About This Book
Author’s Note
As the Coordinator of the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at Fanshawe College, I am deeply passionate about the vital role PSW’s play in our healthcare system. Their work is rooted in compassion, dignity, and connection—and it is my privilege to support the next generation of PSW’s as they prepare to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
This Open Educational Resource was born from a desire to create something that supports our Personal Support Worker students, Faculty teams, Clinical Instructors, Clinical Advisors, PSW Preceptors, and Community/Agency partners. Inspired by the Early Childhood Education Field Practicum Hub OER, this resource is designed to be a practical, student-centred guide for PSW Clinical Professional Practice experiences. It reflects Fanshawe’s commitment to excellence in care and education, and to fostering strong, collaborative relationships.
At the heart of this work is a belief in the power of education to elevate care. By equipping our students with the tools, guidance, and support they need, we empower them to provide the highest quality care to clients—care that is respectful, maintains dignity, and is rooted in empathy.
There is an urgent need for more PSW’s in our healthcare field, and I believe that by investing in thoughtful, accessible resources like this one, we can help meet that need while nurturing a culture of learning and compassion. Thank you for being part of this journey.
To anyone reading or adopting this OER—thank you. Your interest and engagement mean so much. If you have any questions, feedback, or would simply like to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out by email. I’d love to hear from you.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible team who helped the vision for this book become a reality: Catherine, Rosalyn, Koen, Wilson, & Shauna.
A tremendous thank you also goes to our fearless leader, School of Nursing Associate Dean, Dr. Sandy DeLuca. A passionate advocate for the Nursing and PSW professions. Your encouragement, compassion and dedicated leadership have made an incredible impact on my career.
And finally, a special thank you to my colleague and friend, Alicia Davies, for her thoughtful editing, valuable insights, and unwavering support. Her shared passion for the PSW role and her encouragement throughout this project have been a true gift to my journey.
Warmly,
Klaske Rheubottom RN, BScN, MScN
krheubottom@fanshawec.ca
Coordinator, Personal Support Worker Program
Woodstock-Oxford Regional Campus
Fanshawe College
Accessibility Statement
We are actively committed to increasing the accessibility and usability of the textbooks we produce. Every attempt has been made to make this OER accessible to all learners and is compatible with assistive and adaptive technologies. We have attempted to provide closed captions, alternative text, or multiple formats for on-screen and off-line access.
The web version of this resource has been designed to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, level AA. In addition, it follows all guidelines in Appendix A: Checklist for Accessibility of the Accessibility Toolkit – 2nd Edition.
In addition to the web version, additional files are available in a number of file formats, including PDF, EPUB (for eReaders), and MOBI (for Kindles).
If you are having problems accessing this resource, please contact us at oer@fanshawec.ca.
Please include the following information:
- The location of the problem by providing a web address or page description
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Feedback
Please share your adoption and any feedback you have about the book with us at oer@fanshawec.ca
If you would like to contact the author, email krheubottom@fanshawec.ca
