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In 2011, the "baby boom" generation will begin to turn 65, and by 2030, it is projected that one in five people will be age 65 or older.
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Have you ever had a cold, broken a bone or given blood? During your lifetime, it is likely that you will require the services of someone who has devoted their career to caring for others. Though nursing is one of the most prolific caregiving professions with more than 2.3 million employed in the United States, there are millions of others who work as healthcare aides, physiotherapists and homecare workers, to name just a few.
Though we have always required their services, the need for employees in this field continues to grow steadily. At the turn of the century, the average life expectancy was 47; today it is 75. This means that more preventative care is being provided, keeping people healthier over longer periods of time. As the population increases, more and more individuals are requiring services, both to maintain their health and to battle illness and disease.
Moreover, because of advances in medicine and technology, people are able to live longer with chronic illness. Currently, only 20% of the chronically ill receive treatment while living in healthcare facilities, therefore the demand for homecare is at an all-time high. There is also an increase in the number of children born with physical defects who survive because of technological advances. Providing care for these people throughout their lives requires the support of many people in the healthcare field.
A career as a caregiver is not for everyone. It requires excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a stressful and physically demanding environment. Although working as a caregiver is very rewarding, it can also be very challenging. This test will determine whether a person has the necessary skills and personality traits to succeed as a caregiver.
The following is a brief overview of the different scales covered in this test, and the impact they have on the caregiving field.
Interpersonal Skills: It is essential for caregivers to have excellent interpersonal skills since they work in such close contact with others, and have a great deal of influence over the patients in their care.
• Helpfulness - To be helpful requires you to be available to others. This means giving support and encouragement when someone needs you, and being patient and your cooperative when necessary.
• Empathy - Empathy is defined as the ability to identify with and understand the feelings, circumstances, and motives of others. This enables caregivers to be sensitive to the feelings of their patients, who are facing physical and emotional hardships.
• Emotional Strength - Emotional strength refers to overall calmness and emotional security. Caregivers are often faced with difficult situations and people that they must deal with in a calm manner.
• Reaction to Stress - Since stress can't be eliminated entirely, it is crucial to learn how to deal with it. Being able to cope with stress appropriately will make caregivers more productive.
• Discretion - Healthcare professionals are privy to very personal information, like patients' medical histories. Candidates must show good judgment and be able to keep confidential information private.
•Social Insight - Social Insight refers to being able to sense how others are feeling without having them outright tell you. This is an especially important skill for caregivers because their patients may not be able to verbally express their discomfort.
• Communication Skills - Communication is not as simple as choosing the right words; many factors come into play, and we often find ourselves able to communicate smoothly in one situation while we bumble our way through another.
• Assertive Communication - Caregivers must be able to be assertive when communicating with co-workers, patients and the families of patients.
Work Abilities: This section assesses skills in the workplace, including the ability to complete tasks in a productive, thorough and efficient manner. These are essential skills for caregivers, as the life of their patient depends on their abilities.
• Diligence - Diligent people work steadily and industriously. Caregivers are expected to be very hardworking individuals for the sake of their patients.
•Organization - Effective organization has to do with how you manage your materials and time, and divvy up your energy. Caregivers must be able to use these skills, so that their patients receive their medication on time and in the right doses.
• Dependability - Caregivers must be highly dependable since their patients and other members of the healthcare team will rely on them a great deal.
• Attention to Detail - Meticulousness refers to one's attention to detail. It is important to point out that even the smallest of details can be very significant, especially when caring for another individual.
• Efficiency - Efficiency is the ability to use the time and skill available in an appropriate and practical manner by prioritizing tasks and developing templates, shortcuts, or standard procedures in order to complete work in a time effective manner.
• Self-discipline - Self-discipline refers to the training and control of oneself and one's conduct.
• Comfort with decision-making - Decisions in healthcare can be very serious; sometimes they are a matter of life and death. Caregivers need to be able to make important decisions without hesitation. Often this involves relying on a gut instinct or taking a chance when the information provided in a situation is incomplete.
• Patience - Patience is defined as calmness, self-control, and willingness or ability to tolerate delay. Impatience impairs your ability to perform well, which is detrimental to the patients in your charge.
• Fortitude - People have a natural instinct to react in a negative manner to illness and injury; it's a matter of self-preservation. However, caregivers must be able to get past these impulses to fulfill their job duties.
Work Attitudes: An employee's attitude in the workplace will affect how they will fit in with the existing team and how they will handle new situations as they arise.
• Attitude Towards Dishonesty - How a candidate feels about dishonest behaviors in others can be an indicator of their own behaviors. It is likely that caregivers will have access to sensitive information as well as to medication and expensive equipment.
• Attitude Towards Safety - A safe attitude in the workplace is necessary for ensuring that safety procedures are followed. These precautions are essential in a healthcare environment where infectious diseases and chemical risks are very prevalent.
• Attitude Towards Teamwork - As organizations have redesigned jobs around teams, the ability to be a good team player has become increasingly important. To be able to provide quality service to a patient, all members on a healthcare team need to be willing and able to work with others.
• Optimism - A positive attitude affects not just one person, but also the lives of those around that person. Having an optimistic and upbeat attitude will allow caregivers to provide high quality service to their patients. Also, optimistic people are likely to be happier with their jobs in general.
• Social Values at Work - People who score high on this scale really enjoy human contact in the workplace. Above all, they are motivated to help people. These individuals are well-suited to jobs where they feel they are providing an essential service to others.
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