I'm studying my bachelor of nursing and working with an agency as a PCA while I'm still at uni. Today I did my first shift and I found it extremely challenging, as these residents had Huntington's disease so had high care needs but also were physically hard to manage due to their movements and behaviours. I found it so difficult that I don't think I could handle it if every shift was so challenging and made me feel so out of my depth.
So my question is this; is aged care the same or less challenging than caring for people with neurological disorders/disabilities such as these residents? If aged care tends to be more straight forward I'd be willing to work agency shifts in aged care nursing homes, but if it's just as challenging/difficult/exhausting as it is working with residents such as today's then I think I would have to reconsider and find another part time job, as I can't afford to be burnt out when I need to study for my course also.
Has anyone had experience in both areas - aged care and disability/neurological care?
