12
Labs
Please note: Times for labs may fluctuate due to lab availability and will be communicated to students in advance.
Lab Guidelines
- The purpose of uniform guidelines is to promote student and client safety, and to maintain a professional appearance when dealing with patients, family members, and hospital staff.
- Students are to wear uniforms while practicing in the clinical areas. Uniforms are not worn when travelling to and from the college and agency. Change-rooms and lockers will be provided at the clinical agencies.
- Students may wear a long white sleeve t-shirt under their uniform top.
Uniform
- Centennial College’s PSW Program has a standardized purple uniform. PSW students must bring their uniform to the placement agency or to the college and must change their clothes on the premises (i.e., should not wear their uniform in public places). Uniforms are not to be worn when travelling to and from placement or the college in accordance with the CNO Infection and Control Practice Standard (2009).
Centennial College PSW Program Uniform Color/Style:
Purple from Mobb – This uniform must be purchased from our supplier as per below and includes the Centennial College crest and logo on the sleeve of the uniform.
Red Cotton Uniforms 445 Midwest Rd.
Unit 24 Scarborough, Ontario
M1P 4Y9
416-755-6155
redcotton2010@hotmail.com
Hours: Monday- Friday 9:30 AM -5:30PM
Saturday-10:00 AM-5:00 PM Sunday-Closed
- Code for Top: Purple 310
- Code for Bottom: Purple 307
Footwear
- Clean well-kept low heeled white duty shoes; laced or loafers; leather or vinyl uppers with crepe or rubber soles. Running shoes are suitable if used only for lab and clinical and they must be entirely white, with minimal colour stripes or markings/branding.
- White ankle socks or stockings may be worn with running shoes.
Sweaters and Warm-up Jackets
- White cardigans, plain coloured warm-up jackets that match uniforms may be worn.
- To maintain asepsis, remove these sweaters or warm-up jackets before giving direct patient care.
Jewelry, Makeup and Personal Hygiene
- In the clinical area, a plain gold wedding band, watch with a second hand, and stud earrings may be worn. Hoop earrings are not to be worn. They are a safety hazard. Visual body piercings must be free of jewelry.
- Hair longer than collar length must be put up neatly off the shoulders (braid ponytail or pinned).
- Fingernails must be kept SHORT, clean, and free of nail polish or false nails.
- Good grooming and personal hygiene must be maintained. This includes regular bathing, using antiperspirants and good oral hygiene.
- Do not use perfume, after-shave, and other scented products as many people, including clients, have allergies and sensitivities to these products.
Lab and Clinical Applications
Instructors
Lab Instructors is any person, hired by Centennial College to train and supervise groups of PSW students in a Laboratory setting.
Clinical Instructor/Faculty Advisor: is any person, hired by Centennial College to train and supervise groups of PSW students caring for resident/patient/client care on clinical units and community settings.
Semester 2 PSW Students
Any student enrolled in the PSHS 125 course who is completing a PSW placement (7 weeks) will be under the direct supervision of a Clinical Instructor.
Any student enrolled in the PSHS 126 course will be completing their preceptorship (7 week). Preceptorship is completing a clinical placement under the direct supervision of a placement agency staff PSW. These agency staff PSWs are called Preceptors. Students will be assigned a Faculty Advisor that they must report to.
Attendance is mandatory for all labs, orientations to clinical agencies and clinical practice. In order to provide quality practicum placements in second semester, students will be placed in a variety of healthcare facilities and agencies in the region contracted by the college. Student practicum placements will involve working the hours dictated by the needs of the practicum agency. For example, day shifts may start as early as 6:30 am and evening shifts may finish as late as 11:30 pm.
As guests of the agencies, PSW students are required to attend and be punctual for all clinical courses and to adhere to clinical hours as planned by the placement agencies. If you have concerns about the ability to meet this requirement, please contact Simone Adeken (Success Advisor) of the PSW Program. Another resource is the Student Accommodation Policy and Family Accommodation procedures that can be found on the Centennial College website.
Patterns of absenteeism or inconsistent attendance and punctuality in clinical and lab will affect the consistency of student learning, skill competency and evaluation by the instructor. A student who misses clinical placement and lab hours will jeopardize successful course completion. Students are accountable for missed course content since there is no guaranteed opportunity to make up missed time.
In order to actively participate in all lab and clinical applications courses in the PSW Program, students must be capable of fully meeting all of the required criteria and components of the MTCU Program Learning Outcomes.
Lab skills and/or clinical client assignments/responsibilities cannot be modified, even on a temporary basis. For example, a student who has sustained a physical injury may not modify their client assignment or responsibilities in the clinical placement. In such case, a student must have original documentation from a Physician or Nurse Practitioner that states he or she can participate in all physical activities required in the course. If, at any time in the program, a student has any concerns about his/her ability to meet this requirement, please contact the Success Advisor immediately.
Evaluation and Grading
Grades set by the PSW Program for individual courses supersede the College grading system.
A “C” grade is required for promotion for all theoretical courses within the program, including the English (COMM) and General Education (GNED) courses.
Evaluative methods used in courses in the PSW Program include quizzes, tests, online activities, assignments, in class assignments, and performance evaluations (“return demonstrations of skills”) in the laboratory setting.
There may be limited access to Centennial’s computers and specialty labs. For your health and safety, follow any posted protocols (e.g., physical distancing, cleaning, etc.).
Equipment
No extra equipment is needed.
Software
Students have access to industry-leading software packages and bundles that can be found in rooms, labs, and podiums across our campuses. Computers at each campus will be loaded with the applications for use in your courses. To access these features, you must log in to the network using your student number. You can see a comprehensive list of software and software packages installed by room and by campus here.
There is no software and/or software requirements that are specific to the program.
Digital Resources
Various digital resources are available for students including their online learning management system called Brightspace and online resources (e.g., publishers’ learning resources).
Library Collections
Click the following link to take you to the Personal Support Worker (PSW) Library Guide at Centennial College.
https://libraryguides.centennialcollege.ca/psw
Contact your Liaison Librarian for more information at 416 289-5000 #8000
Instructors may make course readings available online through the eReserves service in eCentennial or as physical items that can be borrowed from a campus library on short-term loan. If your instructor is using eReserves, you will see a module in the course content on eCentennial. The list may include links to library resources like databases, articles, and eBooks; book chapters; web links; and open educational resources. Check your course outline or contact your instructor for information about where your assigned course readings are located.
