Patient Care Academy Begins on Sept. 16

Enrollment is going on now for Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s next Patient Care Academy, which begins on September 16.

Students in the 10-week-long academy will receive comprehensive training in several different patient-care areas including medical terms related to patient care, an understanding of the body systems, workplace ethics and behavior, health-career exploration, communications, diversity, legal issues, CPR/AED, first aid, and other specific patient-care skills.

Training is appropriate for students interested in beginning a health care-related career as well as those who want to gain experience in the health care industry while waiting to begin nursing school or other healthcare degrees.

The Academy teaches job skills that prepare students for employment as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) or other patient-care roles. Graduates are able to seek jobs in nursing homes, assisted living centers, rehabilitation, hospice, dementia care, hospitals, and private care.

Among the spectrum of duties and tasks are providing basic patient care to those who require minimal assistance or who are totally dependent in their daily lives. This may include assisting with feeding, dressing and grooming, monitoring a patient’s temperature, taking blood pressure, pulse and respiration.

Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or G.E.D., a driver’s license, the ability to handle 50 pound loads, the ability to write, read and interpret instructions, have an energetic and positive attitude, be felony and misdemeanor free, and meet immunization requirements.

For more information or to register, call the Career Academies office at 269.353.1286 or send an email message to careeracademies@kvcc.edu or see the web page at Patient Care Academy.