Sprott Shaw College 6-140 Terminal Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5C5

www.sprottshaw.com facebook.com/sprottshawnanaimo Phone (250) 754-9600

Healthcare Assistant Diploma

Starts Dec 17, Jan 7 & Feb 25

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 con-

tinue! 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 encour-

aged by her family to make a ca-

reer change. She is now enjoying a

job she loves, working a full time

line

at Wexford Creek with supple-

mental 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

graduation. She credits her in-

structors Gwen and Ev with calm-

ing her fears when she was feeling

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 par-

ticularly enjoys palliative care

and is grateful to work in a

setting where her coworkers

are so positive, friendly and

genuinely care for the well

being of their residents.

Course start dates

Administrative Assistant Diploma Dec 17, Jan 14

Medical Office Assistant Diploma Dec 17, Jan 14

Medical Office Assistant Certificate Jan 21

Business Administration Certificate Jan 21

Community Support Worker/Social Svcs Dec 17, Feb 11

Healthcare Assistant Diploma Dec 17, Feb 25

Nanaimo Campus

December 2012

Upon graduation, we assist our students with the process of regis-

tering with the Community

Healthcare Worker Regis-

try. 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 practi-

cum, 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 In-

structor Ev Jones at Kiwanis Village Lodge where students have

the opportunity to prac-

tice 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 sup-

port residents in homelike

settings and take care of

residents in Wexford’s

Dementia Care Cottages.

. ....cont’d on page 2

Healthcare Assistant Instructor Gwen Boyd (LPN/

Podologist) is given a warm welcome while accompa-

nying students on a field trip/tour of Sands Funeral

Home.

Healthcare Assistant Clinical Instructor Ev Jones (LPN) enjoys

supporting students while on practicum at Wexford Creek

and Kiwanis Village Lodge Seniors Facilities. Ev has been a

Clinical Instructor with Sprott Shaw for over 6 years.

On Nov 3/12, the Nanaimo News Bulletin

reported on the need for trained HCAs.

“According to the B.C. government, there are

40,000 Healthcare Assistants province-wide

assisting seniors to remain independent as long

as possible.”

Joleen Brown (left), with fellow HCA classmate

Chanielle Samaroo

Sprott Shaw College 6-140 Terminal Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5C5

www.sprottshaw.com facebook.com/sprottshawnanaimo Phone (250) 754-9600

Community and Campus Events

Community Support Worker Info Session Dec 12, 3:30pm

Student Christmas Luncheon Dec 20, 12:30pm

Practical Nurse Pinning Ceremony Dec 21, 3:30pm

Nanaimo Museum

Bottle Drive cut-off Dec 21

Last day of classes Dec 21

Classes resume Jan 7

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 end-

lessly cheerful and forthright with qualities of integrity and hones-

ty 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 thor-

ough 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

professional 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 pro-

gram offered. The classroom and nursing instructors were ex-

tremely 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!”

Tis the Season!

Our annual “Staff

serve the Students”

Christmas Luncheon is

scheduled for

12:30pm on Thurs-

day, Dec. 21. Please

bring a non-

perishable 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 Christ-

mas events downtown.

We also would like to

acknowledge our fun-

spirited volunteers who

joined our parade en-

try for the Ladysmith

Festival of Lights!

Just Announced - Increased Tuition Support For Unem-

ployed 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, tui-

tion support was capped at $4,000. For

more information, speak to an Employ-

ment Advisor at a WorkBC office nearest to

you. Find them on the web at www.workbc.ca .

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.

Cheryl Moore (far right) with fellow HCA graduates