Wednesday 30 May 2012

Online Home Health Aide Schools: How to Choose

Home health aide schools are not available completely online, although students can choose a hybrid certificate program. This program combines online learning with hands-on training in classrooms or health care facilities.

How to Select an Online Home Health Aide School

Clinical Requirements

Before enrolling in an online home health aide program, students should be aware that programs are only offered partially online. Because home health aides provide direct care to patients, most programs require students to participate in clinical training held at health care facilities. Students learn basic patient care skills, such as how to check vital signs or help patients perform everyday tasks. These practicums are performed under the supervision of licensed or certified health care professionals. Students may want to consider home health aide programs that allow them to complete these clinical requirements close to home.

Home Health Aide Certification

Students should make sure that an online certificate program prepares graduates to sit for state certification examinations, which may be mandatory to obtain a job.
Additionally, some online programs provide students with certification in First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Most online home health aide programs also prepare students to take voluntary, national certification examinations. The National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) offers a voluntary Home Care Aide Certification Program. Home health aide program graduates are qualified to sit for the association's skills assessment and written examination.

A Common Home Health Aide Program

Online Home Health Aide Certificate

An online home health aide certificate program can be completed in as little as six weeks, but many can take six months. Typical courses cover human development, communication, infectious disease prevention and clinical theory. Students learn through online lectures, live chats and interactive discussions. A practicum, which may consist of 20-32 hours of training, must be completed before students complete the certificate program. An online home health aide certificate program may use Blackboard or other course management systems.

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