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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 Health 2: Lifestyle and Choices (30 hours) HEAL 1000 Health 2: Lifestyle and Choices (30 hours)Credits: 2 credits Students are introduced to a holistic concept of health and the components of a health-enhancing lifestyle. Students are invited to reflect on their own experience of health recognizing challenges and resources that can impact lifestyle choices. Students are also introduced to a model that is applied in other courses understand the multi-faceted aspects of health and healing.
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HEAL 1010 Health and Healing: Concepts for Practice (70 hours) HEAL 1010 Health and Healing: Concepts for Practice (70 hours)Credits: 3 credits Developing a theoretical framework for practice, students are introduced to the philosophical values and theoretical understandings that provide a foundation for competent practice as a Health Care Assistant. This course focuses on concepts of caring and person-centered care, basic human needs, human growth and development; and family, culture and diversity as they relate to health and healing. Students are also introduced to a problem-solving model that will be critical to their practice.
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HEAL 1050 Health 1: Interpersonal Communications (50 hours) HEAL 1050 Health 1: 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 care-giving contexts. Students are encouraged to become more aware of the impact of their own communication choices and patterns. Participants 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 are introduced to the healthcare team and the roles and functions of the HCA within the team. Students 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 Healing 3: Personal Care and Assistance (120 hours) HEAL 1150 Healing 3: 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 Health Care Assistant role. The course is comprised of class and supervised laboratory experiences which enables students to integrate theory from other courses and develop caregiver skills that maintain and promote the comfort, safety and independence of individuals in community and facility contexts.
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HEAL 1200 Healing 1: Caring for Individuals Experiencing Common Health Challenges (115 hours) HEAL 1200 Healing 1: Caring for Individuals Experiencing Common Health Challenges (115 hours)Credits: 4 credits Students are introduced to the normal structure and function of the human body and normal bodily changes with aging. Students explore common challenges to health and healing in relation to each body system. Students also examine 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 Healing 2: Caring for Individuals Experiencing Cognitive or Mental Challenges (60 hours) HEAL 1350 Healing 2: Caring for Individuals Experiencing Cognitive or Mental Challenges (60 hours)Credits: 3 credits Building on content from other courses, students explore concepts and caregiving approaches that will allow them to work effectively with individuals experiencing cognitive or mental challenges. Emphasis is on recognizing the behaviours 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.
