A healthcare assistant is a professional who provides direct personal care and assistance with activities of daily living to patients and residents in a variety of healthcare settings. They work under the supervision of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other medical personnel. Some of the job duties of a healthcare assistant include:
- Providing personal care such as bathing, feeding, and dressing.
- Assisting patients with personal and therapeutic care needs such as personal hygiene, physical mobility and exercise, communication, taking oral medications, and changing dressings.
- Recording patient progress and filling out paperwork.
- Conducting patient intake interviews and recording medical histories.
- Maintaining exam room equipment, space, and sanitizing for patient care.
- Transporting clients and assisting clients with activities of daily living.
To become a healthcare assistant, you need a high school diploma or GED certificate and additional training and education. You can choose between a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate degree program in medical assistance. Additional qualifications may be voluntary or mandatory depending on your employer and the state where you work. Employers expect good literacy and numeracy and may ask for GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and maths. They may ask for a healthcare qualification, such as BTEC or NVQ. Employers expect you to have some experience of healthcare or care work.
