Speedy Personal Support Worker Program Includes Real World Experience

  • Added:
    Apr 07, 2014
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Speedy Personal Support Worker Program Includes Real World Experience Photo by Pamela Wendell

When choosing a Personal Support Worker program, it is essential to note the amount of practical application you will enjoy during the course of the undertaking. That's because in a field as hands-on as this one, being fully comfortable is of the utmost importance. At Centennial College's two-semester offering, the emphasis is on teaching students the full range of home and health related services required by the elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses through practical learning.

To apply for this program, students are required to have already completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19 years or older) as well as English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission.

Because the offering is only two semesters in length, students experience a concentrated delivery format that focuses largely on courses that relate directly to the field. Among these courses are: Personal Support Communication, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care, PSW Skills Laboratory and more. Within these courses, students have the opportunity to practice the skills they learn through case studies, group work, presentations and more. Training reflects the latest practices and policies in the field. Further enhancing learning is the campus where the offering is housed. Morningside is recognized as Centennial College's most technologically advanced campus and includes healthcare labs that mock real world environments.

To take the benefits students receive from attending this offering a step further is 15 weeks of extensive practical experience during which students work with teams in hospitals long-term care institutions and in the community. It is worth noting that to partake in this learning opportunity, students must obtain an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening; complete immunization requirements (immunization review form); successfully complete and annually renew a recognized course in CPR (HCP-Healthcare Provider level); successfully complete a recognized course in standard first aid; and attend mask fit testing provided by Centennial College.

After successfully completing every Personal Support Worker course, students are prepared to support a range of clients in their homes, hospitals, residential facilities or long-term care institutions and community support agencies. Among the specific duties of Personal Support Workers are: following a care plan while reporting any substantial changes in the client’s behavior to the appropriate registered member of the healthcare team; assisting with ambulation, positioning and transferring using mechanical lifts; assisting or providing total personal care such as toileting, bathing and perineal care; assisting with eating, dressing and grooming; and performing sitter duty or patient watch for confused patients in clinical care settings.

Author's Profile

Klaudia writes about the Personal Support Worker program at Centennial College. She offers insight into the type of training students receive both on and off campus, including a 15-week field placement.


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