Program Overview

Health Care Services NC II is a technical-vocational program that develops the knowledge and skills of students on various aspects in the care of patients. The program aims to prepare students for assisting in patient care in hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.

Students of the Health Care Services NC II program learn how to prepare and maintain patient beds, how to assist in the transfer and movement of patients, the proper handling of waste in a health care environment, how to apply basic first aid and respond effectively to difficult/challenging patient behavior. Other important subjects include occupational safety and health policies and implementing and monitoring infection control policies.

The Health Care Services NC II program is supervised and accredited by TESDA (a government agency that regulates vocational courses), and TESDA-accredited education institutions may offer this program. The program may also be incorporated in undergraduate programs such as BS in Nursing (BSN) and BS in Medical Technology (BSMedTech).

Course Structure

The course structure for Health Care Services NC II is divided into the following modules:

• Basic Competencies (18 hours)
  • Participating in workplace communication
  • Working in a team environment
  • Practicing career professionalism
  • Practicing occupational health and safety procedure
• Common Competencies (18 hours)
  • Implementing and monitor infection control policies and procedures
  • Responding effectively to difficult/challenging behavior
  • Applying basic first aid
  • Maintaining high standards of patient services
• Core Competencies (960 hours)
  • Preparing and maintain beds
  • Collecting and maintaining linen stocks at end-user’s location
  • Assisting in patient mobility
  • Assisting in transporting patient
  • Assisting in bio-psychosocial support care of patients
  • Handling waste in a health care environment

Students learn lessons in the Health Care Services NC II program through classroom lectures, group discussions and demonstrations. At the end of every module discussion students are assessed and evaluated. This will come in the form of direct observation while students perform return demonstrations on a specific procedure. They will be graded accordingly by a TESDA qualified trainer following a Performance Rating Scale (PRS). Aside from practical demonstrations, oral and written exams may also be given.

Is Health Care Services a profession?

Completing this program, combined with a certificate and a professional experience, makes one a professional. Some of the most common careers under the Health Care Services field are health care assistant, nursing aide, nurse attendant and caregiver.

Entry Requirements for Health Care Services NC II

The basic requirements for trainees of Health Care Services NC II as set by TESDA are:

• 16 years old and above
• Must pass the trainability/aptitude test
• Can communicate both orally and in written form
• Physically, emotionally and mentally fit
• Can perform basic mathematical computation

Schools and training centers offering the program may include additional requirements.

What skills, traits and attitude are needed for patient care?

• Service Orientation – being comfortable with helping and serving other people.
• Comfortable in doing unpleasant tasks – part of your job is to take care of the elderly and patients with special needs. You may be asked to change diapers, remove soiled linens, clean and a lot more, so you should be able to withstand these kinds of tasks.
• Endurance – the ability to withstand tiresome work such as taking care of patients all day, standing up and walking from one area to another, lifting objects and helping patients move while being in an uncomfortable environment.
• Compassion – sympathy is very important so that you’ll be able to understand each patient and provide them with the best care possible.
• Being Cautious – although your responsibilities are not as intensive as those of a nurse, you have to be careful not to inflict harm to patients. You have to be cautious when handling patients and in using hospital equipment and instruments. More importantly, you need to be aware of your scope/ role as a nursing aide.
• Basic oral and written English skills – the use of English may be important for job related tasks.
• Social Perceptiveness – being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Patience – you may encounter irritable and demanding patients, and you must be patient enough to deal with different types of people

How long does it take to complete the Health Care Services NC II program in the Philippines?

The recommended duration of Health Care Service NC II program according to TESDA regulations is 996 hours. However the duration may be longer due to the OJT or the school's curriculum.

On the Job Training (OJT)

TESDA-accredited institutions may integrate an On the Job Training (OJT) in the Health Care Service NC II program. Students will be assigned in hospitals and other health care institutions such as clinics, nursing and caregiving homes. During the OJT, you will be able to perform day-to-day patient care tasks and get experience in the real life job requirements. You will be guided by a Clinical Instructor who will also evaluate your work periodically.

The required number of hours for OJT varies from one institution to another.

Assessment and Certification

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is the regulating body for all vocational courses in the Philippines and is in-charge of the assessment and certification of the competencies of technical-vocational workers through the Philippine TVET Qualification and Certification System (PTQCS). The assessment process aims to determine whether the graduate will be able to perform according to workplace standards based on a defined competency standard. Certification is given to those who meet the competency standards.

The Assessment and Certification process is not required among graduates of vocational courses. Graduate trainees have the option whether to undergo the process or not. However, a TESDA certification will give a graduate an advantage since local and foreign companies who hire skilled workers may require this credential.

Graduates of Health Care Service NC II are advised to take the Assessment and Certification Exam, National Certificate – Level II (NCII).

The National Certificate is only valid for five years, which means that it has to be renewed. The requirements and steps in applying for assessment and certification as well as the methods used for assessment are found in the TESDA website.

Career Opportunities for Health Care Services NC II graduates

• Nurse Assistants / Nursing Aides – help patients get in and out of bed, bathe them, help them get dressed, and wash and brush their hair; they serve meals and help patients with eating
• Hospital Patient Care Aide – work as health care assistants specifically in a hospital setting. They work under the supervision of and take direction from staff nurses and doctors.
• Hospital Caregiver – works in different hospital wards as assistants to nurses and doctors
• Nursing Home Caregiver – employed in nursing homes, home for the aged and other related institutions to take care of patients of specific age groups
• Caregiver in Clinics and Health Care institutions – employed in private clinics and health care institutions who cater to people with different medical needs
• Live-in Caregiver – lives and works in a patient's home to administer necessary care. Usually the caregiver works with elderly individuals or people with special needs.

Career Opportunities Abroad

Graduates of Health Care Services NC II may also work as Caregivers.

Caregivers are one of the most in demand workers in foreign countries. Many foreign countries prefer to hire Filipino Caregivers because of their English language proficiency which makes communication easier. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), there is an increasing demand for Filipino Caregivers abroad due to the aging population in many foreign countries. Countries like Japan, Israel, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) offer many job opportunities for Caregivers.

Salary Levels

The most common careers for graduates this program is working as a Nursing Assistant and Caregiver.

The monthly salaries for these jobs in the Philippines are:

Nursing Assistant	P 6K–14K
Caregiver	P 6K–12K

Salaries abroad are much higher, between 2-10 times higher than in the Philippines. One of the highest salaries is in Israel, where a foreign caregiver’s salary is at least P 70,000 per month.