Demand for medical care in the United States has been steadily increasing for several years as the population has grown and the number of people suffering from chronic diet and exercise related illnesses has risen.
This trend coupled with the large number of retiring Baby Boomers has created a tremendous burden for healthcare facilities that are not equipped to handle the spike in demand.
In addition, a shortage in qualified nurses and physicians has resulted in long waiting periods for patients who are in need of care.
To help alleviate some of the difficulties associated with the influx of patients, many administrators have begun hiring unlicensed assistants who can quickly be trained to perform activities that do not require professional knowledge, judgment, and skill.
This approach allows advanced personnel to focus on complex tasks while unlicensed providers handle the routine responsibilities associated with patient care.
There are many different types of medical assistants currently working in the healthcare sector who have varying levels of education, training, and competency.
Individuals who work as generalists are commonly known as nursing assistants, certified nurse aides, medication aides, or patient care technicians.
In most establishments, applicants to these positions do not need a college degree or prior healthcare experience in order to be considered for employment.
Most state Boards of Nursing require unlicensed personnel to work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician who has accepted the responsibility for deciding which tasks can be safely delegated and who assumes the liability if any adverse outcomes result from the delegation of care.
In most cases, licensed personnel will also provide supervision that is appropriate for each situation.
Entry-level technicians represent a critical component of the healthcare system because they perform many of the routine tasks required to ensure the health and safety of patients.
Common responsibilities include things like assisting with activities of daily living, recording blood pressure and heart rate, helping with mobilization and transport, procedure preparation, documenting in electronic medical records, administering medications, and much more.
Although the role of the patient care technician may not appear very glamorous, it represents one of the critical components of operating an efficient and effective healthcare facility.
Without the contributions of unlicensed personnel, patients would suffer from poor access to care and facilities would be far less efficient and cost-effective.
Individuals who have worked in a general area of practice for a few years and have mastered the basics of comprehensive care may choose to complete the additional training and certification required to become employed in a specialized area of practice.
Unlicensed personnel can be found working in nearly all departments within hospitals and independent healthcare facilities.
A few of the most popular specialties include that of dialysis technician, EKG technician, and surgical assistant.
These branches of healthcare manage patients who suffer from conditions that can be life-threatening and it is important for unlicensed providers to demonstrate competency in the specialty before being allowed to provide direct patient care.
Most departments offer their own in-house training that prepares individuals for the unique challenges that are experienced within the specialty.
They also prepare individuals to pass nationally recognized certification exams that are unique to the specialty.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have acknowledged the important role that unlicensed personnel play in the healthcare system and have established guidelines for the delegation of tasks.
Those who are interested in providing direct patient care, but who do not want to complete many years of education and training are encouraged to consider the many career advancement opportunities available to the unlicensed assistant.
As demand for care continues to grow, industry experts predict strong employment opportunities for unlicensed providers.
Those who position themselves to benefit from this trend can expect to experience many years of job security and professional satisfaction.
This trend coupled with the large number of retiring Baby Boomers has created a tremendous burden for healthcare facilities that are not equipped to handle the spike in demand.
In addition, a shortage in qualified nurses and physicians has resulted in long waiting periods for patients who are in need of care.
To help alleviate some of the difficulties associated with the influx of patients, many administrators have begun hiring unlicensed assistants who can quickly be trained to perform activities that do not require professional knowledge, judgment, and skill.
This approach allows advanced personnel to focus on complex tasks while unlicensed providers handle the routine responsibilities associated with patient care.
There are many different types of medical assistants currently working in the healthcare sector who have varying levels of education, training, and competency.
Individuals who work as generalists are commonly known as nursing assistants, certified nurse aides, medication aides, or patient care technicians.
In most establishments, applicants to these positions do not need a college degree or prior healthcare experience in order to be considered for employment.
Most state Boards of Nursing require unlicensed personnel to work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed physician who has accepted the responsibility for deciding which tasks can be safely delegated and who assumes the liability if any adverse outcomes result from the delegation of care.
In most cases, licensed personnel will also provide supervision that is appropriate for each situation.
Entry-level technicians represent a critical component of the healthcare system because they perform many of the routine tasks required to ensure the health and safety of patients.
Common responsibilities include things like assisting with activities of daily living, recording blood pressure and heart rate, helping with mobilization and transport, procedure preparation, documenting in electronic medical records, administering medications, and much more.
Although the role of the patient care technician may not appear very glamorous, it represents one of the critical components of operating an efficient and effective healthcare facility.
Without the contributions of unlicensed personnel, patients would suffer from poor access to care and facilities would be far less efficient and cost-effective.
Individuals who have worked in a general area of practice for a few years and have mastered the basics of comprehensive care may choose to complete the additional training and certification required to become employed in a specialized area of practice.
Unlicensed personnel can be found working in nearly all departments within hospitals and independent healthcare facilities.
A few of the most popular specialties include that of dialysis technician, EKG technician, and surgical assistant.
These branches of healthcare manage patients who suffer from conditions that can be life-threatening and it is important for unlicensed providers to demonstrate competency in the specialty before being allowed to provide direct patient care.
Most departments offer their own in-house training that prepares individuals for the unique challenges that are experienced within the specialty.
They also prepare individuals to pass nationally recognized certification exams that are unique to the specialty.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have acknowledged the important role that unlicensed personnel play in the healthcare system and have established guidelines for the delegation of tasks.
Those who are interested in providing direct patient care, but who do not want to complete many years of education and training are encouraged to consider the many career advancement opportunities available to the unlicensed assistant.
As demand for care continues to grow, industry experts predict strong employment opportunities for unlicensed providers.
Those who position themselves to benefit from this trend can expect to experience many years of job security and professional satisfaction.
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