Nurse aides and home-care aides are classified as direct care
workers. Direct-care workers are paraprofessionals who are trained
to assist the elderly and the disabled with assisted daily living
(ADL) such as grooming, bathing, and eating. They are the backbone
of the long-term delivery care system. While physicians and nurses
are the primary role players in any healthcare system, the
worthiness of the direct-care workers can never be under estimated.
The aging of the American population more than ever place the
importance of direct-care workers, as they are the one who will do
the menial jobs of caring for the elderly’s and the incapacitated.
Figures provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2008
came to about three million people who are classified as
direct-care workers. These figures are way below to meet the
demands of an expected increase of the aging population. By the
year 2020, there will be more than 19 million to 54 million people
of over age 65. Moreover, the life expectancy for American’s has
gone up and the baby boomers who are now in their late 40s and 50s
will more than likely see their 85th birthdays and
more.
As a consequence of the aging Americans, there will be a need
for around 400,000 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants by
2019. But retaining and recruiting them is a big challenge and the
reasons for high turnover rate in this group of healthcare worker
include:-
- low wages,
- few benefits,
- the toll on physical and emotional strain on workers,
- Significant risk for on-the-job injuries due to the lifting of
patients.
On the other hand, the technician shortage is real too. Its
actual impact on a busy dealership with even one vacancy is
devastating. There is certainly a shortage and an overall declining
interest in this field altogether. This is due to a wide variety of
issues:-
- Compensation: Technician compensation is something that has to
be addressed before the shortage becomes a crisis. The hourly model
with production based incentive is a much more effective and
attractive model to adopt rather than the flat rate model which is
being currently used. This provides a level of financial stability
for the technicians while still allowing the techs to earn
additional money with the increased levels of productivity.
- Working Conditions: If it not presentable to customers, it is
also unacceptable for the employees. Offices being poorly lit,
completely unorganized and chaotic, no workflow or processes,
floors covered in everything you can imagine, and technicians
walking around in the same blue with light blue pinstripe work
shirts from 1975 is not what anybody would have dreamt of working
with.
- Professional development: The service department is a very
complex business when you actually examine the financial aspect and
the proper metrics that need to be examined, not to mention the day
to day management of the operations. Technicians need to understand
exactly how their role contributes to the profitability of the
department and work towards it.
- Social Status: Most technicians feel completely invisible to
management and the front end of the business. They are basically
ignored until there is a problem. They are not given any perks and
their overworking hours are not taken into consideration.
Skills required for becoming a nursing aide:-
- To become a Certified Nursing Aide, one must have a high school
diploma or GED,
- Nursing assistant training
- These programs can be found at community colleges, trade
schools and medical facilities.
- Before enrolling, one must be sure about the program being
approved by the state's nursing board
- Excellent verbal and written communication. Among the many CNA
skills, strong communication skills are one of the most
important
- Astute observation skills
- Ability to follow set rules and protocol
- Time management and organizational skills
- Empathy and compassion.
Skills required for becoming a technician:-
- Technical School
- Apprentice program
- A strong client focus and a desire to assist others.
- The ability to analyse problems quickly and skilfully.
- A methodical and disciplined approach.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
- Patience and perseverance.
- Good communication skills.
- Strong technical ability.