Health Care Assistant

Why Choose North Island College?

• Respected credentials. Health care programs at NIC are well-respected in the communities we serve, and graduates are in high demand. With NIC’s high-quality instruction, small class sizes, and dedication to student success, graduates are able to achieve the high standards required to work in this demanding profession.
• Former student tell us. "The HCA program gives participants life skills for fulfilling, high-demand career in seniors’ care. Within a few months of graduating you are absorbed into a team of workers providing life-quality and care to the elderly, a generation who gave so much to ensure our freedom. It is also the first rung in a ladder which can lead to other roles in the nursing field, such as programming, LPN, RN and nurse-practitioner."

Program Highlights

The Health Care Assistant (HCA) certificate is designed to prepare students for work as front-line care providers and members of a healthcare team who receive direction and supervision from other health professionals such as Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses. Students are provided with opportunities to develop the basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide assistance to individuals in the community or in care facilities. Graduates are prepared to provide care to older adults experiencing diverse and often complex health and illness needs.

All of the offerings have classroom and practice experience components. Students participate in a range of activities, working with each other and with the instructor to master essential skills. The classroom is seen as a microcosm of the workplace, where students learn skills and behaviours that will carry them effectively into the work force.

Clinical practice experiences occur outside of the college setting. During the community component of the practice experience, students participate in services that are designed to meet the health needs of older adults such as home support. During the complex care facility component, students work in older adult residential care centers. Students will have two clinical courses in residential care with the goal of gradually building on their novice care skills. At the end of the program, successful graduates will be able to competently carry out the roles and responsibilities of a Health Care Assistant.

Note: The new provincial curriculum was implemented in the fall of 2009. The name of the program has changed to Health Care Assistant, and was formerly known as the Home Support/Resident Care Attendant Program.
 

Career Opportunities

Upon completion of the program, graduates are qualified to work in a variety of settings. Health Care Assistants work in community home support agencies, complex care facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, and adult day programs. Currently, there is a high demand for graduates of this program.

For further information about the roles and responsibilities of HCAs, potential students are encouraged to review the following document posted at www.health.gov.bc.ca: Care Aide Competency Project: Framework of Practice for Community Health Workers and Resident Care Attendants. 

Practice Experience

Student practice experiences in health agencies are essential to the program. Students will be placed in community agencies that have services and resources to support the health of adults. Complex care facilities provide residential care and support for a primarily older adult population. While the majority of practice placements are in centres close to NIC campus communities, it may be necessary to utilize agencies in other Vancouver Island communities. Students may be scheduled to attend practice experiences in other communities and must arrange their own transportation and assume related costs. Travel may include ferry transportation to island communities. Students may be required to work a variety of shifts, 4, 6, 8 and/or 12 hour shifts, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
 

Admission Requirements

1. English 11 with a C+ or better, or NIC ENG 052, or ESL 052 and ESL 055 and ESL 058 with a C+ or better, or successful English assessment test.
2. Completed HCA Intake Package
3. Satisfactory Criminal Records Search
4. Two satisfactory letters of reference: one Professional Letter of Reference focusing on paid or volunteer work (suggested minimum of 20 hours volunteering) and one Personal Reference from someone outside the applicant's family

Before Classes Begin

Once accepted to the program, but before classes begin, students will be required to complete the following:

1. FAC 021 Current Standard First Aid Certification with CPR Level C
2. TFS 010 Food Safe Level 1
3. Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) course

To Be Successful

Skills and behaviours required to be successful in the program include but are not limited to the following:

• The ability to communicate clearly in English, both spoken and written.
• The ability to access online resources and to submit typewritten essays and assignments. In the practice setting students may use electronic documentation. As a result, basic computer literacy is an essential skill, and students must have internet access and an email address.
• It is an expectation of the HCA program that students demonstrate responsible, accountable behaviour in terms of maintaining a pattern of regular attendance, and establishing effective working relationships with student colleagues.
• An interest in caring and providing service to an ethnically and culturally diverse clientele of people spanning all age groups
• Problem solving skills. When providing care to clients the student must demonstrate responsible, safe and ethical behaviour and make informed, considered judgments.
• An ability to work independently and as a member of a health care team.
• The ability to carry out complex skill sequences of 15 or more steps, to work on their feet for long periods of time, and to demonstrate safe body mechanics.
• Demonstrate safe psychomotor skills when moving, positioning, and transferring residents with or without mechanical aids, i.e., from bed to chair.
• Provide intimate personal care such as bathing, feeding, and bowel/urinary care.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills in various contexts with clients, instructor, staff and student peers.
• A valid driver's license and access to personal transport is recommended for the HCA 145 Home Support Practicum and other practice experience components. Students who are not able to provide their own transport may have difficulty meeting the requirements of these courses.
• The capacity to maintain their own mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being while working in a rewarding but often stressful working environment.  Absences in excess of 10% in any theory course will require the writing of a comprehensive final exam. Absences in excess of 10% in any practice courses may jeopardize the successful completion of the course objectives.
• HCA students are required to adhere to relevant college policies and regulations. Failure to adhere to these policies and program regulations may result in the student being required to leave the program.

Program Requirements

• HCA-100 Health and Healing: Concepts for Practice
• HCA-105 Health I: Interpersonal Communications
• HCA-110 Health 2: Lifestyle and Choices
• HCA-115 Healing I: Caring for Individuals Experiencing Common Health Challenges
• HCA-120 Healing 3: Personal Care and Assistance
• HCA-125 Healing 2: Caring for Individuals Experiencing Cognitive or Mental Challenges
• HCA-130 Work Role: Introduction to HCA 

Includes a minimum of 270 hours of clinical practice experience:

• HCA-140 Practice Experience I
• HCA-145 Practice Experience II
• HCA-150 Practice Experience III

Completion Requirements

1. The HCA certificate must be completed within 2 years of admission to the program.
2. To successfully complete the program, students must maintain an 80% average or better.
3. Successful completion of the appropriate HCA theory courses is required to progress into the practice experience.