Patient Attendant Qualifications in Kenya
A Health Care Assistant Certificate (also known as a Caregiver, Patient Attendant, or Nurse Aide certification) in Kenya is a specialized program designed to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge to assist patients in various medical and personal care settings. This qualification is ideal for those interested in working with individuals who need help with daily activities or medical care, including elderly care, palliative care, dementia care, and disability support.
Graduates of this course are prepared to offer compassionate care to patients in a variety of environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private homes.
Career Opportunities
With a Health Care Assistant certification, you can pursue various rewarding job roles, including:
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) or Nurse Aide
- Home Health Aide or Caregiver
- Personal Care Aide
- Hospital Patient Attendant or Health Care Assistant
- Rehabilitation Center Aide
Skill set for a Nurse Aide
At Beta Care Training Institute (BCTI), we offer you expert faculty, a comprehensive curriculum, hands-on training, and industry-relevant skills, all of which open you up to abundant career opportunities as a health care assistant. On successful completion of our patient attendant course, you will be skilled in:
- Assisting clients/patients in their homes, community, or clinic setting.
- Cleaning and sanitizing patient areas
- Providing patient care services to the patients
- Ensuring patient safety
- Taking vital signs and maintaining its records in the medical chart
- Communicating the patient’s needs to effective channels
- Feeding the patient and ensuring that their dietary needs are met
- Assisting patients to use medical devices and equipment as required
- Assisting the elderly to function normally
- Providing support to patients who need assistance for walking or standing (mobility)
- Lifting patients into beds, wheelchairs, exam tables, etc. (transfer)
- Assisting in the transportation of the patient.
- Helping with personal care like bathing and dressing, and personal hygiene, like brushing teeth
- Overseeing the administration of medication
- Changing the position of bedridden patients to prevent bedsores
- Providing and emptying bedpans
- Changing bed sheets and restocking rooms with necessary supplies
Patient Attendant Requirements
Students who wish to study patient attendant with us should meet the following minimum requirements:
a. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Certificate (D- and above)
b. Compassion and empathy for others
c. Strong communication and interpersonal skills
d. Patience and ability to work under pressure
e. Ability to perform basic physical tasks
Health Care Assistant Training – Duration
At Beta Care Training Institute, we offer nurse aide training for a period of 6 months, or an advanced class that goes for 1 year. The shorter duration (6 months) is recommended for students who scored a D- in their KCSE, as it is a lighter program. For students who scored D plain and above, the 1-year course is preferable because it will expand the scope of your duties, while paving the way to becoming licensed as a Healthcare Support Assistant.