If you are considering a career as a healthcare assistant, check out the options below. You’ll even find some info on how to get into each field, as well as the typical things each type of assistant is required to do on a day-to-day basis.
Nursing Assistant
A nursing assistant helps with their daily care, including tasks such as eating, hygiene, bathing, and staying mobile. They are also often tasked with monitoring paint health, which can include doing things such as taking their temperature, checking their breathing and measuring their pulse.
Nursing assistants can work in a range of locations such as hospitals, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities. Usually, to become a nursing assistant in the US, you will need to complete the CNA certification program, which can be done at a college. Once you have done the program, you can sit the CNA assessment, and if you pass that, you will be able to work as an assistant in this field.
Theatre Support Worker
A theatre support worker is a person who is tasked with preparing operating rooms for surgery properly and safely. Part of their role is to set up surgical equipment in the way the doctor has requested while keeping it sterile. This is incredibly important for the safety of the patient as it helps to minimize the risk of infection. Theatre support workers may assist surgeons during procedures in tasks such as passing them the tools they need.
Theatre support workers tend to work in hospitals that have operating facilities. Although there are also field roles in charity organizations and the military. To become a theatre support worker, you will need to study surgical technology training, which can be done at a medical institute or college. It is important to gain your surgical technologist certification, as this will improve your employability.
Dental Assistant
Another type of health assistant career you may consider is becoming a dental assistant. Dental assistants prepare patients for their dental treatment, explaining what to expect and assisting the dentist in their tasks. Part of this role is to ensure the dentist has access to properly sterilised instruments, which helps to maintain hygiene and minimize the risk of infection. A dental assistant will also need to hand the dentist the necessary tools during procedures, as well as manage suction equipment.
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To become a dental assistant, you will need to complete a Dental Assistant Program, which in some cases can take as little time as nine months. Such courses will provide real dental skills with hands-on clinic training and allow you to earn your dental safety certificate, which will help you in your search for a job after graduation.
Physician Assistant
A physician’s assistant is the last type of medical career option here. They help doctors by examining and assisting patients. This means triaging patients and checking their symptoms to help diagnose any medical issues. Physicians’ assistants, or PAs as they are frequently known, can treat patients under the supervision of a physician. In some states, this means they can prescribe medications, but this is location-dependent.
To qualify as a physician, you will need a bachelor’s degree in science. You’ll then need to complete the credited physician assistant master’s degree. Once you’ve graduated from that PA program, you will be able to get a job in this field.
