Continuing Care Assistant experience?

[yellow_crayon]

Just wondering if anyone here has experience working as (or with) a continuing care assistant (especially in the Saskatchewan area). I am currently finishing up a degree in Anthropology and am planning on eventually applying to a second entry program, but I want to work for a bit first and gain some face to face contact with patients. Given this, I am seriously considering enrolling in a CCA course.

So for any CCAs out there:

How did/do you enjoy the work?

What were some of your duties/did you get to do nursing related tasks such as taking vitals etc ?

Do you feel that experience with patients in LTC prepared you for nursing? (if you went on to pursue nursing)

For those who have worked with CCAs, any info you could provide on your experiences with them would also be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Mewsin]

I was a cca in sk.

I loved my job and the only reason I'm not a cca any longer is I have graduated from the practical nursing program and I'm waiting to move before I start nursing. I actually started as a cca before I finished the cca course.

Where I was we didn't take vitals but I know in other facilities they did take blood pressures. we did all aspects of personal care. This was helpful while working in the hospital because we don't really have any ccas there.

Yes being a cca helped me in my nursing program as well as it will get me a great reference for my new job. Being a Cca teaches amazing time management skills.

[yellow_crayon]

I was a cca in sk.

I loved my job and the only reason I'm not a cca any longer is I have graduated from the practical nursing program and I'm waiting to move before I start nursing. I actually started as a cca before I finished the cca course.

Where I was we didn't take vitals but I know in other facilities they did take blood pressures. we did all aspects of personal care. This was helpful while working in the hospital because we don't really have any ccas there.

Yes being a cca helped me in my nursing program as well as it will get me a great reference for my new job. Being a Cca teaches amazing time management skills.

Thanks for the info! That's great to hear. I was hoping someone would have positive feedback about the job as I'm actually quite excited about the prospect.

If you don't mind me asking, did you get your training as a CCA at Sask Polytech? I am moving from Ontario to Saskatoon and won't be able to check out the school before attending. If you didn't, never mind the question. I just thought I would check.

Congrats on graduating from the practical nursing program!

[Mewsin]

I did but before it was sask polytec. It used to be called siast and it is really the only program available for the province but you can obtain it in different locations.

I took most of my course through correspondence but I had one lab day in Saskatoon. My other in class portion I did in north battleford. The north battleford program is set up so you can still work as a cca while taking the course. The union also paid for the course which was awesome.

Thank you for the congrats.