Helping your home health aides become certified nurses

Staff retention becomes easier when you invest in your current employees

Strategies for helping your home health aide staff become certified home health care nurses

Home health care agencies operating in non-skilled home care may have numerous home health aides on staff. These Home health aides (HHAs) play a critical role in the home care eco-system, providing essential care to patients in the comfort of their homes. With an aging population and a national shortage of caregivers and nurses, the demand for certified home healthcare nurses (CHHAs) is increasing. CHHAs have additional training and qualifications that allow them to provide more advanced care to patients with complex health needs.

For home health agencies (HHAs) that are looking to provide an optimal level of care to their patients, investing in the certification of their HHAs to become CHHAs can be a worthwhile strategy. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits of having CHHAs on staff and provide some tips on how home care agencies can help their HHAs get to the next level.

Benefits of having CHHAs on staff

Certified home health care nurses are licensed professionals who have completed additional training beyond that of a typical home health aide. As a result, they can provide a higher level of care to patients with complex medical needs, such as those with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

Having CHHAs on staff can be beneficial to both the home health agency and the patients they serve. Patients benefit from receiving more comprehensive care that is tailored to their specific needs. CHHAs can perform advanced procedures such as administering medication, performing wound care, and monitoring vital signs. They can also provide additional support to patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.

Home health agencies benefit from having certified home health aides and nurses on staff by being able to offer a wider range of services to patients, which can increase revenue and lead to greater patient satisfaction. Additionally, CHHAs typically may command a higher hourly wage from your agency than HHAs, but the benefits will outweigh the additional cost.

How can my homecare agency help our aides become certified nurses?

If you're a home health care agency interested in helping your HHAs become CHHAs, here are several steps you can take:

  1. Provide access to training programs One of the most important steps in helping your HHAs become CHHAs is providing access to training programs. There are many training programs available that can help HHAs gain the skills and knowledge they need to become CHHAs. These programs can be offered in-house, online, or through local community colleges or vocational schools.

  2. Offer financial support Certification programs can be expensive, and many HHAs may not have the financial resources to pay for them out of pocket. Offering financial support to your HHAs can be a great way to encourage them to pursue certification. This can include paying for the cost of the program, offering tuition reimbursement, or providing scholarships.

  3. Provide mentorship and support Becoming a CHHA can be a challenging and rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming for some HHAs. Providing mentorship and support throughout the certification process can help your HHAs feel more confident and motivated. Consider pairing your HHAs with experienced CHHAs who can provide guidance and support.

  4. Recognize and reward achievement Completing a certification program is a significant achievement, and it's important to recognize and reward your HHAs for their hard work. This can include offering bonuses, promotions, or other incentives for achieving certification. Recognition can also come in the form of public acknowledgment, such as announcing their achievement on social media or at staff meetings.

Have the right tools and support in your agency

Investing in training programs, and technology (learning management systems, home health care software, and other educational materials), can transform your agency into a place for growth and career ascension that will benefit your caregivers and your patients. By providing access to such tools and training programs, while offering financial assistance, staff mentorship and support, and recognizing and rewarding achievement, your agency can attract and retain caregivers while staying true to the mission of offering the best possible care to new and existing patients.

Related blogs:

1. The foundations of improved staff retention in home health care (white paper)

2. Six keys to solving home health agency staffing issues

3. Staff retention and reducing callouts in home health agencies

For more home health care centered blogs subscribe to our thrive with homecare blog to get fresh topics that help agencies operate at peak efficiency delivered right to your inbox.

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