Instant Holiday Spirit? Just Add Music

In a managed care setting, you have people with various levels of cognitive and physical ability. Because of this, planning holiday activities can be a challenge. Fortunately, there is one thing you can do that has universal appeal: Bring music into your facility. Music can be relaxing, inspirational, and comforting, all at the same time. From sacred music and traditional carols like "Silent Night" and Handel's Messiah, to more modern, secular songs like "Jingle Bells", nothing will get people in the holiday spirit faster than their favorite songs.


Recorded music
The easiest option is to pick up a couple CDs of holiday tunes at your local music store. Most have a variety of classic and modern songs and can appeal to a wide range of people. You can set up a CD player in a common area like an activity room or dining hall. Get your residents talking about their favorite holiday memories and songs, and see if you can find those songs for them. Encourage singing!

Other cultures and traditions
Do you have residents with non-American ethnic backgrounds? Ask their family members to share holiday music in their native language, or use the internet to learn about songs and traditions from other cultures. Also, sharing non-Christian traditions (like the celebration of Hanukkah) makes all residents feel included, and brings something new and fun to your facility's celebrations.

Live music
Look for local music groups that might be willing to perform in your facility. Most communities have choral groups either through a school, community college, or your local churches. Maybe you have a barbershop quartet or an instrumental ensemble available? Use the internet or a phone book to look for musicians in your area. Many will be listed alongside wedding and event planners, but would appreciate the chance to share their music with your residents.

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Holiday Hazard: Choking Risk Among the Elderly

In this season of cookies and family meals, an often overlooked problem can rear its ugly head: choking hazards. Choking is an all too common problem among the elderly, and with so much emphasis on eating at this time of year, it's a good time to remind yourself to be vigilant.

Many elderly residents have difficulty swallowing (also known as dysphagia). As this article notes, "The act of swallowing requires the coordination of about 50 pairs of muscles and nerves." With that much going on, it's easy to see why things can quickly get out of control. In many facilities, mealtimes are very busy. You might be asked to care for ten or more residents, and it can be a real challenge to give everyone the attention they need. Also, with the holidays, you have a lot more visitors and that means more snacks and treats coming into resident's rooms. Hard candies and crumbly, bready cookies can be a real choking hazard.

What can you do? Aside from being as alert as possible to signs of choking, the best thing you can do is to make sure you're current with your CPR training. Whether your facility or job description requires it or not, it's always a good idea to know the latest information regarding CPR. If you need to brush up, check with your local chapter of the American Red Cross. You can find training in your area by clicking here. For more on avoiding choking hazards, visit www.parentgiving.com.

Attention Kansas Medication Aides

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to keep your certification current? Have you lapsed and need to get re-certified? We Care Online can help! Our Medication Aide Update class requires only 10 hours of online learning and can be completed in the comfort of your own home. No need to spend all day at the community college, or find a babysitter, or take time off work. Take the class on YOUR schedule--you have a full week to complete the course, and all fees and materials are included.

Medication Aides are Certified Nursing Assistants with additional training that allows them to handle and distribute medications in nursing and long term care settings. By law, Aides must re-certify every two years. Medication Aides must be familiar with the major classes of medications, and know the potential side effects and signs of adverse reactions. It's a skill set above and beyond that of a Nurse Aide.

The course takes no more than a week to complete, and can be done on your schedule. What are you waiting for? Medication Aide Update classes run monthly. (Please allow two weeks for KDHE to process your paperwork after completing the class). If you're not currently a Medication Aide, but would like to become one, we have a class for that, too. Take your career to the next level with advanced training from We Care Online!

Restorative Aide - A New Career Path for CNAs

Recently, we've focused a lot on boosting your career options by improving or increasing your skills. Today I'm going to focus on a more specialized field that's in hot demand.

Many people come to We Care Online to start a career in a nursing home or long term care setting. One of the most common starting points is to train as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). While that's a great way to begin a career, there is a lot more you can do once you have your certification. A popular option right now is Restorative Aide training. Restorative Aides (RA) are specialized workers that not only perform the duties of a CNA, but also assist patients with physical therapy and restorative care. RAs are particularly helpful in home care settings, or with individuals who need short term theraputic assistance after an injury or surgery. RA is a very flexible job description and covers everything from in-home care to facility-based therapies.


We Care Online's Restorative Aide training is available in all states and courses start monthly.  It's a very affordable way to pick up a whole new skillset and make yourself an even more valuable employee. If you're already a CNA and want to take the next step in your career, this is a fantastic place to start. If you're not a CNA, we can help with that, too. Check our website to find CNA training in your area!

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Managing Holiday Stress

Halloween has come and gone and that means the fall holiday season is in full swing. For most people, the time from Thanksgiving through the new year is a blur. You're planning meals, shopping for gifts, welcoming relatives from out of town, or traveling to visit family. There are meals to coordinate, events to plan, and a house to keep tidy. All this while balancing your job and quality time with your family. It's enough to drive even the most organized person crazy!

There's a wealth of information on the internet for how to manage your stress, but who has time to sort through all the information? To save you some effort (and your sanity), I've linked to some of the best articles out there. Read on for some quick and practical tips on beating the annual holiday crush.

• 10 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress
• Beating Holiday Stress
• Stress-Proof your Holiday

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A Closer Look at CNA and HHA Workers

Work in the healthcare field can be stressful and involve long hours or challenging working conditions, but it is also one of the most personally rewarding jobs. I hear this again and again from Certified Nursing Assistants, Home Health Aides, and others who work directly with the elderly or those needing special assistance. A common sentiment is "I didn't chose this work, it chose me." Healthcare workers have that unique blend of compassion and a strong work ethic that means that they give their very best effort to those in their care.

As part of the recent Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, a study was conducted to get a better idea of the working conditions and employment trends among CNAs and HHAs. The report, Understanding Direct Care Workers: A Snapshot of Two of America’s Most Important Jobs: Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides, presents an interesting look at the CNA and HHA fields "by the numbers". A couple of things jumped out at me while reading this report. First was that companies are still struggling to find enough employees in these fields, and that turnover is very high. If you have a passion for working with people, healthcare is an excellent field to work in, and there is a lot of room for growth. The other thing I noticed was this: "The great majority of CNAs and HHAs become direct care workers because they want to help others, suggesting that these workers are not interchangeable with other low-wage workers." Choosing to work in healthcare is a significant decision, and not just anyone can do it. We Care Online provides training and continuing education to hundreds of healthcare workers a year, and we're proud to be able to assist such a diverse, motivated group of people.

It's Not Always About The Money

In my last post, I offered some tips on asking for a raise, but what if that's not your goal? Sure, we can all use a little extra money, but sometimes there are other, more important issues. Negotiating a change in your work schedule, work group, or even your benefits can often be as good as getting a raise. Say you're a mother who wants to be home with the kids after school but you've been assigned a late afternoon work shift. Or you'd like to switch to a 4/40 work week (4 days of 10-hour shifts vs. the standard 5-day work week). Whatever your request, if it will improve your work life, it could be worth discussing with your supervisor.

Talking with a boss or supervisor can be intimidating. Many of us have come to work sick, or missed out on an important commitment because it was easier to say "no" than to ask for time off work. Asking for bigger changes--like a new schedule--can be even harder. Here's how to face the situation without losing your cool.

State your case with logic.

Maybe you need to take a personal day. Maybe you want to work a different shift. Maybe you want to work with a different team, or in a different division? Whatever your request, make sure you have sensible reasons for asking. If you're a morning person, but are working a late shift, you might not be at your peak while on the clock. Take a look at which people are working which shifts. Is there someone in your position that you could switch shifts with? If you can go to your boss and show him or her a simple way to accommodate your request, you'll have a much better chance of success. Make it easy for them. It'll show that you've done your homework and are looking out for the company and your residents' best interests as well as your job satisfaction.

Remember: Your boss is human, too.

Don't be intimidated. Yes, your boss or HR representative is the person responsible for signing your checks, but they're also a person, too. While you want to keep your interaction professional, it's ok to imagine that you're talking with a friend rather than a corporate stranger. As long as you have a reasonable request and can back it up with facts or logic, you'll be fine.

How to Ask for a Raise

Unless you work in a government office with a fixed pay structure, chances are that you have room to negotiate with your salary. Many people complain about being overworked and underpaid, but how many of us take the time to do something about that? If you're feeling stuck in a salary rut, here are some tips to help you.

First off, know when the time is right. You've heard the phrase "strike while the iron's hot"? It applies very well to your career. If you've just wrapped up a big project, or pulled off a major accomplishment, that's the perfect time to state your case. This article from US News tells you the best time to ask (and when not to ask!) for a raise.

If the timing's right, take the next step.

1. Have courage
It's a well-known fact that most women earn less than men in the workplace, but what many people don't mention is that women are generally less likely to be assertive and ask for a raise. In other words, you have the power to bridge that salary gap! Focus on the value you bring to the position or your company, and be sure to present that information to your supervisor.

Several studies have shown that women hesitate to ask for raises, but if you want to get ahead in your career, you need to take charge.

2. Know what you're worth
Do some research. Are you really as underpaid as you think? Take a few minutes to look at what other people in your field are earning so that you can have numbers to back up your salary request. Sites like salary.com and payscale.com are a good starting point.

3. State your case
Do a little brainstorming. Make a list of all your accomplishments over the last week, month, or year. Focus on specific things that would matter to your boss or to the company. What sets you apart from everyone else in your division? You might always be on-time and never miss a day of work, but if you're making a case for a raise, you'll need to aim higher. What do you do that makes you unique and valuable? Can you name a specific time you went above and beyond your job description to help someone else? Have you taken any classes, or received training to help you be a better employee? What are you doing to demonstrate to your employer that you're worth the extra investment?

Even if you're not quite ready (or qualified) to ask for a raise, remember that you have the ability to get ready! Take the initiative and think of things you can do to stand out at work. Take a class or get some extra training (We Care Online can help!). A quick and inexpensive class like Spanish for Healthcare Providers is a perfect example of something you can do to boost your skills. It shows you're willing to work hard to improve yourself and be more valuable to your employer. Plus it gives you new skills that you can carry to any job in the future.

Ready to get started? Check out this step-by-step guide about "How to ask for a raise"...and good luck! 

Broadening Your Job Search Horizons

As many people struggle with unemployment or underemployment, I wanted to focus on a trend I've noticed among job seekers. It seems that people looking for work - especially those with specialized medical training or certifications - tend to get hung up on a job title and miss other employment options. A Certified Nurse Assistant might only focus on CNA jobs and not even notice job openings for related positions. The thing to remember is that skills are transferable! Your knowledge and training can apply to many more fields than you think.

In my hometown (Arizona), call centers are big business. They are one of the major employers in the region and offer some of the highest paying jobs plus benefits. A couple of weeks ago, a call center hosted a job fair to fill 100 positions. That's a fairly common occurrence around here, but what was unique about this job fair was that the call center was looking for trained Pharmacy Technicians to join their staff. This is becoming more and more common. People want 24/7 access to medical professionals and call centers fill that need. So while your local assisted living facility or pharmacy might not be hiring, your call center might. If you have knowledge as a Pharmacy Assistant, the job possibilities open up. Similarly, if you've trained as a Health Unit Coordinator, you're qualified to work in many office settings - not just a hospital or elder care facility. Have you considered a doctor's private practice or a chiropractor's office? Focus on your skills and not the job title and the possibilities open up!

Make a list of the skills you have, not just the job titles you've held, and compare that against the local help wanted ads. Look for key words in the job postings that relate to your skills rather than just browsing by job title. Need to brush up or boost your skills? Spanish for Healthcare Providers and Medical Terminology are both fast and affordable, and since they're open enrollment, you can start immediately. The jobs are out there - put your best foot forward, emphasize your skills, and you'll be all set.


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