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Program Information
TRU offers the Health Care Assistant certificate program following the Health Care Assistant Provincial Curriculum.
You can begin the program on the Kamloops campus in September, January, or May. You also have the option to begin the program in February at the Williams Lake campus.
This seven-month program is designed to prepare you to work as a supervised health care assistant. The skills you learn can be applied in the community within complex care homes, assisted living settings and private homes. You will be trained to help older adults meet their basic physical, emotional, environmental and social needs while providing practical assistance to help your client be as independent as physically and mentally possible.
You will learn
- Basic anatomy
- Communication skills
- Human physiology
- Health challenges including cognition
HEAL 1000 Lifestyle and Choices (30 hours) HEAL 1000 Lifestyle and Choices (30 hours)Credits: 2 credits This course introduces students to a holistic concept of health and the components of a health enhancing lifestyle. Students will be invited to reflect on their own experience of health, recognizing challenges and resources that can impact lifestyle choices. Students will be introduced to a model that can be applied in other courses to understand the multi-faceted aspects of health and healing.
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HEAL 1010 Concepts for Practice (70 hours) HEAL 1010 Concepts for Practice (70 hours)Credits: 3 credits This course provides students with the opportunity to develop a theoretical framework for practice. Students will be introduced to the philosophical values and theoretical understandings that provide a foundation for competent practice as an HCA. The course focuses on concepts of caring and person-centered care; basic human needs and human development; and family, culture, and diversity as they relate to health and healing. Students will also be introduced to a problem-solving model that will be critical to their practice.
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HEAL 1050 Interpersonal Communications (50 hours) HEAL 1050 Interpersonal Communications (50 hours)Credits: 3 credits This course focuses on the development of self-awareness, increased understanding of others, and development of effective interpersonal communication skills that can be used in a variety of caregiving contexts. Students will be encouraged to become more aware of the impact of their own communication choices and patterns. They will have opportunities to develop and use communication techniques that demonstrate personal awareness, respect, and active listening skills.
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HEAL 1100 Health Care Assistant: Introduction to Practice (30 hours) HEAL 1100 Health Care Assistant: Introduction to Practice (30 hours)Credits: 2 credits This course provides an introduction to the role of the HCA within the British Columbia health care system. Students will be introduced to the health care team and the roles and functions of HCAs within the team. Students will also have opportunities to develop self-reflective skills required for competent practice and will be introduced to effective job-finding approaches.
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HEAL 1150 Personal Care and Assistance (120 hours) HEAL 1150 Personal Care and Assistance (120 hours)Credits: 3 credits This practical course offers students the opportunity to acquire personal care and assistance skills within the parameters of the HCA role. The course comprises class and supervised laboratory experiences, which assist the student to integrate theory from other courses to develop caregiver skills that maintain and promote the comfort, safety, and independence of clients in community and facility contexts.
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HEAL 1200 Common Health Challenges (115 hours) HEAL 1200 Common Health Challenges (115 hours)Credits: 4 credits This course introduces students to the normal structure and function of the human body and normal bodily changes associated with aging. Students will explore common challenges to health and healing in relation to each body system. Students will also be encouraged to explore person-centered practice as it relates to the common challenges to health and, in particular, to end-of-life care.
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HEAL 1250 Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living and/or Group Home Setting (60 hours) HEAL 1250 Practice Experience in Home Support, Assisted Living and/or Group Home Setting (60 hours)Credits: 3 credits This practice course provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses with individuals and families in a community setting. Opportunity will be provided for students to become more familiar with the role of the HCA within a home support agency, assisted living facility, or a group home to gain abilities that will prepare graduates for employment in these settings. It is important that students understand the philosophy of community care settings and the importance of client choice and independence.
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HEAL 1300 Practice Experience in Multi-Level and/or Complex Care (210 hours) HEAL 1300 Practice Experience in Multi-Level and/or Complex Care (210 hours)Credits: 7 credits This supervised practice experience provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses in the program with individuals in a multi-level or complex care setting. A portion of this clinical experience will be devoted to working with individuals with dementia. Opportunity will be provided for students to gain expertise and confidence with the role of the HCA within a complex care facility.
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HEAL 1350 Cognitive and/or Mental Health Challenges (60 hours) HEAL 1350 Cognitive and/or Mental Health Challenges (60 hours)Credits: 3 credits This course builds on content from other courses to assist students to explore concepts and caregiving approaches that will allow them to work effectively with individuals experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges. The emphasis in this course is on supporting clients with dementia, recognizing responsive behaviors, and identifying person-centered intervention strategies.
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Students will join an HCA cohort for this course only. The days of the week and time of the course will vary according to the HCA program schedule. Course registration is available only when space permits.
Please contact the Future Students Team (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) by email at futurestudents@tru.ca or by phone at 250-828-5006 if you are a prospective student looking for information about course dates, tuition fees and how to apply to TRU.
