Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program
Promote and maintain the health and well-being of individuals and families.
Health Care Assistant Programs start May 27th at our Maple Ridge campus. Click here to learn more!
Our Health Care Assistant program is for students with strong wills and warm hearts. Health Care Assistants (HCA) or Resident Care Attendants (RCA) help individuals and families deal with common health challenges such as aging and mental health challenges. Learn how to work with a team of other health care professionals to identify and address the unique needs of each unique client.
The HCA program prepares students to work in both healthcare facilities and community agencies. Health Care Assistant’s promote and maintain the health, safety, independence, comfort and well-being of individuals and families. They may take on the roles of Community Health Worker and/or Resident Care Attendant. In these roles they are important and valued members of the health care team.
An HCA provides personal care assistance and services in a caring manner that recognizes and supports the unique needs, abilities and backgrounds of clients and residents. They work as members of a health care team in a variety of settings with direction and supervision from other health professionals.
Under the direction and supervision of a health professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being of clients/residents. Sprott Shaw’s Health Care Assistant program will prepare you for a rewarding career in health care.
Note: CPR, First Aid, Food Safe and basic WHMIS will be completed during the program.
Entrance Requirements
Grade 12/GED or mature student status. Applicants must successfully complete the admissions interview and entrance assessments.
Prerequisites
Applicants for this program must also have excellent communication skills (composition), sign a criminal/medical waiver, obtain a satisfactory certificate of health from a physician, submit a criminal record search, and provide evidence of clear TB testing prior to acceptance. All must be done no more than 3 months before the start date of the program.
Online Learning Components
One or more courses in this program have Instructor-led G2 Online Learning components. The inclusion of online learning tools varies by campus and instructor. *These courses are not online-only.
Total Program Hours: 810 Hours.
Full-time Program Length: 29 Weeks (6.7 Months).
Clinical Placements: 300 Total Hours (4 Two-Week Placements) – Work Placement Overview.
Career Opportunities
Community Health Worker, Resident Care Attendant (RCA), Home Support, Adult Day Care, Assisted Living, Long Term Care, Acute and Complex Care, Special Care Units
Program may not be available at all campuses. Program content is subject to change.
AD001 – 10 hours
Foundations of Technologies
- Computer basics/file management
- Internet/email/keyboarding
GE001 – 10 hours
Foundations for Success
- Goal setting, note taking, problem solving, team work
- Overview of policies & procedures
GE121 – 50 hours
Career Planning and Management (Comp/Inc)
- Interview Techniques
- Create an employment package
HCA100 – 50 hours
Concepts for Practice
- Concepts of caring and person-centred care
- Basic human needs and human development
- Family culture and diversity
HCA101 – 50 hours
Interpersonal Communications
- Communication with clients families and colleagues
- Medical terminology, documentation and reporting
- Vital signs
- RAI, Crisis Prevention and Management
HCA102 – 50 hours
Lifestyle and Choices
- Holistic components of health and healing
- (Health Wheel)
- Basic nutrition and Food Safe
- Self-care
- Stress management
HCA200 – 50 hours
Introduction to Practice
- Health care system in BC and Canada
- The health care team
- Standard precautions, safety, WHMIS
HCA201 – 50 hours
Caring for Individuals Experiencing Common Health Challenges
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Normal aging changes
- Common heath challenges
- Practical skills used to manage common health challenges
HCA202 – 50 hours
Caring for Individuals Experiencing Cognitive Challenges
- Physical, psychological and behavioural changes
- Promotion of independence and quality of life
- Gentle Care
HCA203 – 50 hours
Introduction to Acute Care Skills
- Develop skills that maintain and promote comfort, safety and quality of life
- Promotion of independence
- Wound care, IV, O2, Assisting with Medications
- Post-operative care
- Physical examinations
- First Aid CPR
HCA204 – 50 hours
Hospice-Palliative Care
- Communication skills used in caring for the dying and their family
- Understanding Hospice and Palliative Care
- Personal awareness and self reflection and self care
- Practical skills used to help manage common challenges in end-of-life care
HCA205 – 50 hours
Caring For Individuals Experiencing Mental Health Challenges
- Members of health care team involved in mental health
- Common mental health issues – depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders
- Communication, treatment and preventative strategies
HCA300 – 75 hours
Clinical 1- Multi-level and/or Complex Care (Comp/Inc)
HCA301 – 75 hours
Clinical 2- Multi-Level and/or Complex Care (Comp/Inc)
HCA400 – 75 hours
Clinical 3- Multi-Level and/or Complex Care (Comp/Inc)
HCA401 – 75 hours
Clinical 4- Assisted Living and/or Home Support (Comp/Inc)
Clinical Training Information
- Supervised clinical training may include any shifts other than day shift (i.e. evenings– 3 to 11pm or nights– 11pm to 7am and possibly weekends).
- Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical training sites.
- Clinical training is conducted in shifts of a minimum of 7.5 hours per day up to 12 hours per day for a total of 150 hours or 2 weeks at each clinical training.
- Placement sites are subject to availability. Clinical sites may require more current CRC and TB testing (to be done at student’s expense)
- Food Safe, Standard First Aid, CPR-C and introduction to WHMIS must be completed prior to going out on Clinical