shounds

thanks...

has anyone taken the caregiver certification training a 10 hour online course through the Professional Association of Caregivers (P.A.C.) from the website caregiver list? it's $59 and i'm wondering if it's worth it and really needed, do companies like to see this on a resume? thanks for any advise....

I have never had a professional interview, I have been a 23 year career nanny and get jobs online and meet with families at their home. All this interview stuff is new to me. Those dreaded questions.... My strengths I'm not concerned about it's my weakness. I'm very detailed, organized, and a planner. Which for some these would be seen as a strength and people love someone like that. There are some people who don't like it and it makes them feel like I'm taking over which I'm not, I just have a certain way I do things. At the end of the day if there is still a load of laundry to be folded and we ran out of time because we spent too much time at the park, I struggle with that's it's OK that it did not get done, it will be there tomorrow, it's more important that the client is enjoying what we are doing. My first priority is always the client, but I always want to make sure what gets done for the day gets done. It's not that I can't manage time because I can, but as you know with kids or seniors sometimes a day you had planned can change at any moment. My other weakness is I'm very socially shy at first, but once I warm up, watch out, I become a chatty cathy. Because I'm shy, I have that face that when I don't smile I look mean and unapproachable which I'm the opposite. I'm also very blunt and to the point, I tell it like it is. I'm not going to lie to make things seem better than they are. I'm really stressing about going to interviews....

i'm getting ready to turn 40 and this is my mid life crises/change. i have decided to go from a 23 year career nanny in private homes to a non medical home health aide/companion. i don't need any certification for this type of work. i have been volunteering for hospice doing pet therapy for 3 years and have developed a passion to work with seniors. when i fill out applications online i don't put any families i have worked for because it's all detailed on my resume and i'm kinda self employed. i have not gone through an agency for work, i find nanny jobs online. i feel bad that when they see that part of the application blank and self employed, how it looks. my questions is does that look bad? when do you give them your references and contacts? if i'm sending out 20 applications, i don't want my references getting 20 calls. do you put on your resume references upon request? then the interview.... since i don't need certification and i will be working in private homes one on one, how do i not always compare how situations i may have encountered as a nanny will be like things i have to deal with in senior care? i don't always want to say "as a nanny this is how i handled this or that" since i have been a volunteer with hospice would it be better to use examples from that? again that is different because i'm a companion to them and i'm not doing things in the home for them, they are at LTC facilities. i'm worried i'm going to compare to much. as you can see i rambled on and on, sorry.... i'm new to all of this, never having a real interview for a job in my life, i'm scared to death.... thanks for the help...

thanks for the info.... i have been looking for HH agency's as well as facilities that have independent living in my area and reading their websites and trying to learn as much about them as possible before i send in my resume. i want to make sure i pick the right companies that are not all about the money and all about the clients. how was the interview process with the companies?

i have been debating getting my STNA/CNA. there are so many jobs in my area for non medical home health aides that do not require certification. so anyone who is a HHA right now with no certification i have a few questions.... does the company you work for have their own training and then you can continue to do online training through them? what is your typical day like? do you enjoy it? do you do private homes or go to assisted living facilities and spend time with a client? pro's and con's? thanks for the help, i appreciate it!

thanks for your input, the politic's are what get me, i don't like drama. thanks again for your input...

i'm new to this message board so a little about myself. i have been a nanny in private homes for 23 years. i have 6 pet therapy dogs and volunteer with a hospice group and visit patients in skilled nursing facilities. i'm turning 40 in november and i'm ready for a change in life. i love volunteering and love my hospice patients. i decided i wanted to go from babies to working with the elderly. these are my options, i can go to school and get my STNA and work in all kinds of settings or not go to school and do private home care such as comfort keepers. i'm very tender hearted and give 110% to my job and not sure if i would like a facility setting. i only want to work PT so i can still volunteer and i don't want to work weekends as that is the only time i see my husband. i would love input from anyone who has worked in private homes, assisted living homes/facilities, and skilled nursing facilities. what are the pro's and con's of each. i don't know if i should go to school and get the certification or get a job that does not require it and see how i like it before i drop $700. i know i love volunteering for hospice but that is different then actually working with the patient. i'm so torn with what to do. thank you for the advise and input, i appreciate it.....