A Health Care Aide (HCA) plays an invaluable role in long-term care facilities, working with nurses and other team members to provide the best possible healthcare and support to their clients. Whether working in retirement homes, hospices, or private hospitals, HCAs assist by implementing care plans, performing basic nursing skills, and tending to residents with a wide variety of unique needs and abilities. It’s a great career for those who value helping others, because each day, HCAs go to work knowing that they will get to make a tangible, positive impact on the lives of those under their care and supervision.
In order to do this, they draw on the broad range of skills and knowledge they’ve learned in their healthcare training, from the fundamentals of human anatomy and physiology to communication and conflict management, to meeting complex care needs.
For aspiring HCAs, this training doesn’t just end in the classroom, either. Practicum placements can also be an important, if not essential, part of the training process, allowing students to apply their skills and knowledge in the same type of professional settings they could find work in after graduating
Here are three reasons why a practicum is good for your health care aide career.
Learn How Classroom Skills and Knowledge Are Applied in Real-World Settings
By taking part in a practicum placement, students in healthcare training can see how the knowledge they’ve developed in their classes is actually applied in real-world settings, gaining hands-on experience using their skills with real people and real issues. This is a great way to ensure that you begin your career with a well-polished set of practical professional skills.
By working alongside other experienced professionals in long-term care facilities, students can also gain greater insights into the healthcare system and the day-to-day work performed by HCAs, receiving guidance and advice from those who understand the workings of long-term care facilities and the needs of their residents firsthand.
A practicum gives healthcare training students hands-on experience in the industry
Build Your Confidence to Succeed in Your Health Care Aide Career
Confidence can be important when embarking on a new career. You want to be able to present a trustworthy, reliable, and capable image to prospective employers, and in order to do that, you need to have confidence in your own abilities.
A practicum allows students to build their confidence before setting out into the job market, by seeing firsthand how their skills can be used to improve the health and wellbeing of residents, to assist nurses and other healthcare professionals with their duties, and to care for those with unique or complex needs.
After their practicum, students will be able to set off on their new health care aide career with a significant boost in confidence, knowing that they’ve already proven their abilities in a professional setting.
Practicum placements help students build their confidence before setting off on their new career
Let Employers Know that You Can Excel in a Professional Healthcare Environment
Students training in healthcare schools in Calgary also benefit from practicum placements by graduating with a resume that already includes real-world experience in the field. This can be a significant benefit when applying for jobs after completing your training, as it lets employers know that you’re capable of applying the lessons you’ve learned in your program to the day-to-day demands on the job.
By giving students the opportunity to work in established institutions with other healthcare professionals, it also offers them the opportunity to begin building their professional network and making valuable contacts in the industry.
Are you interested in a future working in the healthcare field?
