If you are an experienced CNA looking at caregiver jobs in Duluth, you may find that non-medical home care is a bit different from the job you are used to in a care facility. There is a lot of similarity between your previous job and this one because the focus is still on care-giving rather than on care providers. Our Lawrenceville Home Instead location in Duluth helps connect Care Pros with the elderly who need assistance in their homes.
What CNA Skills Work in Home Care?
In a lot of ways, many skills that you developed as a CNA will help you in home care. You already know how to maintain focus and to execute and document each routine while balancing how much independence you let your client have. You are also able to distinguish between what should be reported and what can be left to your client.
Your role will also include a lot of hands-on care and assistance such as dressing, grooming, and meal preparation. You will be expected to provide mobile assistance and daily household support.
But the primary focus is still the way you make your client feel. You already have the ability to protect their privacy. Think about how you explained each task and addressed their individualized care plan in your previous position. You let them tell you how much assistance they wanted you to provide and how much control they wanted to maintain by giving them the opportunity to complete a given task.
Which Clinical Tasks Are Outside the Role?
Non-medical home care has little in common with skilled nursing. A CNA making the transition to this type of work should have a good understanding of the difference between there and a hospital, rehabilitation, or nursing care, or clinical home health care.
Tasks or clinical treatment that require nursing skills are beyond the scope of a non-medical caregiver. Someone who requires clinical treatment such as injections, wound care, or any other treatment that requires clinical skills, should be provided by a licensed professional.
That specific skill distinction is especially important for seasoned CNAs. Prior to joining an organization, having performed/assisted in tasks in other work environments does not make those tasks a part of a Home Instead assignment.
The indicated tasks in a Care Plan must be understood prior to accepting an assignment, and any unclear tasks should be addressed with the accompanying Care Plan.
How Does One-to-One Care in Duluth Change the Pace of Work?
The biggest change may be the pace.
In facility work, the rapid movement between many residents and unit activities, the answering of many requests, and the completion of documentation within the broader clinical workflow, contrasts with the one-on-one nature of home care.
While that cannot be described as an "easy" job, it is even more less "busy."
You can help someone prepare for their day, meal preparation, provide company, help them with personal care, or assist them with tasks around the house. There are often periods of low activity in which you simply need to be present and available.
The relationship is peer-to-peer in a way that is unique to caregiving. You will get to know someone on an individual level and learn how best to serve them. Some older adults want assistance with only selected steps of their daily routine. Some actively prefer to do the rest on their own.
If this line of work interests you, take a look at what professional caregiving in the Duluth area is like.
You want to follow the Care Plan, and in the absence of clinical situations, you want to communicate concerns, not make decisions.
Prior Experience Gives You the Edge
The job description does not contain everything you need to know about a shift. When considering a shift, ask the right questions and ensure you understand the expectations.
What steps of personal care will the client need? Clarify the activities that make up the Care Plan.
What assistance will the client need for mobility? Identify both the extent of the needed assistance and whether equipment will be involved.
What does a typical visit look like? Find out how much of the visit will be assisting the client with personal care or with meal preparation, and how much of the visit will be assisting the client with companionship and with doing tasks around the house.
What documentation do I need? Know what you have to document and how you are expected to report concerns.
Is anything about this assignment going to go outside my training or comfort level? The time to ask this question is before I even take on this assignment, not after I have already gone to this destination.
Having clear expectations helps both you and the person you are going to provide care to. It also helps you to decide if this is the kind of work you want to do.
Prospective employees also have a chance to learn about Home Instead and its approach to care to help figure out if this organization is the right fit for them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Caregiver Jobs in Duluth
Is non-medical home care a good fit for an experienced CNA?
If you like working one on one and have comfort and flexibility in working outside of the clinical role then yes. Your skills and experience in communication, observation, personal care, and respectful assistance carry over, but you have to follow the requirements of each Home Instead assignment.
Do I have to give up my CNA certification to work as a Care Pro?
No. If you move into a non-medical caregiver role it does not mean giving up your CNA. Your background is part of you and the experience that you bring. You have to follow the role that you have been assigned as opposed to what you what you would assume are the traditional duties of a clinical role that you have had.
What should I ask about scheduling before applying?
Before you apply, you should ask about the opportunities, when there is a need for client support, and whether the requests support the hours that you can work consistently. Scheduling can be unpredictable, so you should be prepared to discuss your hours instead of anticipating that a specific shift will be scheduled.
What should I expect to do in a client’s home?
You should anticipate that you will need to adhere to the Care Plan, and, of course, be respectful of the client and their home. You will be expected to complete all of the tasks outlined as part of caregiving, record notes, and address any issues in an appropriate manner. It is important to understand the task your have been assigned and to seek clarification when something is outside of what has been outlined as part of the plan.
How can I apply for a caregiver job in Duluth?
You should review our Home Instead Caregiver postings and complete an application for a position for which you qualify. If you are an experienced CNA looking for non-medical caregiver work in Duluth, check out our Lawrenceville postings and ask the questions that will give you the information you need before you take an assignment. You can learn more about our team serving Lawrenceville.
About the Author
Kelee King has been part of the Home Instead team since 2018 and serves as Chief Operating Officer. She provides leadership and guidance to her team while helping support strong relationships with older adults, families, caregivers, and community partners.
