Personal Care Aide

This course is an introduction to managing one’s personal finances. It seeks to cover general financial knowledge, related to proper budgeting, investing, borrowing and retirement planning. Upon course completion, students will:

• Identify myths about money.
• Learn to manage personal savings, credit and debt.
• Create a budget.
• Assess their personal financial situation and make adjustments in line with their goals.
• Understand the importance of financial planning.
• Learn the difference between TFSA and RRSP and the benefits of each.

Students will learn the basic but necessary Hands-Only CPR skills.

• Checking the surrounding and the persons and look for and look for signs of rhythmic, normal breathing.
• When to call 911 for assistance or seek help from a by-stander.
• When to start compressions and what to do in a case when the person is unresponsive.
• Learn and demonstrate the proper techniques for performing hands-only CPR.
• Apply these skills in a clinical setting.

Skills for Learning: including information about attendance, adult learning principles, note-taking, active listening, memory, study skills, time management, goal setting, and examination writing.

Life Issues Skills: including budgeting, financial planning plus dress, grooming, managing shift work, weekend work and casual employment.

Skills for Success: self-awareness, self-esteem, stress management, defense mechanisms, values, work ethics, attitude and cultural differences.

Workplace Skills: understanding of the role of the Personal Care Aide and professional and compassionate caregiving.

Core content:

• Role and responsibilities of the Support Worker
• The Canadian Health Care System
• Workplace Settings
• Ethics
• Legislation-the Clients Rights & Your Rights
• Health wellness, Illness, and Disability
• Caring About Culture and Diversity
• Managing Stress
• Interpersonal Communication
• Working with Others: Team Work and Delegation
• Working with Clients and Their Families
• Apply the information learnt in the clinical setting

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Explain the process of communication.
• Define both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication.
• Describe different communication methods and the barriers to communication.
• Explain and demonstrate how to communicate with the angry person and how to effectively use assertive communication.
• Explain procedures and tasks to clients/residents.
• Utilize communication techniques in the workplace.
• Apply information leant in clinical setting.

Upon completion of this course student will be able to:

• Explain Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
• Explain the role of the caregiver in assisting families.
• Understand the principles and stages of growth and development including what is normal for each stage.
• Discuss the role of the caregiver when taking care of mothers & infants, the young, older adults and clients at the end of life.
• Apply knowledge learned to the clinical setting.

Core content:

• Review of Defense Mechanisms
• Growth and Development
• Caring for the Young
• Caring for the Older Adults
• Hearing & Vision Problems
• Caring for Mothers & Infants
• End of Life Care
• Apply information learnt in clinical setting

Upon completion of this course student will be able to:

• Describe the types and cycle of abuse.
• Describe spousal abuse, child abuse and abuse of older adults and explain your legal responsibilities when reporting abuse.
• Describe how clients and health care workers can be abused and explain what to do if you have an abusive client.
• Identify the safety measures to prevent poisoning, suffocation, burns, falls, and equipment accidents.
• Identify fire prevention measures and describe what to do in a fire.
• Explain how to safely assist a client with oxygen therapy.
• Apply the information learnt in clinical practice.

Core content:

• Safety
• Abuse, Bullying, and Harassment Awareness
• Oxygen Need

Upon completion of this course student will demonstrate:

• Explain why hand washing is important.
• Describe when to wash your hands.
• Summarize how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Explain the support worker’s role in home management.
• Describe how to clean bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and how to do laundry properly.
• Explain how to use cleaning supplies safely.
• Differentiate between assisting with medications and administering medications and identify guidelines to follow when assisting with medications.
• List the “rights” of assisting with medications.
• Explain how to measure height and weight.
• Taking a pulse, respirations, temperature and blood pressure.
• Apply the procedures in clinical practice.

Core content:

• Preventing Infection
• Home Management
• Assisting with Medications
• Measuring Height, Weight and Vital Signs

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Describe the structures and functions of each body system.
• Describe common diseases and conditions and the care required for each.
• Discuss how to promote client well-being.
• Discuss mental health disorders.
• Describe speech and language disorders and how they are treated.
• Apply use of effective communication techniques with those with language disorders.
• Describe developmental disabilities and how they affect care at varying ages.
• Describe various wounds including the care of wounds and meeting the need of clients with wounds.
• Explain the guidelines for the use of heat and cold applications and possible complications that may arise from their use.
• Demonstrate how to properly assist in the care of clients with altered respiratory status.
• Discuss the role of the PCA with the surgical patient.
• Apply learned content in a clinical setting.

Core content:

• Body Structure and Functions
• Common Diseases and Disorders
• Promoting Client Comfort, Pain Management and Sleep
• Mental Health Disorders
• Review Speech & Language Disorders
• Developmental Disorders and Disabilities
• Skin Care and Prevention of Wounds
• Heat and Cold Application
• Promoting Oxygenation
• Working in Acute Care

Upon completion of this course student will:

• Identify the structure and function of the digestive system.
• Describe the functions and food sources of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water.
• Explain the principles of the new Canada Food Guide (2019).
• Describe the changes during the life cycle pertaining to nutrition.
• Describe factors that affect eating and nutrition.
• Explain meal planning, preparation of food and food safety.
• Discuss special diets.
• Explain the purpose of fluid requirements and intake and output.
• Demonstrate how to use food labels.
• Apply learned concepts in a clinical setting.

Core content:

• Student Review of Digestive System
• Nutrition & Fluids
• Enteral Nutrition & Intravenous Therapy

To prepare students for employment searches, interviews, assemble employment tools and skills, appropriately follow-up with employment opportunities and be promoted accordingly.

• Participate in discussions dealing with the job search process.
• Create an effective and a professional resume and application letter that will allow you to obtain an interview.
• Apply proper formatting guidelines to the resume and the application letter.
• Learn and apply interviewing techniques.

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Define, build, pronounce and spell medical terms built from word parts related to body structure, oncology, and detonation of color, anatomic planes and abdominopelvic quadrants.
• Define, build, pronounce and spell medical terms built from word parts related to the integumentary, respiratory, urinary, reproductive, cardiovascular, lymphatic, digestive, musculoskeletal, nervous and endocrine systems as well as the eye and ear.
• Interpret the meaning of abbreviations related to the above body systems.
• Use medical language in the clinical setting including documentation.
• Apply the knowledge in a clinical setting.

Upon completion of this course the student will:

• Differentiate between disorientation, delirium and dementia
• Describe dementia and its signs and symptoms
• List different forms of and causes of dementia
• Describe the common stages of dementia
• Describe how to support a client with dementia
• List examples of challenging or responsive behaviors and possible causes
• Apply the principles learned to the care and support of clients with disorientation, delirium or dementia

Core content:

• Disorientation, Delirium and Dementia
• Speech and Language Disorders
• Gentle persuasive approaches

Food Safe Level 1 is a food-handling, sanitation and work safety that all PCA undertake. Students will understand the importance of food safety and worker safety information on foodborne illness, receiving and storing food, preparing food, serving food, cleaning and sanitizing. Students will be able to apply the skills/knowledge in a clinical setting. Successful students in this course will receive a Food Safe Level 1 certificate. This class is outsourced to a recognized and approved trainer in SK. This training is conducted by certified external trainers.

This training is conducted by the certified trainers from the Saskatchewan Health Authority &/or other certified trainers in the province. Student will be able to:

• Participate in activities to move and position clients/objects in health care settings using minimal physical effort.
• Correctly use mechanical aids and equipment.
• Demonstrate proper care and safety for the client/caregiver.
• Apply the skills in a clinical setting.

At the end of the training, successful students will receive a TLR certificate which is a mandatory requirement before going on long-term and home-care clinical.

Outcome of MAT:

• Understand the importance of mealtime for LTC Residents
• To improve the overall quality of the dining experience for residents in LTC Goal of MAT for Assistants
• To learn what you can do to help residents achieve safe, nourishing and pleasant dining

Core content:

• Factors affecting nutritional well-being
• Nutrition considerations in LTC
• Nutrient dense food
• Nutritional supplements
• Hydration & dehydration Swallowing in LTC
• When to use/refer to a dietician
• When to refer to a Speech Language Pathologist
• Strategies to increase the safety of swallowing
• Pristine oral care best-practice
• Meals special/mealtime experience

Upon the completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Describe the chain of infection.
• Distinguish between pathogens and non-pathogens and list ways which microbes are transmitted.
• Explain why handwashing is important, describe when to wash his/her hands and general guidelines for handwashing.
• Summarize when and demonstrate how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Demonstrate how to move, turn and position a client in bed as well as positioning a client in a chair using a transfer belt.
• Describe the complications of bedrest and how to prevent them.
• Demonstrate range-of-motion exercises.
• Explain the role of the rehabilitation team, including the client and family, in the rehabilitation process.
• Explain the role of the PCA in meal planning and preparation and assisting clients to eat.
• Describe comfort and safety measure for the client receiving enteral nutrition or intravenous therapy.
• Perform oral hygiene, bed bath, tub bath, shower, perineal care, back massage shampooing hair, shaving with manual and electric razor, dressing and undressing, application of anti-embolic stockings and menstrual care in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Describe when it is appropriate to do nail and foot care.
• List the observations to make about urine and the guidelines for maintaining normal urinary elimination.
• Describe urinary incontinence and the care required as well as the purpose of catheters and the guidelines for caring for clients with indwelling catheters.
• Describe normal stools, pattern and frequency of bowel movements and factors that affect bowel elimination and measures to promote safety and comfort during defecation.
• Explain why suppositories and enemas are given.
• List the types of bed linen used when making a client’s bed and how to handle linen according to standard practice. The student will demonstrate how to safely make a bed.
• Describe the major eye and ear disorders and explain how to care for clients with vision or hearing loss.
• Explain the PCA role in safely assisting a client with oxygen therapy.
• Explain the function of the care plan, why observation is an important part of the support worker’s role and the rules for recording in a client’s chart.
• Explain why confidentiality is important in all aspects of the client’s care.
• Apply learned concepts in a clinical setting.

This class is continuation of Personal Care (Theory) 1019. It is the lab component of personal care. Students will practice all the skills learnt in class 1019 that are relevant to the role of a Personal Care Aide/Continuing Care Aide in a lab-setting.

Students will be in a clinical setting.

Evaluation is below and is demonstrated in a clinical setting:

Students are required to meet the required clinical hours in addition to the consistent demonstration of clinical skills/ knowledge learnt throughout the entire PCA curriculum. Frequent assessment of clinical skills are done in the clinical setting and where there are safety or other issues (as per the PCA Manual and workplace requirements), students will be pulled from the clinical and the necessary re-training will occur, if applicable.

Students will be in a clinical setting.

Evaluation is below and is demonstrated in a clinical setting:

Students are required to meet the required clinical hours in addition to the consistent demonstration of clinical skills/ knowledge learnt throughout the entire PCA curriculum. Frequent assessment of clinical skills are done in the clinical setting and where there are safety or other issues (as per the PCA Manual and workplace requirements), students will be pulled from the clinical and the necessary re-training will occur, if applicable. Students may also be discontinued form the program if there are consistent breaches of safety / or other policy requirements.

Upon the completion of the course, students will learn skills to support persons with responsive behaviours-dementia care.

Core content:

• Introduction to personhood
• Brain and behavior
• The interpersonal environment
• GPA techniques
• Apply the knowledge in a clinical setting

Students will:

• Gain knowledge and skills in creating and sustaining a culture of safety that will aide in dealing with LTC residents and in reducing the number of workplace injuries for LTC residents.
• Identify and seek assistance when they are exposed to violent behaviors from LTC residents.
• Work with LTC residents in a safe manner –being mindful of occupational and safety risks.
• Develop skills needed to work effectively as a PCA.

Upon completion of this course student will demonstrate:

• How to send a text message How to send an email message
• How to leave a voice mail message
• How to answer the telephone in the workplace
• How to conduct himself/herself at face to face meetings.

The student will:

• Have a better understanding of communication using words, body language and voice inflection.
• Understand the importance of the language policies of the Saskatoon Business College and the Saskatoon Health Region.
• Be able to identify positive and negative feedback and demonstrate how.
• Apply these skills in a clinical setting.

Students will:

• Learn the consistency of home care services and home care standards throughout the province.
• Understand and respond to client’s needs within the scope of service.
• Create a conducive atmosphere for caregiving for each client.
• Understand the policies and use it to get direction and guidance to the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
• Adhere to the policies of the LTC facility and the SHA.
• Understand that effective continuum of care requires strong community and institutional support.
• When to refer to other professionals for assistance.

Special-care Homes and other designated facilities that provide this care shall operate in accordance with the standards set out in the Program Guidelines for Special-care Homes. The students will learn and apply the standards set within the Facility Designation Regulations, section 17 (2)(3), and Program Guidelines for Special-care Homes Manual. The Program Guidelines for Special-care Homes is an integral part of the requirements regarding the operation and provision of quality care, Regional Health Authorities are responsible for the observance of, and compliance with, other regulatory requirements and policies pertaining to the delivery of facility based heavy level care. Students will become familiar with the standards and the Interpretation. Students will have access to the on-line version of the manual which provides links to Legislative, and other guidelines/documents, that are referenced in the manual, or would contain information that would supplement the manual.