If you want to gain healthcare experience, an assisted living or memory care community may be a great place to start.
When you begin your career at a senior living community, you can make a difference in the lives of older adults and develop compassion, empathy, and other essential skills.
The demand for healthcare workers is expected to grow, especially in the senior living industry, as the population ages.
Gaining experience in this field can make you a valuable asset to future employers and help you with career advancement.
Learn why a senior living community is a great place to gain experience and find a fulfilling career and why becoming a lifelong learner is essential for healthcare professionals.
Gaining experience at a senior living community
Gaining experience at The Kensington Reston can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience that will open up opportunities for your future career.
Our Direct Care Training provides a 5 day workshop immersion with our Director of Nursing Services and current team members. This allows people to gain work experience while they are earning their degree, and jump start their career with real growth opportunities.
Senior living communities, such as ours, often have a variety of job roles, from entry-level positions like certified nursing assistants to management positions.
If you’re interested in gaining experience in healthcare at a senior living community, here are some steps you can take:
Research senior living communities
Look for senior living communities in your area and research their job openings.
Check for entry-level positions, such as caregiver or certified nursing assistant (CNA), which require little or no experience.
Apply for positions
Apply for positions that match your skills and interests.
Highlight any relevant experience you have, such as volunteer work or coursework in healthcare.
Get certified
Consider getting certified as a nursing assistant, home health aide, activities assistant, or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).
These certificates can help you stand out to potential employers and provide you with additional skills and knowledge.
Shadow healthcare professionals
Once you get a job at a senior living community, ask to shadow healthcare professionals such as nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and music therapists.
This will help you better understand their roles and learn from their expertise.
Take advantage of training opportunities
Senior living communities often provide training and continuing education opportunities for their employers.
Take advantage of these opportunities to learn new skills and advance your career.
Show initiative
Show initiative by volunteering for additional tasks and asking for feedback.
This will demonstrate your willingness to learn and grow in your role.
Remember, gaining experience in healthcare at a senior living community takes time and effort. Be patient, work hard, and always seek opportunities to learn and grow.
Become a lifelong learner to advance your career
In the healthcare field, it is essential for healthcare professionals to keep up with the latest research and medical advancements, best practices, and technologies.
To become a lifelong learner, you must attend healthcare conferences, workshops, and seminars to learn about emerging technologies and best practices in the field.
Events like these provide opportunities to network with other professionals and learn from experts in the healthcare field.
You can also stay up-to-date with the latest advancements by reading healthcare publications such as medical journals, magazines, books, and online blogs.
Taking responsibility for your own learning by seeking out information on areas of interest or new developments in healthcare is beneficial.
With online courses gaining popularity, many healthcare organizations offer online classes and webinars.
You may also consider joining professional organizations related to your area of interest in healthcare.
These organizations can provide you with opportunities to network, attend conferences and workshops, and access professional development resources.
By becoming a lifelong learner will be able to provide better care for your patients and their families.
Apply at The Kensington Reston
The Kensington Reston is an assisted living and memory care community located in Reston, Virginia.
It is a community that has been built on trust, empathy, compassion, respect, and friendship.
Our Promise is to love and care for our residents and our team members as if they are our own family.
We offer our residents around-the-clock, high-acuity care, exquisite dining services, rehabilitation services, and opportunities to engage in life enrichment activities.
Our team members strive to ensure our resident’s safety, independence, and quality of life.
Because our team members are so valuable, we do everything we can to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.
If you are passionate about caring for older adults, building strong and valuable relationships with others, and gaining experience in the healthcare field, our community may be the perfect fit for you.
Some of the benefits we offer our employers include:
- Competitive Salaries
- Health, Life, 401K, and Other Benefits starting at 32 hrs/wk
- Part-time and full-time positions
- Flexible scheduling
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Employee Assistance Program
- Complimentary Lunches and Dinners
Contact us or check out our blog to learn more about our communities, services, and upcoming events.
If you are interested in a part-time or full-time position, check out our available job openings. We can’t wait to meet you!