Cheerful young doctor listening to a patient in the office.

3 Caregiver Jobs That Don’t Require a Nursing Degree

Start a Rewarding Career Helping People at Phoenix Home Care & Hospice

If you love helping people and making a difference in their lives, and if you have an interest in the field of health care, a caregiver job might be right for you – even if you don’t have a nursing degree.

With flexible hours, fair compensation, part- and full-time benefits, and more, these roles can help you continue your career in the healthcare field. If you’re looking to start a career in healthcare, you’ll be pleased to know that many of these roles do not require extensive past experience. Your own personal caregiver experiences are considered just as valid as previous work.

Home Health Care Jobs

Even without a nursing degree, you can provide patient care in a home health care service line. Depending on where you work, your role could be called certified nursing assistant (CNA) or home health aide, so read job descriptions carefully before applying. These roles may require you to obtain a CNA certification; in some cases, your employer may assist you in completing and paying for your training.

What Is Home Health Care?
The patients you’ll care for in this home health care job are those who may have recently been discharged from the hospital or are recovering from an injury or surgery. They may also have received a new diagnosis, and they need help managing life as they adapt. Your role helps these patients stay as independent and comfortable as possible as they receive intermittent care from home health nurses, physical therapists, or occupational therapists.

What Does the Job Entail?
As a home health aide or similar role, you can help patients with activities of daily living in conjunction with a skilled home health nurse’s medical care. This important role can include tasks like assisting with bathing, dressing, toileting, and light meal preparation. Your patient will rely on your help, and you’ll leave every patient’s living space with the satisfaction of knowing you improved their day and their quality of life.

Hospice Caregiver Jobs

Hospice caregiver jobs go by many names, including hospice CNA and hospice home health aide. Just like the equivalent home health care jobs, you may need to earn your nursing assistant certification before working with patients.

What Is Hospice?
Hospice patients have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness; your help ensures they maintain their dignity and quality of life, offering them hope when they’re most vulnerable. Most hospice patients likely live at home, in a senior living community, or in a skilled nursing facility.

What Does the Role Entail?
In this caregiver job, you’ll be tasked with helping hospice patients with hygiene and toileting. To help keep the patient clean and comfortable, hospice caregivers may visit to change bed linens or help with cleaning. Hospice caregivers may also help prepare and serve meals, following prescribed diets, and assist with exercises to help patients maintain mobility. Patients may need help ambulating – moving about their home – so you should also know how to help them with walkers, canes, and wheelchairs.

Private Duty Caregiver Jobs

If you enjoy working with patients of all ages who need extra help with activities of daily living, working as a private duty caregiver may be a good fit for you.

What Is Private Duty Care?
In this caregiver job, you’ll offer companionship and assistance to people with an illness, disability, or advanced age. Private duty care helps people live independently while offering respite care to family members who help them.

What Does the Job Entail?
No two days are ever the same as a private duty caregiver! You may help with preparing and cleaning up after meals and assisting with personal care one day. On other days, you may provide companionship, help with light housekeeping, or run an important errand.

Where Will You Work As a CNA, Caregiver, or Home Health Aide?

These caregiver jobs work within very different service lines, but they share one thing in common. You’ll visit and care for patients where they live, whether that’s in their own house or apartment, in assisted- or independent-living facilities, in retirement communities, or in nursing homes. Some roles may even include visiting patients while they’re receiving hospital care.

The great thing about traveling to your clients is that you have free time to relax, listen to the radio, pick up lunch, or complete brief errands along the way. The work you do every day is meaningful, and you can go to bed at night knowing you contributed to someone’s health and comfort – without having to go too far from your own home.

Find Meaningful Work in Caregiver Jobs with Team Phoenix

To find a rewarding job in hospice, home health care, or private duty care, visit the careers page on the Phoenix Home Care & Hospice website. Use the handy “department” drop-down, and select “Caregivers & CNA’s.” You can also filter by location to find caregiver jobs close to home.

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