One nursing alternative that many people find extremely gratifying as a career is working as a home health aide. These professionals do many of the same types of work as regular nurses–and even doctors–but in people’s homes. Primarily their clients are the elderly and those with long-term disabilities and / or illnesses. Home health aides are employed by either a health care agency or a hospital.

A home health aide provides many different services for clients. For instance, they might give baths or massages and change the client’s bandages if needed. They might help clients do exercises, get dressed, and get out of and into bed. Health aides also make sure their clients take medicine when they’re supposed to (although they can’t prescribe drugs).

In fact, it’s not uncommon for a health aide to assist with household chores. They might, for instance, change the client’s bed linens as well as light cleaning and laundry. Sometimes they also take the patients for rides or walks. They could read to them or perhaps just keep the client company.

Actually, even though there is some cross-over between a nurse’s work and a health aide, it’s actually easier to become a health aide. In fact, there is no degree at all required to be a home health aide (legally, not even a high school diploma is required, although it’s almost impossible to get a job without one). Part-time or even volunteer work at a hospital is good training that could help you get in the field, as are special training courses for home health aides. These courses are usually less than a month long, and they are offered by hospitals, volunteer agencies and adult education schools.

A home health aide usually works a 40 hour week. A typical breakdown of hours would have hr spending four hours in the morning at one home and four hours in the afternoon at another.

To get a job in this field, you should apply to local hospitals or health care agencies. Also keep an eye on newspaper classified ads and Internet job sites. State employment agencies also sometimes list jobs available as home health aides.

You can expect to start off making an average of $9 or $10 as a home health aide. Usually you’ll be paid on a per-visit basis.