How to Start a Home Health Aide Training School

Schools for Home Health Aides provide learning foundations for client-based assistance for good quality of life. As paraprofessionals, home health aides provide assistance with daily living activities in an environment where clients feel most safe. The aide's duty is to follow the client's Individual Service Plan (ISP) as directed by a Registered Nurse, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Furthermore, schools must follow scope-of-service training outlined by the 42 CFR 484.36 of the Electronic Code of Federal Regulation guidelines. Aides and Certified Nursing Assistants are considered the same or highly similar classifications.

Instructions

• 1

  Follow local government procedures to establish your school as a legal entity as governed by your local Secretary of State office or business solicitation office. Obtain from these offices any required license that is needed to conduct your school. Some states do not require a license. Create a curriculum for your students by first finding a reputable book and workbook that covers all home health aide procedures as required under federally regulated guidelines.

• 2

  Locate a reputable book by searching trusted databases that offer nursing books and supplies. Allow your Registered Nurse to prepare the lessons using the questions and practice lessons outlined within the book and workbook. Prepare lessons from the book that cover communication skills, including documentation, observation skills and client-status reporting.

• 3

  Allow your Registered Nurse to prepare lessons from the book that discusses how to read and record respiration, body temperature and pulse. Prepare lessons that cover procedures for infection control, body-function elements and changes that must be reported to supervisors and emergency personnel. Cover subjects such as cleaning the environment, how to tell the difference between emergency and non-emergency situations and the physical and emotional needs of the population of elderly and disabled clients.

• 4

  Address issues such as respect, including the respect of client privacy and property. Cover hygiene procedures including the various types of bathing, toileting, oral care and skin-hair-nail care. Prepare for classroom discussions about safe-transfer techniques, range of motion techniques and positioning procedures.

• 5

  Prepare lessons that cover the various nutritional requirements of clients and proper medication assistance. Prepare tests that cover all federally required aspects of training to prepare students to pass a Certified Nursing Assistance (CNA) competency tests. Include the cost of local CNA testing fees within your training school fees.

• 6

  Create an established schedule that covers all required training until completion. Outline the schedule to include an initial 16 hours of classroom training prior to allowing students to start any supervised practical training (hands-on training), as this is required by the federal government. Provide a minimum of 75 hours of classroom training that covers your curriculum.

• 7

  Divide the 75 hours of training to include a minimum of 16 hours that are dedicated to supervised-practical training by a Registered Nurse only. Purchase training materials to allow students to practice their aide skills, including gloves, modern thermometers, manikins, and blood pressure monitor tools. Advertise you training school in local newspapers and/or electronic databases, and include your school name, skills taught, fees, and contact information within the ad copy.