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Health Care Assistant Program

Health Care Assistants are prepared to work in both healthcare facilities and community agencies. 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. HCA’s promote and maintain the health, safety, independence, comfort and well-being of individuals and families. HCA’s provide 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. The work done by HCAs is based on a set of fundamental values, beliefs and ethical principles that are consistently reflected in all aspects of their work with clients, residents, families, team members and others. Amongst these core values, beliefs and principles, which serve as foundations of HCA practice, are those related to:

  • Human Beings
  • Older Adults
  • Health and Healing
  • Healthcare
  • Caring and Caregiving
  • The Family in Health and Healing
  • Understanding Culture and Diversity

The HCA Program is designed by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function effectively as front-line care-givers and respected members of the healthcare team, in community and facility settings. 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.

Note: CPR, First Aid, Food Safe and basic WHMIS will be completed during the program.

Want to speak to someone regarding the Health Care Assistant program? Click here to contact us.

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.

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: 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.

Courses

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

GE123 – 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
Personal Care and Assistance

  • 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