As integral members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, Personal Care Attendants are responsible for providing support to clients in all aspects of daily living through companionship, physical, spiritual and psychosocial care. Through the use of classroom instruction, skills development laboratories, and supervised practicums; the PCA educational program provides learners with the necessary skills to work with clients in a variety of institutionalized settings.
OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program, graduates will be able to:
- Provide holistic, client-centered care across the life-span.
- Provide safe, competent, and ethical care that adheres to legislation, employer policies and procedures, scope of employment, educational program, evidence-informed practice, and ethical principles.
- Adhere to workplace safety legislation, employer policies for maintaining a safe working environment, and procedures for responding to and reporting workplace safety concerns.
- Communicate effectively with clients, families, and the health care team.
- Respect cultural diversity of the client, family, colleague, and community.
- Document in a clear, concise manner that is consistent with legal requirements, employer policies, and the provision of care.
- Report pertinent information in a timely manner to appropriate health care team professionals.
- Recognize the significance of professionalism, life-long learning, self-care, well-being, and safety in the role of the PCA.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates will have potential employment opportunities to work as part of a multidisciplinary team in a variety of institutionalized health care settings within Newfoundland and Labrador.
CERTIFICATIONS
To be eligible for clinical and graduation, students must possess valid Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – Health Care Provider (CPR-HCP) / certification. BLS or CPR-HCP must have an in-person delivery or a blended delivery model where skills are practiced hands-on with an instructor.
In addition, students must complete on-line modules in Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA) as well as Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
Note: Students may be expected to incur costs associated with Mask-fit testing and completion of the Standard First Aid and BLS/CPR-HCP certification and the on-line modules in GPA and WHMIS.
CLINICAL PLACEMENTS
Clinical placements are a required element of this program and students will be assigned placements at approved training sites. Additional sites may be considered in consultation with program faculty. There is no guarantee that students will receive their preferred placement. All expenses associated with the completion of clinical placement will be the responsibility of the student.
Students require a clear Certificate of Conduct (Criminal Record Check and Vulnerability Sector Check) to be permitted into a clinical placement. Students with an unclear Certificate of Conduct are advised to speak with program faculty at the beginning of the program.
For programs with competitive admissions, clinical placements are not affected by ranking in the competitive admissions process and will be determined under institutional guidelines.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility for admission to the Personal Care Attendant program requires the applicant to meet one of the following criteria:
1.
High School
Provincial High School Graduation Certificate, possess a Grade 12 diploma or Grade 12 equivalency documentation.
2. Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Adult Basic Education (Level III)
3. Mature Student Requirements
Applicants who do not meet the education prerequisites for this program must be at least 19 years of age at the time of application and out of school for at least one (1) year and demonstrate Grade 12 literacy and numeracy equivalency to be considered on an individual basis under the Mature Student Requirements; for more information regarding the Mature Student Requirements please refer to
Procedure AC-102-PR Admission.
International Applicants – English Proficiency
Demonstrate English proficiency on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System – Academic version) with an overall score of 7.0 and scores of 7.0 speaking, 7.5 listening, 6.5 reading and 7.0 writing; or another equivalent assessment as approved by the College. For more information visit: IELTS:
www.ielts.org
If an international applicant has attended an educational institution (high school or post-secondary) for a period of three years or more where the official language of instruction and evaluation was English, the English language proficiency test will not be required.
Note: Some programs may require specific English language requirements and proficiency scores that differ from those stated above; therefore international applicants are advised to please refer to the specific program admission requirements as identified in the College Calendar.
The following additional documents are required at the time of online registration. Failure to provide documents may result in not being enrolled in the program. The list includes:
- Current Certificate of Conduct obtained from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or local provincial/municipal forces, including the “Vulnerable Sector Check”. Documents must be within no more than two months prior to registration. Applicants with a criminal offence may be denied a clinical placement, which will result in not being able to complete the program.
- Provide two reference letters supporting entrance into the program. References cannot be provided by family members or friends. References may be provided by individuals such as:
• Employers
• Teachers/instructors
• Representative from a volunteer agency
- Perform 20 volunteer service hours within the past two years. Volunteer service may include, but is not limited to:
• Community agencies
• School programs
• Church groups
• Charitable organizations
Written verification is required for all volunteer hours. Note: If an applicant was unable to obtain the 20 volunteer hours; a letter indicating the extenuating circumstances must be submitted.
- Complete a one page written personal statement. Personal statements must address the following:
• Reason(s) for interest in the program
• Personal characteristics/skills/abilities that applicants bring to the program
• Knowledge gained from volunteer experience(s)
- The School of Health Science Student Information Program Awareness Form
- The Newfoundland and Labrador Student Pre-Placement Immunization and Communicable Diseases Screening Form. Other documents maybe required depending on the clinical training sites.