Direct Support Person- Transferring to new career

[senya92]

Right now, I am a DSP with one year of experience making $10.50 an hour. I have worked with people with disabilities for over a year, have a B.A. in English, and a solid job history. I believe I have good relations with my supervisors and have a reputation as a good worker. Unfortunately, at this pay rate, I am finding it difficult to make a living.

How and where can I transition into a role that will allow me meet end's meat? I'd prefer something in the field of human services since I have relevant experience, but I'm scratching my head on what is achievable for me. I can't go to nursing school or anything and I don't know where to turn.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

The market tends to pay based on how many other people in the market have the skills and education to do the job. Generally the ticket to higher paying jobs is to have an education in a field that is in more demand. Working as an unlicensed caretaker does, unfortunately, tend to be a very low paying position in spite of it being pretty hard work, simply because the skill set required does not require a lot of education or licensure and therefore many people can easily move into that field.

Rather than thinking "I can't go back to school or anything", start opening your mind to ways to sort out the things that make it hard to do so. The number of stories out there of people advancing themselves in spite of difficult circumstances are numerous.

In the meantime, at least consider getting certified as a nursing assistant (CNA), which will open you to the potential to work in acute care. It won't pay a whole lot better, but it offers the option of nights and weekends, where you get a differential pay bump in many places and can thus increase your earnings. Good luck.