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What qualifications would I need to work with dementia patients
I am 21 years old and my entire life I have been a healer a therapist and a joy to others I enjoy listening to other peoples problems I am a little sister that acts the oldest and Im very patient
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Raquel’s Answer
Hello! Wanting to work with dementia patients is so great! I do want to ask, do you have experience working with dementia patients? I ask because working with these patients can be very difficult, it is very hard for them as well as their families and can be very emotionally tolling. With that being said, there are several ways you can work with dementia patients.
There are many roles of varying levels and job descriptions throughout the healthcare field that work closely with dementia patients so its good to look into each of your options. The main ones include Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), nurse (either LVN or RN), and provider (PA, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician).
So to start, a CNA works directly with patients. They take vital signs, help clean up patients, help mobilize patients, and answer patient call lights. They can also help with bathing and other hygiene needs. This is the fastest and easiest certification to get to work directly with patients. There are a variety of programs so you would need to see what is in your area, but they tend to run between 4 and 12 weeks long. After you finish the CNA program you need to take the test to get your certification to start working.
Nurse - there are two types of nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN). An LPN is a lower certification than an RN and this license is being phased out, it is mostly only accepted in small, often rural, hospitals though it is more common in assisted living facilities. So I'm going to focus on RNs. There are two levels to this certification, you can go to an associate school or you can get a bachelors. RN's perform assessments, give medications, create care plans, prepare patients for interventions, monitoring interventions, and performing interventions (IV insertion, blood draw, catheter insertion...). Nurses can also perform all duties of CNAs. They collaborate closely with providers to provide high quality patient care. They are at the bedside all the time and get to spend a lot of time with patients which allows the ability to develop relationships.
Providers- There are three different types of providers that can for the most part do the same jobs but with varying levels of independent practice. Providers assess patients, get patient history, order diagnostic tests, determine diagnosis, and order treatments and interventions. They provide nurses with all of the orders that they follow (medications, monitoring, interventions). They make a lot of decisions about patient care and work closely with nurses. A big difference between doctors and nurses (besides scope of practice) is that doctors do not spend as much time at the bedside building relationships, they are the decision makers.
This a very brief summary of three main types of jobs that can work with dementia patients. I hope it gives you a basis on where to start looking for what interests you. Best of luck!
There are many roles of varying levels and job descriptions throughout the healthcare field that work closely with dementia patients so its good to look into each of your options. The main ones include Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), nurse (either LVN or RN), and provider (PA, Nurse Practitioner, and Physician).
So to start, a CNA works directly with patients. They take vital signs, help clean up patients, help mobilize patients, and answer patient call lights. They can also help with bathing and other hygiene needs. This is the fastest and easiest certification to get to work directly with patients. There are a variety of programs so you would need to see what is in your area, but they tend to run between 4 and 12 weeks long. After you finish the CNA program you need to take the test to get your certification to start working.
Nurse - there are two types of nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN). An LPN is a lower certification than an RN and this license is being phased out, it is mostly only accepted in small, often rural, hospitals though it is more common in assisted living facilities. So I'm going to focus on RNs. There are two levels to this certification, you can go to an associate school or you can get a bachelors. RN's perform assessments, give medications, create care plans, prepare patients for interventions, monitoring interventions, and performing interventions (IV insertion, blood draw, catheter insertion...). Nurses can also perform all duties of CNAs. They collaborate closely with providers to provide high quality patient care. They are at the bedside all the time and get to spend a lot of time with patients which allows the ability to develop relationships.
Providers- There are three different types of providers that can for the most part do the same jobs but with varying levels of independent practice. Providers assess patients, get patient history, order diagnostic tests, determine diagnosis, and order treatments and interventions. They provide nurses with all of the orders that they follow (medications, monitoring, interventions). They make a lot of decisions about patient care and work closely with nurses. A big difference between doctors and nurses (besides scope of practice) is that doctors do not spend as much time at the bedside building relationships, they are the decision makers.
This a very brief summary of three main types of jobs that can work with dementia patients. I hope it gives you a basis on where to start looking for what interests you. Best of luck!
Dr. Lexi Rand, DNP, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
Double-Certified Nurse Practitioner
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Dr. Lexi’s Answer
Sounds like you have the passion and the patience that it will take to work with dementia patients. These are some of the skills that will be a plus when working with dementia patients. I'd love to know a bit more about what made you choose dementia individuals as opposed to another condition.
Information About Dementia (Alzheimer's):
With dementia patients' everyday tasks that you and I think nothing about is more than a struggle for them. They can no longer balance a checkbook, remember where they are going if they are driving (and may end up somewhere else and cannot tell you where they are supposed to be), the more they try to think, the more frustrated they become, and some become withdrawn from their loved ones. Dementia is not just one disease- we usually use the word dementia to talk about conditions that deal with one's ability to think or remember things on a daily basis. Alzheimer's is one of them that is included in the dementias.
Aging:
As we all get older, we tend to become a bit forgetful. Well, some of us who are young also forget things but not to the extent that individuals with dementia do. It becomes hard for them to remember, figure things out, forgetting family member names, forgetting how to do things, and the list goes on. It gets worse as time goes on and these individuals usually require care around-the-clock or in home help.
Special Training/Certification:
The helping profession (Physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, nursing assistants, aides, private sitters, etc.) all work with individuals with dementia. It does require a great deal of patience, the ability to not take the "strike outs" and outbursts from the patient personally. Sometimes there will be repetitious tasks and various tasks that will help and other days, those same tasks will be useless. It's an experience that takes a special person.
There are special classes, training opportunities, and certifications, that will help you be more effective when working with dementia patients.
https://www.alz.org/professionals/professional-providers/dementia-care-training-certification
https://www.alz.org/professionals/professional-providers/dementia_care_practice_recommendations
https://www.nccdp.org/seminars.htm
https://dementiaspotlightfoundation.org/programs/
https://alison.com/topic/learn/75824/understanding-dementia-learning-outcomes
https://thedawnmethod.com/free-dementia-training-materials/
These are just a few websites that offer training, workshops, mentorship opportunities, and also general information about dementia.
Wish you the best. Post back and keep us updated!
Information About Dementia (Alzheimer's):
With dementia patients' everyday tasks that you and I think nothing about is more than a struggle for them. They can no longer balance a checkbook, remember where they are going if they are driving (and may end up somewhere else and cannot tell you where they are supposed to be), the more they try to think, the more frustrated they become, and some become withdrawn from their loved ones. Dementia is not just one disease- we usually use the word dementia to talk about conditions that deal with one's ability to think or remember things on a daily basis. Alzheimer's is one of them that is included in the dementias.
Aging:
As we all get older, we tend to become a bit forgetful. Well, some of us who are young also forget things but not to the extent that individuals with dementia do. It becomes hard for them to remember, figure things out, forgetting family member names, forgetting how to do things, and the list goes on. It gets worse as time goes on and these individuals usually require care around-the-clock or in home help.
Special Training/Certification:
The helping profession (Physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, nursing assistants, aides, private sitters, etc.) all work with individuals with dementia. It does require a great deal of patience, the ability to not take the "strike outs" and outbursts from the patient personally. Sometimes there will be repetitious tasks and various tasks that will help and other days, those same tasks will be useless. It's an experience that takes a special person.
There are special classes, training opportunities, and certifications, that will help you be more effective when working with dementia patients.
https://www.alz.org/professionals/professional-providers/dementia-care-training-certification
https://www.alz.org/professionals/professional-providers/dementia_care_practice_recommendations
https://www.nccdp.org/seminars.htm
https://dementiaspotlightfoundation.org/programs/
https://alison.com/topic/learn/75824/understanding-dementia-learning-outcomes
https://thedawnmethod.com/free-dementia-training-materials/
These are just a few websites that offer training, workshops, mentorship opportunities, and also general information about dementia.
Wish you the best. Post back and keep us updated!
Updated
Tonya’s Answer
The National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners is a way to demonstrate expertise and commitment to caring, educating, and meeting the needs of people with dementia. The website (see below) includes information on the requirements for certification.
References:
*National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (2022). Home. https://www.nccdp.org/standards.htm
There is also the Alzheimer’s Association. The association provides resources for “…those living with the disease, caregivers, volunteers and professional health care providers.” You may find more information at their website (see below) to help you in pursing your passion.
Reference:
*Alzheimer’s Association (2022). Explore alz.org. https://www.alz.org/about/explore-alz-org
All The Very Best!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Altonisha
Updated
Deborah’s Answer
There are other type of jobs that work with people with dementia as well. Social workers, owners of adult care homes, leaders of support groups and centers that provide day time care for patients are all other options.