Personal Support Worker Role
(45hrs, 3 credits)
This course forms the base upon which the program is built. The principles of care giving are established which include the role and responsibilities of caring for people in their home and community. Ethics, and knowledge of working with people are also key elements of this course. Students will reflect on the role of a Personal Support Worker.
PSW 0102 – The Care Environment
(45hrs, 3 credits)
This course introduces students to working in a client’s home/facility to promote health and prevent injury. It includes medical asepsis, universal precautions, time management skills, and basic homemaking skills. Students examine how they can promote the comfort, safety, and independence of people in their home/facility.
PSW 0103 – Lifespan Growth and Development
(45hrs, 3 credits)
This course examines human growth and development throughout the lifespan. Topics include identifying the milestones associated with developmental stages and the common health and lifestyle concerns for each stage.
PSW 0104 – Personal Care I
(45hrs, 3 credits)
Co-requisite: PSW 0105 Personal Support Worker Practicum I
This course focuses on meeting the personal care needs of the client. Students learn to assist clients with activities of daily living, using proper body mechanics and techniques to teach clients to care for themselves. This course is a combination of theory, demonstration and practice.
PSW 0105 – Personal Support Worker Practicum I
(125hrs, non-credit)
Co-requisite: PSW 0101 Personal Support Worker Role, PSW 0102 The Care Environment, PSW 0104 Personal Care I
This course provides an opportunity for students to integrate theory into practice. Students will focus on building relationships, practice observation skills, and provide personal care to clients in a practice setting.
PSW 0111 – Wellness and Nutrition
(45hrs, 3 credits)
This is an introductory course to health and nutrition. Students will learn about health as it applies to individuals, families, and communities. A specific focus of the course is promoting healthy eating.
PSW 0112 – The Human Body and Common Illnesses
(45hrs, 3 credits)
In this course students will first study the basics of human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology. The second component of the course focuses on common illnesses across the lifespan.
PSW 0121 – Working in a Challenging Environment
(45hrs, 3 credits)
Students will learn practical skills to be safe, prevent harm to self and others, and intervene with challenging clients. The course will focus on working with children, clients with disabilities/mental health concerns, or the elder client, depending on the needs of the community.
PSW 0131 – Personal Care II
(45hrs, 3 credits)
Pre-requisites: PSW 0104 Personal Care I, PSW 0105 Personal Support Worker Practicum I
Co-requisite: PSW 0122 Personal Support Worker Practicum II
This course builds on learning from Personal Care I. Students learn to perform foot and nail care, simple wound care, glucometers, and oxygen therapy. This course is a combination of theory, demonstration and practice.
PSW 0122 – Personal Support Worker Practicum II
(125hrs, non-credit)
Pre-requisites: PSW 0104 Personal Care I, PSW 0105 Personal Support Worker Practicum I
Co-requisite: PSW 0131 Personal Care II
This course provides an opportunity for students to integrate theory into practice. Students will continue to focus on building relationships, practice observation skills, and provide personal care to clients in the practice setting while applying skills acquired in Personal Care II.
PSW 0130 – Communications and Personal Development
(45hrs, 3 credits)
This course focuses on developing effective professional communications skills, problem solving skills and personal development. Role playing and other classroom activities will give students an opportunity to practice basic communication techniques. Confidentiality and ethical conduct in the community will be examined. The concepts of self-awareness, self-concept, self-esteem, life style and risk assessment will be discussed.
PSW 0110 – Pharmacology for Personal Support Workers(45hrs, 3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to some of the basic principles of pharmacology. Discussion will centre on medications, their therapeutic use, and the safe administration of medications through various routes. Responsibilities related to side/adverse effects will be discussed. Students have the opportunity to practice safe medication administration in a lab setting.
PSW 0125 – Personal Support Worker Practicum III
(150hrs, non-credit)
Pre-requisites: All courses and practica must be completed before students can enroll in this final consolidated practicum.
This final practicum consolidates all previous practicum and theory. Students will practice with increased independence in the Personal Support Worker role.