Healthcare Assistant Diploma Course start dates

Healthcare Assistant Diploma
Starts Dec 17, Jan 7 & Feb 25
Joleen Brown (left), with fellow HCA classmate
Chanielle Samaroo
Job placement for graduates of
Sprott Shaw’s Healthcare Assistant
program has never been better
and the demand for skilled grads in
the mid-Island is expected to continue! A recent graduate of our
HCA program, Joleen Brown, is
passionate about her new career
as a Healthcare Assistant. A single
mother and previously employed
as a landscaper, she was encouraged by her family to make a career change. She is now enjoying a
job she loves, working a full time
line
at Wexford Creek with supplemental shifts at Arrowsmith Lodge
in Parksville. Joleen wowed her
practicum employers and her hard
work paid off as she was offered a
position within a short time of
On Nov 3/12, the Nanaimo News Bulletin
graduation. She credits her inreported on the need for trained HCAs.
“According to the B.C. government, there are
structors Gwen and Ev with calm40,000 Healthcare Assistants province-wide
ing her fears when she was feeling assisting seniors to remain independent as long
as possible.”
moments of doubt. Joleen states
that she applies the skills
learned throughout her HCA
course on a daily basis and cares
deeply for her residents. “I tell
them I love them every day, and
never leave for the day without
said goodbye to each one”.
Joleen has found that she particularly enjoys palliative care
and is grateful to work in a
setting where her coworkers
Healthcare Assistant Instructor Gwen Boyd (LPN/
are so positive, friendly and
Podologist) is given a warm welcome while accompanying students on a field trip/tour of Sands Funeral
genuinely care for the well
Home.
being of their residents.
Sprott Shaw College 6-140 Terminal Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5C5
www.sprottshaw.com facebook.com/sprottshawnanaimo Phone (250) 754-9600
Upon graduation, we assist our
students with the process of
registering with the Community Healthcare Worker Registry.
As a Registered and credentialed HCA, students are then recognized for positions with publicly funded employers. Our HCA
students train in a classroom/lab setting with HCA Instructor
Gwen Boyd for 5 hours per day for the first 5 months of their
program. This provides them with the knowledge, skills and attitude necessary to demonstrate a high level of competency during
their practicum, which occurs in the final 2 months of their program. CPR/First Aid, Food Safe and WHMIS are included within
the program and are completed before going on practicum. Students spend the first month of their practicum supported on-site
by Clinical Instructor Ev Jones at Kiwanis Village Lodge where
students have the opportunity to practice caring
for residents with dementia and other psychiatric
disorders. The next
month of practicum is
spent at Wexford Creek
where Ev supports her
students with “Complex
Care” where students support residents in homelike
settings and take care of
Healthcare Assistant Clinical Instructor Ev Jones (LPN) enjoys
residents in Wexford’s
supporting students while on practicum at Wexford Creek
and Kiwanis Village Lodge Seniors Facilities. Ev has been a
Dementia Care Cottages.
Clinical Instructor with Sprott Shaw for over 6 years.
Course start dates
Administrative Assistant Diploma
Medical Office Assistant Diploma
Medical Office Assistant Certificate
Business Administration Certificate
Community Support Worker/Social Svcs
Healthcare Assistant Diploma
Dec 17, Jan 14
Dec 17, Jan 14
Jan 21
Jan 21
Dec 17, Feb 11
Dec 17, Feb 25
Healthcare Assistant Diploma (cont’d)
Healthcare Assistant graduate Lee Masciarelli has this to say
about her experience at Sprott Shaw, “I very much enjoyed Gwen
as an instructor as she was very knowledgeable and professional
in her demeanor and teaching style. Due to her careful instruction
I went on to the cllinical part of the program with confidence that
I would prove to be a more than capable caregiver. Gwen was
endlessly cheerful and forthright with qualities of integrity and
honesty that were much appreciated. I always knew what was
expected of me and had confidence that any slip up would be
caught and corrected. Ev Jones was my Clinical Instructor. She was
very thorough in teaching procedures, always ensuring resident
safety and good body mechanics to avoid personal injury. Ev has a
wonderful rapport with the residents, staff, administration and
students, keeping everything running seamlessly and smoothly.
She has a very professional approach to her work which she passes on to her students. I've
heard staff at some of the
facilities say they are always
so happy when she is with the
students as they have such
confidence in her. HCA grad
Cheryl Moore also had a positive experience with Sprott
Shaw, “I chose Sprott Shaw’s
HCA program because I found
the staff to be very profesCheryl Moore (far right) with fellow HCA graduates
sional and I felt their screening process ensured that applicants accepted into the program
were well suited. I have never regretted this decision because I
enjoyed all that the program offered. The classroom and nursing
instructors were extremely supportive and knowledgeable. I highly
recommend this college to anyone wanting to go into this field.
I've also had great success with employment since finishing this
course 3 years ago. This was a middle age career change for me,
goes to show you it's never too late. To this day I still use both the
techniques and knowledge that I learned from Sprott Shaw in my
job
on a
daily
basis.
I love
my
job!”
Our Healthcare Assistant students believe in the importance of paying it forward and helping others. HCA
students participate in various fundraisers throughout the year, including the Heart & Stroke Foundation Big
Bike Event and Hike for Hospice. Recently, students raised enough funds through a bottle drive to stock a
medical clinic in Uganda.
Sprott Shaw College 6-140 Terminal Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5C5
www.sprottshaw.com facebook.com/sprottshawnanaimo Phone (250) 754-9600
Just Announced - Increased Tuition Support For Unemployed Canadians
The Ministry of Social Development announced that effective
Nov 19, job seekers may be able to access up to $7,500 in tuition
support. Previously, tuition support was
capped at $4,000. For more information,
speak to an Employment Advisor at a
WorkBC office nearest to you. Find them
on the web at www.workbc.ca .
Tis the Season!
Our annual “Staff
serve the Students”
Christmas Luncheon
is scheduled for
12:30pm on Thursday, Dec. 20. Please
bring a nonperishable food item
for donation to
Loaves & Fishes.
A big thank you to our volunteers (and co-sponsor Quality Foods)
who participated with us at our Free Hot Chocolate table on Nov
24 as part of the Christmas events downtown.
We also would like to
acknowledge our funspirited volunteers
who joined our parade
entry for the Ladysmith
Festival of Lights!
Community and Campus Events
Community Support Worker Info Session
Student Christmas Luncheon
Practical Nurse Pinning Ceremony
Nanaimo Museum
Last day of classes before Christmas break
Classes resume
Dec 12, 3:30pm
Dec 20, 12:30pm
Dec 21, 3:30pm
Dec 21
Jan 7