Para-Professional Positions

Home Health Aide (HHA)

A Home Health Aide (HHA) performs activities of daily living services for clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or cognitive impairments as necessary to maintain the personal comfort of the client. HHAs also monitor or report changes in health status. They may perform some duties delegated by a nurse after receiving appropriate training and successfully returning demonstration. 

A home health aide is someone who has completed 75 hours of certified nursing assistant (CNA) and/or home health aide (HHA) training at a community college along with 16 hours of clinical experience.  A HHA may administer medications under the supervision of an RN after completing additional medication administration training (TMA).

General Application instructions for Unlicensed Personnel (HHA, PCA, & HMK)

Home health aides, personal care assistants, and homemakers work under the supervision of a licensed staff such as a nurse or a therapist.  Prospective applicants prepare for employment by completing nine training modules and passing the Minnesota Department of Human Services skills test and obtaining a Certificate of Training for Personal Care Assistant at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. 

How to Apply:

• Contact the office for pre-application details
• Bring two forms of ID (preferably driver’s license and social security card) on your first visit to the office
• PCAs or HMKs bring a copy of your PCA Certificate of Training
• HHAs bring a copy of CNA and/or HHA training certificate

Personal Care Assistant (PCA)

A personal care assistant (PCA) provides assistive services that include activities of daily living (ADLs), some health-related cares, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) according to the care plan. ADLs consist of bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, mobility, positioning, and transferring.  A PCA may also perform some duties delegated by a nurse after receiving appropriate training and returning demonstration.

Home Maker (HMK)

A homemaker (HMK) may provide services within three categories of homemaking services, depending on the services a client is authorized to receive.  They include: 1) cleaning services,  2) home management,  or  3) activities of daily living.  In addition, a HMK may monitor the person’s well-being while in the client’s home, including home safety, to respond to changes in client’s status.  A HMK may also perform some duties delegated by a nurse after receiving appropriate training and successfully returning demonstration.