Can one volunteer in direct care to brush up on skills?

[Zebolt]

I worked as a CNA for a few years at an LTC, but I left the job to move to another city and take college courses. I have since moved again due to wife's promotion and am living short-term in a small town in East Texas.

My certification has expired as I have not been employed as a CNA for over two years. I need to take the exams again, which I look forward to.

However, I've put on the pounds since I stopped working as a CNA, and cannot fathom simply retaking the exam and seeking employment; you can't do this job if you're physically (or mentally for that matter) out of shape, and I don't want to get hired somewhere just to be a liability and slow the staff down.

Therefore what I would prefer to do at this point is, if viable, volunteer at a local LTC facility while brushing up on the theoretical from my reading materials. Ideally, I would assist staff CNAs with basic tasks, sort of like something between orientation and shadowing. It would hopefully benefit both me and the aides, because I could ease into the job again and freshen up on the clinical aspect without replacing any staff position and therefore adding to - not subtracting from - staff resources. At the same time, I would not have the demands of a regular schedule and would therefore be able to restrain myself to what I could and could not do, until such time that I was more in shape.

Since I am not fresh out of training or entirely inexperienced, I do not believe I would slow staff CNAs down. In contrary I would like to think they would appreciate the extra pair of hands.

My question is, do facilities ever do this? I know that hospitals and LTCs have volunteers, but it's been my understanding that they are typically there to assist Activities, not with direct care. What would be the legal implications of allowing someone to do direct care work without employment? Do whatever paperwork volunteers fill out and sign protect the company from liability should someone, be it a volunteer or a patient, trip and fall?

These aren't simple questions, I know. Of course, I could probably get a faster answer by calling up local nursing homes, but I wanted to get some input on this from fellow CNAs before I pick up the phone and make a fool of myself.

Basically, I want to get in shape, brush up on CNA skills, and if I could do both at the same time AND be of help to others, then...that would be pretty cool. Any suggestions you may have would certainly be welcome.

Thank you for taking the time to read this novel.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

In NY, no. No one is allowed to TOUCH someone without cert. I don't know about TX.

[justme01]

Maybe you should work part time in home health while you brush up and shape up. Just take a couple of patients and see how it goes. No license needed.