in classes today. Legacy Healthcare Careers will also be offering a certified medication aide program later in 2019 to currently employed CNAs and unlicensed direct care staff workers who seek advancement in their healthcare careers.

Visit www.LegacyHealthcareCareers.com for additional info on the CNA classes offered at Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School. Jump-start your legacy today…

 

Reasons to Consider a Healthcare Career (Part One)

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NOTE: This piece is the very first post in a comprehensive six-part series of essays that attempts to shine the figurative light upon some of the more compelling reasons people should seriously think about paving a career pathway in the burgeoning healthcare industry. Click here to read the second part, and click here for part three. Also, click here for parts four and five. Finally, click right here to read part six.

Healthcare is a huge industry in many countries around the world. Therefore, it would make absolutely perfect sense that a large industry such as healthcare would be bursting at the seams with an abundance of good opportunities for people who have enough tenacity to pursue it as a career. A number of very compelling reasons exist for considering a career pathway in the healthcare field. Keep reading to unearth some of these reasons!

REASON 1: Healthcare workplaces tend to be very interesting.

It is true: there is hardly ever a dull moment in healthcare. There will always be a new admission, discharge, interesting medical conditions, entertaining family members, helpful coworkers, changing workflows, and learning opportunities to keep your days at work filled with excitement. Healthcare work environments such as hospitals and skilled nursing facilities tend to be particularly interesting workplaces.

REASON 2: Healthcare jobs are associated with good pay and benefits.

The majority of healthcare job openings are for full-time positions that offer steady pay, decent benefit packages, and the potential for wage increases. In addition to the pay, the benefit packages are worth some money, too! Benefits such as employer-sponsored health insurance, paid time off, vacation hours, sick pay and life insurance cost the employer money while financially benefiting you.

Also, many employers provide a perk known as 401k matching. In other words, if a worker contributes a certain amount of money to a 401k retirement account, the employer will actually match it by contributing the exact same amount. This can result in thousands of free dollars to the employee every year if regular 401k contributions are made. 401k matching is a fringe benefit that cannot be beat!

REASON 3: Some healthcare jobs do not require many years of training.

A number of the most popular healthcare jobs do not require many years of education or training. For example, an individual can become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in just a few short weeks. A person can study to become a medical assistant in a few short months. Moreover, someone can become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), known as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in Texas and California, in about a year.

Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School is excited to announce course offerings that can enable people to enter the healthcare industry in as little as 7 days (one week). Legacy Healthcare Careers offers a 4-week CNA program as well as a 1-week CNA program in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. Both CNA courses of study are state-approved and can permanently transform students’ lives by jump-starting their healthcare careers.

Please place that telephone call to Legacy Healthcare Careers at (682)626-5266 to enroll. Legacy Healthcare Careers will also offer a certified medication aide program in the very near future to CNAs and direct care workers who would like to advance their healthcare careers to the next level. Jump-start your legacy today…

 

How to Become a Medication Aide, a.k.a Medication Technician

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A medication aide, also known in some states as a medication technician or assistive medication administration personnel (AMAP), is an important member of the healthcare team who has been trained to provide skilled assistance to registered nurses and licensed practical / vocational nurses in the realm of medication therapy.

In essence, medication aides are entrusted with the safe administration of nonparenteral drugs to patients and residents in a wide variety of healthcare settings outside the acute care hospital. Medication aides have received the pharmacological knowledge and practical training to assist licensed nursing staff by administering medications to patients and residents.

The main duty of a medication aide entails the safe, prudent administration of nonparenteral medications to patients. In most states, medication aides are permitted to distribute oral, topical, transdermal, eye and ear medicines to patients under the supervision of licensed nursing staff (LPNs/ LVNs and RNs). Medication aides also communicate with patients and residents, document all medications they have administered, report changes in patients’ conditions to nurses, and obtain vital signs.

Medication aides are typically employed in workplace settings such as nursing homes, extended care facilities, intermediate care facilities, personal care group homes, assisted living facilities, schools and correctional facilities. Due to rules and regulations that exist in most states, virtually all medication aides must have prior patient care experience as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or unlicensed direct care staff workers.

To be able to enroll in most medication aide training programs across the United States, prospective students will need to be at least 18 years of age by the first day of class. Prospective students must also possess a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED) and provide evidence of current employment as a CNA or unlicensed direct care staff person before the first day of school.

In many states such as Missouri, the medication aide program consists of a minimum of 60 hours of classroom instruction along with 8 hours of clinical practicum training at a nursing facility. On the other hand, the requirements to complete a medication aide program in Texas are much more stringent: 100 hours of classroom instruction, 30 hours of return skills demonstrations and 10 hours of hands-on clinical practicum training.

The medication aide program coursework consists of instruction in a variety of topics such as medical terminology, fundamental review of systems of the human body, medicinal effects on each body system, principles of infection control, and different medication classifications. The overriding point of the medication aide program curriculum is to equip students with enough knowledge to administer medications in the safest manner possible.

Graduates of medication aide programs must also take and pass a written medication aide examination in the state where they intend to work. The medication aide test normally consists of 100 multiple choice questions that assess the test taker’s knowledge of medication therapy. Adequate preparation for the medication aide test is of the utmost importance. After all, who wants to fail this important test and be forced to retake it?

Graduates who pass the written medication aide test will be awarded a practice permit or state certification as a certified medication aide. This certification enables the medication aide to legally secure employment in a variety of healthcare settings for higher wages than those typically earned by CNAs and direct care workers. Moreover, the working conditions of medication aides tend to be less physically grueling than those endured by CNAs and direct care workers.

Legacy Healthcare Careers CNA School is excited to announce the planned opening of a medication aide program to prospective students who live and work in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex of Texas. Please place a telephone call to Legacy Healthcare Careers at (682)626-5266 for additional information. More updates will be provided to the public as the medication aide program progresses further along in its nascent development.

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