Health Assisting Program Overview

  • The Health Assisting program offers bright prospects for students seeking rewarding careers in one of the fastest growing employment areas. The overall objective of the program is to give each student an opportunity to develop his/her unique potential and achieve personal, academic, vocational/technical, and civic goals. This is accomplished by providing, in conjunction with other school activities and programs, a state-of-the-art, integrated academic, and a vocational/technical program that focuses on knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed by contemporary health care workers both in general and in select specialty areas.

    Qualified students may take the certifying exams for the following:
     

    • OSHA 10-Hour General Industry-Healthcare
    • American Red Cross Babysitter Training
    • National Safety Council First Aid
    • National Safety Council Bloodborne and Airborne Pathogens
    • American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers (CPR)
    • MA Department of Public Health Nurse Aide
    • National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners Alzheimer’s and Dementia Training
    • MA Council for Home Care Aide Services Home Health Aide
    • National Healthcareer Association EKG Technician
    • MA Council of Human Service Providers Direct Support Specialist
     
    Clinical experiences are provided in select health care-related agencies. Employment opportunities exist in diverse health care settings even before graduation. Those who gain additional education may pursue certification, registration, or licensure in nursing and dental careers, diagnostic services, emergency medical services, psychological and social services, rehabilitative services, nutrition and dietary services, and more.
Diman Health Assisting Program

Announcements

  • Diman Advisory Board Seeks Your Help

    We want you to join the Diman family. While we're proud of our vocational programs and their ability to turn young men and women into skilled members of the community, we can't maintain that level of quality without the help of industry professionals. Please consider joining our Vocational Advisory Board, where you will help steer our vocational programs and students toward future success. Learn more and apply here.

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Skills & Careers

  • Students graduating from Diman have a variety of job options open to them. Below is a partial list of jobs Diman grads from this program are qualified for, depending on their level of education.

    Diman Diploma 2 Year College 4 Year College
    • Nurse aide
    • Home health aide
    • Dietary aide
    • EKG technician
    • Direct care specialist
    • Massage therapist
    • X-ray technician
    • Medical assistant
    • Optometrist
    • Licensed practical nurse
    • Registered nurse 
    • Pharmacy technician
    • Surgical technician
    • Emergency medical technician
    • Respiratory therapist
    • Physical therapy assistant
    • Occupational therapy
      assistant
    • Athletic trainer
    • Speech therapist
    • Physical therapist
    • Registered nurse 
    • Medical laboratory technologist
    • Occupational therapist
    • Dietician
    • Medical doctor
    • Pharmacist
    • Psychologist
    • Nurse Practitioner
    • Physician’s Assistant

    Skills & Skill Areas

    • Understanding medical terminology
    • Communicating effectively
    • Reporting and recording client data
    • Assisting with activities of daily living
    • Administering comfort measures
    • Responding to client needs
    • Assisting with nutrition and hydration
    • Measuring and recording vital signs
    • Demonstrating employability skills
    • Demonstrating health and safety practices 
    • Responding to medical emergencies
    • Demonstrating child care skills
    • Assisting clients with cognitive impairments
    • Identifying ethical and legal responsibilities
    • Complying with infection control procedures
    • Operating a mechanical lift
    • Collecting specimens
    • Performing electrocardiography
    • Assisting with medication administration
    • Performing phlebotomy
    • Understanding intellectual & developmental disabilities

In the News

  •   Culinary arts students

    Diman students in demand

    Looking for a job? You’re in luck, with experts saying that the current job market offers historic levels of open positions across a wide swath of industries. “It’s the first time when the leverage is really in employees’ hands,” said Kevin Lazaro, Director of Cooperative Education at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. “I’ve seen a lot of changes, but I’ve never seen such a boon of job opportunities across a multitude of industries.” (6/15/22)

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  •  Hina Naveed

    This DACA recipient was a top Diman grad. Now she's a nurse on the front lines of COVID.

    A Diman graduate and DACA recipient who spent most of last year working on the front lines of the pandemic is hoping to combat the inequalities she’s witnesses as a health care worker and immigrant. (3/4/21)

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  •  Helping a student with brushing

    Giving kids smiles

    The Dental Assisting and Health Assisting shops hosted approximately 125 head start children in “Give Kids a Smile” during the month of February, honoring children’s dental health month. (2/14/20)

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  • Miss Massachusetts visits Diman

    Strong, Smart, and Bold

    Diman students recently had the opportunity to enjoy a visit from Lyndsey Littlefield, the current Miss Massachusetts. She spoke to students in the Dental Assisting, Health Assisting, Medical Assisting, and Business Technology Shops. (1/9/20)

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  •  A student in a dentist's chair

    Diman shops give kids a smile

    The Dental Assisting and Health Careers programs hosted the local Head Start program during Children's Dental Health Month. (2/13/19)

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  •  CNA students

    Health Assisting students earn CNA certification

    29 Health Assisting juniors have completed the Nurse Aide Training Program, which begins in the freshman year and continues through the junior year. Training involves a clinical rotation at Kimwell Healthcare in Fall River, where students are given a resident assignment and apply knowledge and skills learned in shop to care for residents in a long-term care setting. (5/25/18)

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