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Personal care worker skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Megan Harvey Ph.D.,

Penny Ridenour

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical personal care worker skills. We ranked the top skills for personal care workers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 23.9% of personal care worker resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a personal care worker needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 personal care worker skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how personal care workers use patients:

Administered medications and ensured patients were given appropriate health and nutrition support.
Helped assist patients with self-administration of medications, and documented reports.

2. Home Health

Here's how personal care workers use home health:

Provided home health personal and supportive cares primarily for individuals with Cerebral Palsy
Home health care, assisted consumers with personal care and housekeeping to help them maintain independent living.

3. Good Communication

Here's how personal care workers use good communication:

Maintain good communication with entire support team.

4. In-Home Care

Here's how personal care workers use in-home care:

Provide in-home care for physically disabled client including: hygiene maintenance such as bathing, skin care, and oral care.
Work as an in-home care provider and respite care provider for a 22 year old female with cerebral palsy.

5. Companionship

Companionship refers to the condition of creating time for somebody or having a person with whom to socialize.

Here's how personal care workers use companionship:

Provided personal cares, companionship and community integration to individuals who have developmental disabilities
Provided companionship and variety of home assistance tasks unique to individual client

6. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how personal care workers use patient care:

Provided high-quality patient care and safety.
Coordinate health care activities, medical charting, provide direct patient care, work with families to ensure quality care for clients

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7. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how personal care workers use cpr:

Completed all classes and certified in CPR in 2006.
Completed CPR and First-Aid training.

8. Care Plan

Here's how personal care workers use care plan:

Recognized and assessed various problems and assisted in determining appropriate care plans.
Complete daily care plan which includes assisting with hygiene, breakfast, house keeping, doctor's appointments, and exercise.

9. ADL

ADL is a clinical shorthand for "activities of daily living." It includes tasks such as feeding, dressing, bathing, and caring for one's self and personal hygiene.

Here's how personal care workers use adl:

Assist developmentally delayed and behaviorally demanding individuals with ADL's.
Traveled to different client homes to assist with ADL's i.e., laundry, bathing, grooming, cleaning, etc.

10. Medication Reminders

A medication reminder can refer to any device that is used to remind patients or caregivers to take medications. Pill reminders can come as simple devices with a pre-installed adjustable timer that uses an alarm to remind about medication. They can be made from sophisticated technology that can senses if the lid has been opened with sound and light alarms that may help the hearing-impaired users too.

Here's how personal care workers use medication reminders:

Filled medications as directed by client/doctor and provided client with medication reminders.
Administer medication, also give medication reminders.

11. Meal Planning

Here's how personal care workers use meal planning:

Assist in nutritional needs by providing meal planning, meal preparation, grocery shopping, dishes, and kitchen clean-up.
Performed light and heavy housekeeping, cooking, meal planning and home maintenance as needed.

12. Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is the terminology used to describe the state and measurement of cleanliness and health in one's mouth and, sometimes, the surrounding areas. The most basic way of ensuring and improving a good oral hygiene is the regular brushing of one's teeth, but trips to the dentist and other healthcare professionals are a common need, even if it is just for check-ups.

Here's how personal care workers use oral hygiene:

Performed activities of daily living including bathing, dressing, toileting, oral hygiene, overnight turning schedule, and transportation.
Assist with bathing, oral hygiene, shaving, and dressing resulting in a safer environment and more hygienic patient.

13. Meal Prep

Meal prepping refers to the practice of preparing healthy meals long before the timing of its consumption. This practice is widely popular among working individuals who have very little free time on their hands. Prepping for future meals has some great health benefits apart from saving one's time as it enforces the idea of healthy eating and discourages the temptation of fast foods and takeouts.

Here's how personal care workers use meal prep:

Assist developmentally disabled individuals with toileting, bathing, meal preparation and medication distribution.
Provided meal preparation and light housekeeping.

14. Walkers

Here's how personal care workers use walkers:

Assisted clients with walking, including the use of walkers and wheelchairs, when applicable.
Transfer and ambulation with use of canes, walkers, and wheelchairs Medication administration Assist with bathing, dressing, and grooming

15. Bed Linens

Bed linen is a material consisting of bed sheets/duvet, pillowcases, etc. laid to cover the mattress and also has a decorative effect in the room so that the sleeper is comfortable, hygiene, warm, and protected.

Here's how personal care workers use bed linens:

Cared for patient by changing bed linens, washing laundry, or assisting with their personal care.
Performed housekeeping duties by washing dishes, laundry, changing bed linens, and general cleaning.

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What skills help Personal Care Workers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on personal care worker resumes?

Megan Harvey Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Health Science, Springfield College

Students who plan to go into the health care field need to have both determination and thick skin and the ability to be empathic and understand their patients. We've seen the way health care professionals are being treated change, even just in the past 5 years. It can be a hard balance to walk for health care professionals, to be both firm about evidence-based practice and empathetic and kind to their patients, but it's really the only way to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. I imagine that showing that you have worked in challenging health care situations is one way to show that you're developing this skill on your resume.

What personal care worker skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Penny Ridenour

Dean of School of Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City

To differentiate yourself from the other new professionals entering healthcare after graduation, pay attention to the soft skills employers are looking for. Listening, empathy, and communication skills polish professional persona. Also, developing skills in resiliency will equip new professionals for a growing career in healthcare.

Do you want to know more?

List of personal care worker skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a personal care worker resume and required skills for a personal care worker to have include:

Patients
Home Health
Good Communication
In-Home Care
Companionship
Patient Care
CPR
Care Plan
ADL
Medication Reminders
Meal Planning
Oral Hygiene
Meal Prep
Walkers
Bed Linens
Medication Administration
Urinals

PCW
Vital Signs
Quality Care
Household Chores
Medical Appointments
RUN Errands
Home Management
Blood Pressure
Emotional Support
Skin Care
Communication Assistance
Hoyer
Gait Belts
Catheter
Food Preparation
Nutritious Meals
Hair Care

Nail Care
Motor Vehicle
Clients Homes
Household Tasks
Medication Management
Developmental Disabilities
Physical Therapy
Doctor Appointments
Oral Care
Alzheimer
Physical Disabilities
Medical Care
Senior Care
Body Movements
Healthy Environment

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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