Medical caretakers, otherwise known as medical assistants or aides are those individuals who provide a medical assistant function to health care facilities. These health care providers work under the supervision of a physician and hold a certified nursing assistant certification. The purpose of these caretakers is to assist physicians by performing a variety of duties that include answering patients’ questions concerning their medical condition, preparing patients for examinations, and helping patients with physical activities.
Depending on the requirements of the facility, caretakers also handle other tasks such as transporting patients, providing help with personal hygiene, and assisting laboratory personnel.
Medical caretakers work under the supervision of registered nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel. Some may also hold a temporary medical caretaker position when a patient is in the hospital on an intermittent basis.
Attend training session:
Becoming a caretaker is not easy. First you must become certified as a medical assistant and then attend a two-day training session. After this training, you will be required to pass an exam that consists of both written and practical sections.
There are several caretaking schools that offer training programs, but there is no licensing process involved. However, most states require caretakers to be licensed or registered before they can work as a medical assistant.
You must be self-motivated and stable:
To qualify as a caretaker, you must have an interest and background in the health care field. You will also need to be emotionally stable and able to interact with people.
You must be someone who can keep patience and calm under pressure. You must be self-motivated and able to work without much supervision.
Need to understand patient’s state of mind:
If you decide to be a caretaker, you will be an integral part of the health care team. It is important to understand that even though you are a caretaker, your patients still need to go to the bathroom.
As a caretaker, you will be involved in the daily lives of your patient’s. This means that you will need to be on hand to help the patient take his or her vital signs, assist with the eating process, and to help dress wounds.
Make your patient more comfortable:
While you will have a great deal of responsibility for your patient, you should remember that you are only one person. You should never assume responsibility for a patient. You should always ask first if there is something you can do for the patient.
You should let the patient know you are willing to be an asset to his/her recovery. If the patient feels that you respect him/her as a person, it will make him/her feel more comfortable and will result in quicker recovery.
Summing up:
If you are interested in becoming a medical caretaker, you will need to complete an education program. You can find information about this process at your local community college, trade school, or online.
During the program, you will learn about medical topics such as physiology, anatomy, medical terminology, pharmacology, nursing theory, and insurance. You will also receive training in professional development, ethics, professional conduct, and patient care.
