Training new HCAs to give compassionate care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare education
• Nursing support staff training
• Clinical skills development

Background:

• New healthcare assistants (HCAs) require foundational knowledge and skills.
• Compassionate and safe patient care is paramount in healthcare settings.
• Standardized training ensures quality of care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a newly established academy for healthcare assistants.
• To assess the impact of structured training on HCA confidence and competence.
• To ensure HCAs meet national minimum training standards.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a dedicated academy for new HCAs in October 2013.
• HCAs completed knowledge packs aligned with national standards during probation.
• Post-training evaluation of HCA confidence levels.

Main Results:

• HCAs attended the academy prior to clinical practice.
• Completion of knowledge packs during the probationary period was mandatory.
• Evaluation indicated increased HCA confidence in delivering clinical care post-training.

Conclusions:

• The academy effectively equipped HCAs with necessary skills.
• Structured training enhances HCA confidence in providing safe and compassionate care.
• The initiative supports the development of competent nursing support staff.