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ADVANCEDDiploma program

Healthcare Assistance Diploma

Supervisor-level training: anatomy, pharmacology, leadership and a research project.

  • 3 Months Intensive
  • 144 training hours
  • Max 25 students
  • Lekki, Lagos + online

About this program

The Diploma in Healthcare Assistance is the advanced pathway for learners who want to lead. It adds deep anatomy and physiology, pharmacology basics, wound care, palliative and end-of-life care, leadership, quality improvement and a supervised diploma project on top of the core Healthcare Assistant skills.

Diploma holders are prepared for Senior HCA and Team Lead roles and give employers abroad a stronger signal of critical thinking and supervision skills.

Program code
DHCA-3M
Duration
3 Months Intensive
Schedule
Saturdays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (7 hrs) · Sundays 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (5 hrs)
Theory / practical
48 hrs / 96 hrs
Class size
Maximum 25 students
Delivery
Campus + live online + 24/7 portal

Who is this program for?

  • You want to become a Senior HCA, Team Lead or supervisor
  • You plan to work abroad and want the strongest possible credential
  • You already hold the Certificate and want to advance
  • You aim to progress toward LPN or RN studies

What you will learn

  • Explain the 11 body systems and use medical terminology in charting
  • Take advanced vital signs including blood glucose, pain scales and NEWS2 scoring
  • Assist safely with medication and read a MAR chart
  • Prevent pressure ulcers and perform non-sterile dressings within scope
  • Supervise Certificate-level HCAs, delegate and lead a small team
  • Provide palliative and end-of-life comfort care and support grieving families
  • Complete a supervised evidence-based quality-improvement project

Curriculum: 20 courses

Select a course to see its topics, practical work and assessment.

DHCA 201Introduction to Healthcare System & Role of the Advanced HCAWeek 1 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. History of healthcare assistance
  2. healthcare system in Nigeria vs Canada/UK/USA
  3. levels of care: primary, secondary, tertiary
  4. roles: RN, LPN, HCA, PSW, caregiver, CNA
  5. Diploma HCA as team leader
  6. career ladder HCA → Senior HCA → LPN → RN
  7. ethics and legal scope
  8. hospital tour and professional grooming
Full course page
DHCA 202Human Anatomy & Physiology for HCAsWeek 1 · 7 hrs

Topics

  1. Cardiovascular system and why BP measures pressure
  2. respiratory system and gas exchange
  3. musculoskeletal system and stroke weakness
  4. nervous system
  5. digestive
  6. urinary system and catheter care
  7. integumentary system and pressure ulcers
  8. endocrine system and diabetes
  9. reproductive anatomy
  10. lymphatic and sensory systems
  11. medical terminology: prefixes, suffixes and root words
Full course page
DHCA 203Advanced Communication, Documentation & LeadershipWeek 2 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. Advanced therapeutic communication
  2. SBAR and ISBAR handover
  3. communicating with doctors, nurses and families
  4. conflict resolution
  5. supervising Certificate HCAs
  6. delegation and team leading
  7. time management and shift planning
  8. leading a team simulation
Full course page
DHCA 204Advanced Infection Prevention & Control + MicrobiologyWeek 2 · 7 hrs

Topics

  1. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa
  2. MRSA, VRE, C. diff, TB, COVID, HIV and hepatitis
  3. chain of infection in depth
  4. modes of transmission
  5. HAIs: CAUTI, CLABSI, VAP and SSI
  6. hand hygiene audit
  7. PPE competency checks for juniors
  8. isolation precautions
  9. advanced waste management
Full course page
DHCA 205Advanced Vital Signs & Clinical AssessmentWeek 3 · 7 hrs

Topics

  1. All five vital signs in depth
  2. blood glucose monitoring (CBG)
  3. pain assessment: PQRST and FLACC
  4. Glasgow Coma Scale basics
  5. Early Warning Scores (NEWS2)
  6. ranges for adults, elderly and children
  7. red flags
  8. ten complete sets of clinical observations per student
Full course page
DHCA 206Advanced Personal Care & Activities of Daily LivingWeek 4 · 7 hrs

Topics

  1. ADLs and IADLs
  2. dignity, privacy and cultural sensitivity
  3. bed bath, tub bath and shower
  4. perineal care male and female
  5. oral care for unconscious patients
  6. denture care
  7. hair washing for a bedridden patient
  8. nail care and diabetic foot care
Full course page
DHCA 207Dressing, Toileting, Feeding & Nutrition SupportWeek 4 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. Weak side first dressing
  2. adaptive clothing and devices
  3. bedpan, urinal and commode
  4. incontinence types
  5. feeding and aspiration precautions
  6. dysphagia and thickened liquids
  7. NG-tube feeding: HCA role
  8. intake and output charting
  9. catheter bag emptying
Full course page
DHCA 208Moving, Handling & Fall PreventionWeek 5 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. Body mechanics and ergonomics
  2. transfers with gait belt, slide sheet and hoist
  3. wheelchair, walker and cane
  4. fall risk factors and the Morse Fall Scale
  5. what to do after a fall
  6. mobility lab with mechanical lift and log rolling
Full course page
DHCA 209Nutrition, Hydration & Elimination CareWeek 5 · 4 hrs

Topics

  1. Balanced diet and therapeutic diets: diabetic, low sodium, renal, bland
  2. fluid requirements and dehydration signs
  3. normal vs abnormal bowel and bladder
  4. constipation and diarrhoea
  5. catheter care
  6. enema: HCA role
  7. meal planning for diabetic and hypertensive patients
Full course page
DHCA 210Skin Integrity, Wound Care & Pressure Ulcer PreventionWeek 6 · 6 hrs

Topics

  1. Skin layers
  2. pressure ulcer stages 1–4, unstageable and deep tissue injury
  3. Braden and Norton scales
  4. repositioning every 2 hours
  5. support surfaces
  6. wound types and healing phases
  7. the Diploma HCA role: non-sterile dressings only
  8. applying barrier cream and offloading heels
Full course page
DHCA 211Common Chronic Diseases & Care PlanningWeek 6 · 6 hrs

Topics

  1. Stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic, FAST
  2. dementia types and stages
  3. diabetes type 1 vs 2
  4. hypertension, COPD, asthma, arthritis, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s, heart failure and renal failure
  5. writing care plans for stroke, dementia and diabetic patients
Full course page
DHCA 212Emergency Care, First Aid & CPR (Advanced)Week 7 · 8 hrs

Topics

  1. Choking in adults, children and infants
  2. falls, seizures, fainting, bleeding and burns
  3. shock types and anaphylaxis
  4. stroke, heart attack and diabetic emergencies
  5. recovery position
  6. CPR and AED
  7. certification practical for the international First Aid & CPR certificate
Full course page
DHCA 213Medication Assistance & Pharmacology BasicsWeek 7 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. Drug forms and routes
  2. the 5 rights + 3 checks
  3. analgesics, antibiotics, antihypertensives and diabetic drugs
  4. side effects, adverse reactions and interactions
  5. storage and controlled drugs
  6. HCA role: assist, remind, observe, document
  7. reading a MAR chart
  8. abbreviations OD, BD, TDS, PRN and NPO
Full course page
DHCA 214Mental Health, Dementia & Challenging BehavioursWeek 8 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
  2. dementia behaviours: wandering, sundowning, aggression
  3. delirium vs dementia
  4. de-escalation, validation and reminiscence therapy
  5. restraint and its legal implications
  6. burnout prevention
Full course page
DHCA 215Palliative Care, End-of-Life Care & Grief SupportWeek 8 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. Palliative care vs hospice
  2. physical, psychological and spiritual needs
  3. pain management at end of life
  4. comfort measures
  5. last offices
  6. cultural and religious beliefs about death
  7. the five stages of grief
  8. supporting families and colleagues
Full course page
DHCA 216Professionalism, Ethics, Documentation & Quality ImprovementWeek 9 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. Autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice
  2. confidentiality: PHIPA, HIPAA and GDPR
  3. SOAP and focus charting
  4. incident reporting
  5. audits
  6. professional boundaries and social-media ethics
  7. accountability and whistleblowing
Full course page
DHCA 217Pediatric & Maternal Care BasicsWeek 9 · 4 hrs

Topics

  1. Growth and development
  2. caring for children: communication and safety
  3. postpartum hygiene and breastfeeding support
  4. newborn care: cord care, bathing and safe sleep
Full course page
DHCA 218JAPA Pathway, International Career & LeadershipWeek 10 · 8 hrs

Topics

  1. Why a Diploma stands higher abroad
  2. NOC codes for Canada
  3. UK Health and Care Worker Visa
  4. USA HHA and CNA pathways
  5. recruitment agencies and scam red flags
  6. IELTS tips
  7. international résumé, cover letter and LinkedIn
  8. interview mastery with the STAR method
  9. references, police clearance and credential evaluation
Full course page
DHCA 219Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Final ProjectWeek 10 · 5 hrs

Topics

  1. What is research
  2. evidence-based practice
  3. how to read a research article
  4. simple quality-improvement projects
  5. diploma project: choose a topic, collect data and present in 10 slides
Full course page
DHCA 220Comprehensive Revision, OSCE & Clinical SimulationWeek 11 · 12 hrs

Topics

  1. Full revision of all 20 courses
  2. 200-question mock exam
  3. OSCE briefing
  4. full-day simulated ward with 5 patients
  5. rotating as team leader
  6. final 20-skill logbook sign-off
Full course page

Assessment & grading

  • Final theory exam: 150 questions covering anatomy, pharmacology, leadership and case studies
  • Practical OSCE: 8 stations including a supervised audit
  • Diploma project presentation (10 slides)
  • 20-skill advanced logbook, signed off by instructors
  • 100% required in infection control and safety stations

20-skill practical logbook

A skill is signed off only after you demonstrate it correctly 3 times independently.

  1. Hand hygiene
  2. PPE donning & doffing
  3. Vital signs
  4. Bed bath
  5. Perineal care (front-to-back)
  6. Oral & denture care
  7. Dressing a hemiplegic patient
  8. Bed making
  9. Transfer with gait belt
  10. Feeding (upright)
  11. Blood glucose monitoring
  12. NEWS2 charting
  13. Non-sterile wound dressing
  14. Mechanical hoist use
  15. Medication assistance & MAR reading
  16. Supervising Certificate HCAs
  17. Care plan writing
  18. Braden scale assessment
  19. End-of-life comfort care
  20. Audit & quality improvement

What you receive

  • Diploma in Healthcare Assistance
  • First Aid & CPR Certificate
  • Professional Caregiver Diploma
  • Medication Assistance Certificate
  • Diploma project certificate & Senior HCA badge

Fees & payment plan

Total fee₦500,000
Secure your seat₦150,000
Payment 2₦175,000
Payment 3₦175,000

What the fee covers

  • Everything in the Certificate
  • Advanced Anatomy & Physiology manual
  • Pharmacology handbook
  • Three additional certificates
  • Diploma project supervision
  • Leadership training & Senior HCA badge
  • Reference letter for international applications
  • Priority job placement
  • Free access to the alumni career forum

Full payment bonus: free stethoscope.

Admission requirements

  • 5 credits including English and Biology / Health Science
  • Age 18 years and above
  • Passion for caring for people
  • Valid means of identification
  • 2 passport photographs
  • Interview required (Diploma is selective)

Career paths

  • Senior Healthcare Assistant
  • Team Lead / Supervisor
  • CNA pathway abroad
  • Home Health Aide (HHA)
  • Pathway to LPN / RN studies
FAQ

Questions about this program

What are the admission requirements?

For the Certificate: at least 5 credits in SSCE (WAEC, NECO or NABTEB) including English, age 17 or above, a valid means of identification, two passport photographs and a passion for caring. The Diploma also asks for Biology or Health Science, age 18+, and an interview.

How do I apply?

Create a student account on the website, choose your program and cohort, confirm the admission requirements and pay to secure your seat. The whole process takes a few minutes.

Can I study while I work?

Yes. Classes are held on weekends, and missed sessions can be reviewed on the learning portal. Attendance of at least 80% is required to graduate.

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