LEARNING THROUGH CAREGIVER TRAINING FROM PAM JOHNSON

Learning Through Caregiver Training
Essentially, most people in the caregiver profession assist individuals who are elderly, sick, young or impaired. Becoming a caregiver is going to require some training, and the exact fields that you study could slightly vary, based on the perspective you want to bring to the job. However, learning isn't over when you begin your career. In fact, you'll learn quite a bit on the job. What are some of these skills, exactly? Read on to find out.
Medical Skills

These skills can greatly vary, but they could include taking blood pressure, administering medications, performing certain types of tests and so forth. Unless you are certified and trained in certain areas, you're simply not going to be able to perform them though, so you might consider earning a related degree. Some caregivers are also registered nurses or hold other degrees in the medical field, so this a common and wise track to take.

Multi-Tasking

As a caregiver, you could very well wind up being the person's arms, eyes, ears and more. Therefore, you are going to have to be able to take care of someone's emotions, safety and personal needs at the same time. Your caregiver training courses can teach you how to deal with household tasks while monitoring the person's overall health. Furthermore, these courses can explain the limitations of your abilities as a caregiver too. For example, you need to know what to do in an emergency if you are unable to drive yourself.
Compassion

Compassion is not necessarily a skill that can be taught to everyone. Most people known for their compassion are often born with it. However, you can definitely hopefully learn how to bring your compassionate side out on a more regular basis. When caring for people, you will be told to remember that they are sickly, elderly and, essentially, depending upon you for survival. The word "care" is in the term "caregiver," and you need to be able to provide that important component of the equation. Without it, it's unlikely that you will last long in the field.
Understanding

Caring for an individual all of the time can become frustrating and overwhelming. You'll likely notice that it's common for the sick to pick apart their own inadequacies and faults as opposed to focusing on the positive aspects of their condition. However, through caregiver training, you can learn how to listen to the patient's take on their situation and encourage forward, positive thinking. This might be difficult and even feel intrusive, but it can often result in a friendship stemming from your honesty and encouragement.

Author Pam Johnson is a therapist for a nursing home who obtained her degree from one of the Top 10 Best Online Therapy Degree Programs.