A collaborative IHSS and Nursing Training Program

Educating Current and Future Nursing and Caregiver Workforces through a unique pilot program

The Orange County Medi-Cal based In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program serves 14,000 caregivers of clients over 65 years of age. Although IHSS workers receive limited training, there is a need for practical training such as how to prevent pressure ulcers, manage medications, and safely transfer patients. The UC Irvine Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing (SON) designed a pilot training program benefiting both IHSS workers and undergraduate and graduate students.

A collaborative pilot program was integrated into the curriculum of our Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and Master’s Entry Program of Nursing students (MEPN). This program allowed students to build upon classroom didactics by applying their knowledge by teaching IHSS caregivers in the community. Training topics were decided upon with IHSS administrators and became mandatory training sessions for a core group of paid IHSS workers. Nursing students developed interactive workshops to demonstrate and teach needed nursing aid skills. Students collected pre and post surveys and developed analysis from the collected information.