Designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function effectively as front-line care-givers, and respected members of the healthcare team, in community and facility settings.
Under the direction and supervision of a health professional, our graduates provide person-centered care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual well-being of clients/residents.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The HCA program offers the theory and practice associated with providing personal care and support to individuals within the community and in residential facilities.
Personal care and support includes emotional support, assistance with personal hygiene and other activities of daily living, upkeep of home, food preparation and family care.
Medstar’s theory and practice are planned to prepare graduates to work as caring individuals who assist clients/residents to achieve maximum independence in daily living.
The overarching, primary concept is CARING and is supported by the foundational concepts of SAFETY, CRITICAL THINKING & DECISION MAKING, and PROFESSIONAL APPROACHES TO PRACTICE.
These provide the underpinnings for the knowledge and skills that learners gain within the program. Some courses are shared with other programs in the school to increase options for students who wish to further their education.
This multidisciplinary approach promotes readiness for employment in the community by developing the ability to function effectively within teams. Practical application of learning is basic to the program and students will be learning and working in the community throughout the program. Classroom learning and sharing will prepare
students for work experience while practicals will enhance learning in the classroom.
EMPLOYMENT
Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to work in a variety of practice settings including hospital support, home support, assisted living, residential/complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings and acute care.
DURATION
This certificate program consists of 2 months of theory classes (40 credits) plus two months of mandatory practical placement in one of our partner hospitals.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
KCSE D- and above.
OR
Mature Student Status with acceptable scores on College Assessment Tests (writing, reading & Math).
It is Advantageous to have basic computing skills-as this is a program expectation. The
school will not assess this for entry into the HCA program.
The program has intakes every Monday
PROGRAM CONTENT
Workshop A Critical Thinking/Decision Making.
Workshop B Safety.
HCA 100 Health & Healing A – Concepts for Practice
ECD 215 Interpersonal Communications Skills
HCA 111 Health 2 – Lifestyle & Choices
HCA 102 Introduction to Practice
HCA 120 Healing 1 A – Common Health Challenges
HCA 121 Healing 1 B – Common Health Challenges
HCA 122 Healing 1 C – Common Health Challenges
HCA 130 Healing 2 A – Cognitive or Mental Challenges
HCA 131 Healing 2 B – Cognitive or Mental Challenges
HCA 140 Healing 3 A – Personal Care & Assistance
HCA 150 Practicum: Home Care & Assisted Living
GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the HCA Program, graduates will be able to:
1. Provide personal centered care and assistance that recognizes and respects the
uniqueness of each individual client.
2. Use an informed problem-solving approach to provide care and assistance that
promotes the physical, psychological, social, cognitive and spiritual well-being of
client s and families.
3. Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges.
4. Provide care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental
health challenges.
5. Interact with other members of the health care team in ways that contribute to
effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.
6. Communicate clearly, accurately and in sensitive ways with clients and families
within a variety of community and facility contexts.
7. Provide personal care and assistance in a safe, competent and organized
manner.
8. Recognize and respond to own self development, learning and health
enhancement needs.
9. Perform the care provider role in a reflective, responsible, accountable and
professional manner.
INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT
Learning is experiential or activity based, and may include such formats as in-class activities, group work, discussion, lectures, lab experience, and work experience.
New learning will build on the individual’s life experience. The concepts of caring, safety,
critical thinking/decision making and professional practice will be incorporated throughout the program with students being expected to demonstrate these concepts in the class as well as in work experiences.
PRACTICUM CHALLENGE
The practicum challenge enables students who are working as health care assistants or caregivers or home support workers to receive recognition for current skills by challenging the practicum component of the program which relates to their work situation.
The challenge will be developed when requested to meet the needs of appropriate candidates.
INSTRUCTOR CREDENTIALS / EXPERIENCE
Theory courses will be taught by Registered Nurses with experience in nursing and education or by content experts with experience in education. Practicum instructors will be Registered Nurses with appropriate experience and knowledge of nursing and
education.
Faculty will provide coordination amongst theory and practicum instructors to ensure
integration of knowledge and practice.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
All program courses must be completed satisfactorily, meaning all evaluative components, for each course, must have a passing grade (usually minimum 50%).
Students must successfully complete all the courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in order to graduate.
UPON COMPLETION
Graduates will receive a Medstar Medical Services and School certificate.
Medstar Medical Services and School will refer the graduates to a reputable recruitment agency for international HCA job placement
GENERAL INFORMATION
Students are required to:
• Have appropriate working apparel (details will be provided in class)
• Provide their own transportation to & from work experiences.
NOTE
The work of a Health Care Assistant requires physical and emotional readiness. Students need to
be able to:
o maintain effective communication with patients/clients, families and staff;
o provide personal care;
o lift and move patients;
o work with a variety of equipment;
o spend long periods of time on their feet while engaged in physically active work;
o be prepared to work day, evening and night shifts.
Working with people requires that a student is able to remain effective in stressful situations.