Health care assistants are valued and important members of the healthcare team who promote and maintain the health, safety, independence, comfort, and well-being of patients.
The Health Care Assistant (HCA) diploma program equips students with the hands-on skills and knowledge to function effectively as front-line caregivers in community and facility settings. Under the direction and supervision of a health care professional, graduates will be able to provide person-centered care that promotes and maintains the physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and social well-being of patients.
Throughout the program, students will receive the following forms of training:
In our “Introduction to Acute Care Skills” course, our curriculum includes all of the basic introductory acute care and medication administration assistance concepts included in the HCA BC provincial curriculum. After successful completion of our Health Care Assistant diploma program, you will also receive completion certificates for “Introduction to Acute Care Skills” and “Medication Administration Assistance.”
The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry reviews and recognizes Health Care Assistant programs in BC to ensure that they are: following the provincial curriculum, implementing a common set of training standards, and graduating competent front-line health care providers. Confirming that health care assistants meet registration requirements is integral to the Registry’s mandate of patient protection and improved standards of care.
Graduates of the HCA program delivered by Sprott Shaw College are eligible for registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry to demonstrate their competence and credentials to work for publicly funded employers in BC.
Prior to Acceptance:
70% average upon successful completion of all courses. CPR, First Aid, RAI, SPECO, Crisis Prevention, WHMIS and FoodSafe Level 1 (or an appropriate equivalent as listed on the BCCDC website) will be completed during the program.
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical training sites.
Clinical Training for HCA 401 may be conducted as a clinical or practicum placement.
All clinical or practicum placements are conducted in shifts of a minimum of 7 hours per day up to 12 hours per day for a total of 270 hours.
Clinical placement sites are subject to availablitity (may be in various areas).
Clinical sites may require more current and/or additional CRC (for instance: RCMP) and TB testing (to be done at student’s expense).
Students can expect to complete 1 – 4 hours of homework per day.
Sprott Shaw College graduates are working across the province in all Health Authorities including Fraser Health, Island Health, Northern and Interior Health Authorities. We have graduates working in complex care facilities operated by the health authorities and privately managed care facilities. We also have graduates working in the largest private nursing care companies in BC like Nurse Next Door, Bayshore Home Health and Retirement Concepts. If for any reason, you need assistance finding employment after graduation, we offer Employment Services for life at each of our 16 campuses.
This program includes the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention© Seminar using the Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc. curriculum and certified training. All students will be able to take the exam to become Blue Card™ endorsed.
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