April 15, 2004
PCA trainee Justin Hooper helps Toksook Bay elder Albert Therchik put on his slippers before helping him take a walk.
Under the umbrella of Yuut Elitnaurviat--The People's Learning Center--several regional organizations are providing a dual-credit Personal Care Assistant training class for 40 high school students from Atmautluak, Kongiganak, Kwigillingok, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak and Tununak.
The Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD), Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) and Kuskokwim Campus (KUC) have been working on the project since summer, 2003. Eight students completed a clinical session in Bethel on March 26.
"This is the type of multi-organization collaboration that defines Yuut Elitnaurviat," said Executive Director Janelle Vanasse. "The Personal Care Assistant project has been a successful trial that will become part of the continued program of Yuut Elitnaurviat."
Planning for the class began last summer, with the first task being to gather information from experienced Personal Care Assistants. Six PCAs participated in a two-day DACUM (Developing A CurriculUM) work session to identify their major tasks and duties. Anna Albert, Brenda Fox, Ellen Kameroff, Peter C. Phillip, Monica Smith and Rebecca Tununchak met with staff from KUC, LKSD and YKHC to accurately describe the job of a Personal Care Assistant. PCAs assure client safety, assess clients, provide medical assistance, assist with client nutrition, provide personal hygiene, assist with physical activities and report client status to family members and health care providers. By providing care for elders and disabled individuals in their homes, PCAs allow them to stay in the village rather than relocating to a nursing home.
Jennifer Meyer, who works for YKHC as an Emergency Room nurse, agreed to provide PCA training for students using LKSD's distance education equipment. LKSD provided certified teachers at each of the village sites to teach the high school health course, and support student learning for the distance delivery of PCA training. LKSD's Work Experience program provided travel, housing and ground transportation for the students.
PCA trainees toured the YKHC Hospital and were oriented to standard precautions, workplace expectations and legal requirements for patient privacy. They attended Basic Life-Saving/Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Medic First Aid training, and earned one college credit for DEVS 101--Skills for College and Career Success.
As part of Skills for College and Career Success, students worked with clients at Bautista House and the Senior Center during three afternoons. During four days of clinical PCA training, students learned to take vital signs, including temperature and blood pressure, how to assist with patient movement, feeding and bathing, and work with clients who use home oxygen. Students spent time on North Wing, Delta Clinic, Yukon Clinic, Kusko Clinic, and maternity ward and were able to accompany YKHC Home Care staff on a visit to a client's home and practice their PCA skills.
The two weeks of training was intense, but all the students enjoyed the experience. Justin Hooper from Tununak enjoyed "learning CPR and doing vital signs at the hospital" and Nicole Andrew was proud of "learning to do vital signs like my mother, who is a health aide."
Leon David from Kongiganak enjoyed "doing things instead of reading, watching or hearing about them."
Toward the end of the session, students learned about scholarship opportunities and health career options.
"It is exciting that these students have not only earned a recognized certificate, but also that they got to explore the health careers in a real hands-on way," said Vanasse.
A second clinical session is scheduled for April 5 to 12. The dual-credit PCA project is partially funded by the Village Health Provider Training/Education and Employment (ViP) Initiative, a collaboration of organizations including Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Alaska Native Health Board, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Denali Commission, Rasmuson Foundation, and University of Alaska. Its goal is to create self-sustaining jobs throughout rural Alaska in the areas of behavioral and dental health, and eldercare, specifically personal care assistants.
Congratulations to the eight students who completed their clinical training, and to all of the Personal Care Assistant students from all their instructors and sponsoring agencies.