Course Overview

PSW 050 – Foundations of Personal Support Worker 1 – 42 hours - Students are introduced to the role of the Personal Support Worker within the health care team. The scope of practice is outlined to ensure safe and ethical care for clients and their families in a variety of settings. Students are challenged to reflect on their own beliefs, values, culture, religion, and ethnicity and to relate these concepts to their clients. Legislation related to the profession and the rights of the client is also discussed. 

PSW 051 – Providing Family Support 1 – 42 hours -This subject enables the student to understand the effects of illness, stress, and disability on today's families. The Personal Support Worker provides Activities of Daily living (ADL’s) including personal hygiene to clients of all ages. Infection prevention and control is discussed as it relates to providing personal care. The body systems are briefly introduced to enhance learning. 

PSW 061 - Basic Care Lab Skills – 56 hours -This course allows students to review the theory and practice the clinical skills. This course also helps to build confidence and prepares students to apply their skills in the various health care and community settings. 

PSW 056 – The Human Body, Chronic Illness and Disease – 42 hours -This subject introduces the student to the general effects of common diseases and conditions including disabilities. Concepts of maintenance, rehabilitation and restoration are discussed. Delegation is reviewed. 

Independent Learning – 42 hours – Lab/ Clinical Preparation  

COM101/COMM 111- Communicating Across Contexts – (Based on English placement testing, may need to take a series of English courses prior to taking Com101) 

This course introduces students to the core concepts of communication. Students will cultivate an awareness of these concepts by analyzing how they are used in a variety of texts and contexts, and they will apply these concepts strategically in their own writing. Through a variety of writing tasks centered on these core concepts of communication, students will develop the transferrable reading and writing skills essential for success in their post-secondary studies, workplaces, and communities. 

PSW 052 – Foundations of Personal Support Worker Practice II – 42 hours -These subject deals with aspects of safety, mobility and household management. Accident risk factors as well as safety measures are discussed. Infection prevention and control and the principles of good body mechanics are introduced. Client safety and comfort as it relates to positioning are emphasized. The concepts of rest and activity and how these two affect the client's well-being are also discussed. In addition, this subject enables students to develop and demonstrate skills related to assisting with household activities and household management. Planning and preparing nutritious and appealing meals are explored. Special diets, cultural and religious preferences are emphasized when discussing meal preparation. 

PSW 053 – Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health Issues – 42 hours -This subject is designed to provide a basic knowledge of mental health issues today. Understanding and managing challenging behaviours with the client who is cognitively impaired is discussed, along with strategies for working with these challenging behaviours. Additionally, an introduction to the understanding of dementias including Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with effective approaches for providing care is presented.  Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal feelings, experiences and reactions surrounding mental health. 

PSW 057 – Providing Family Support II – 42 hours- Building on Providing Family Support I this subject includes the concepts of providing optimal support, assisting with medications and abuse. Optimal support refers to the ability to provide support to clients while encouraging their independence and promoting their dignity. The subject will clarify the Personal Support Worker's level of responsibility in assisting the client with medications. Possible causes and indicators of all forms of abuse are discussed and the Personal Support Worker's responsibilities and management techniques are identified.  

PSW 059 – Palliative Care – 42 hours- This subject allows students to discuss the concept of dying. Students have the opportunity to examine personal beliefs about life -threatening illness, dying and death. Assisting the client that is dying to maintain a desired lifestyle and respecting her/his rights to make decisions with regard to support are discussed. Specific approaches within the scope of the support worker to reduce discomfort/pain and pain (within the context of a plan of support or care) are also covered. Additionally, transitioning into the work environment will be explored. 

PSW 212 – Facility Field Placement - 126 hours - Students will apply the use of theories learned in the classroom and the laboratory classes and the skills of therapeutic communication, in addition to basic health care that is provided by the Personal Support Worker in a clinical practice setting.  Working with health care professionals, the multidisciplinary team, and clients the students will make a positive contribution to the health of individuals and families. This clinical component is designed to provide the student with practical experiences that can promote learning, encourage problem solving and increase confidence with client care. 

PSW 209 – Community Experience Practicum- 126 hours - This community experience practicum provides an opportunity for students to learn and function under the supervision of the community agency/long term care staff in a community/long term care setting and to assist clients of different ages to meet their basic physical, social and emotional needs.