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Campus On A Campus News, December 2002
As part of our career ladder initiative last year Heritage Hall East proposed to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to pilot the role of the Patient Care Associate (PCA). We sent one employee through STCC's program which we hoped would enhance the level of care and personal attention we give to our residents by providing support to the licensed nursing staff giving them additional time to provide more intensive service in the areas of resident and family assessments and documentation. The proposal was approved and the role is now being piloted by Barbara Williams from Heritage Hall East.
Barbara Williams was the first employee to go through STCC's PCA program and is currently piloting the role on A and C wing of Heritage Hall East. Barbara said she decided to take the course mainly because she would receive additional compensation after she became certified. But she also wanted to do more than just ADLS and felt that this was a step towards her ultimate goal of being a nurse.
Barbara said "It was nice going back to school since I hadn't been to school in 2 years. It was hard because I was in a class with a lot of young people. I found it hard but it was fun." Barbara graduated with honors after completing 26 college credits. The part she liked best was the phlebotomy class, "I thought that was really cool." Barbara is now working full time in the role. She comes in at 6:00 a.m. and does finger stick blood sugars, and continues throughout the day doing dressings, bladder scanning caths, and tube feedings. "It is nice to do more than the basics", Barbara said. "Now I understand why residents act the way they do, I understand their disease."
Bette Erickson, RN has been Barbara's preceptor during her orientation as a PCA. When asked about working with Barbara in the role of PCA Bette said, "I don't know what I would do without her. Barbara is wonderful. She remembers everything, she does everything I ask of her and is such a help." Bette claims that since Barbara started working with her she has more time to do assessments and is getting home earlier. "These past months the floor has been very busy and it is so nice to have someone to do the treatments." With regard to her classes at STCC Barbara said, "I had good professors, that helps, they were knowledgeable." Barbara is proud of her accomplishment and was asked to carry the banner at graduation. "I really had to work hard to get that because A&P was very hard." Barbara now wants to continue her schooling and go for her RN. She plans to take additional courses this spring.
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