Courses

Work Role: Introduction to the Health Care Assistant
This course develops the knowledge, attitude and values required for safe and ethical practice as a Health Care Assistant.

Body Systems, Medical Terminology
This course focuses on organ systems of the body, changes with aging and medical terminology. Learners will gain the knowledge of commonly used abbreviations used in health care and the ability to make accurate observations about an individual’s health condition.

Life Style & Choices
This course offers the opportunity for the student learner to explore concepts related to health, health promotion, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and specific risk factors to their own physical and mental health. Using a holistic concept of health and application of the 5 dimensions of health, students will explore lifestyle factors that have a positive or negative impact on health.

Health & Healing: Common Health Challenges
Using a body system framework, this course introduces students to the common challenges to health and healing.

Health & Healing: Concepts for Practice
This course provides learners with an introduction to the broad concepts of Caring and provides the opportunity to develop a conceptual framework to guide practice. The relationship between critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making is explored utilizing the steps of the care planning process. Using a holistic, person-centred approach students will examine the uniqueness of each individual. Students will explore human development and needs across the life span as well as the influence of family, culture and diversity as they relate to health and healing. The need for safety and the prevention of injury to self and others is also examined.

Human Relations: Interpersonal Communications
This course focuses on the development of qualities that enhance interpersonal communication skills and increase understanding of others. Learners will study communication theory and practical skills which contribute to effective interpersonal relationships

Healing: Personal Care Skills (Includes Administration of Medications)
This practical course offers the opportunity for students to acquire the basic personal assistance skills aimed at maintaining and promoting the comfort, safety, and independence of clients in community and facility based care. This course has a combination of theory and supervised laboratory experiences.

Healing: Caring for individuals experiencing Cognitive or Mental Challenges
(Includes Dementia Care) This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts and approaches involved in the care of clients experiencing cognitive or mental challenges. A strong focus is placed on the recognition of behaviours and effective intervention strategies that promote the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of this client population.

Palliative Care
This course provides learners an opportunity to develop the skills and awareness to provide emotional support and quality care to clients who are terminally ill.

Job Search Skills
This course provides students an opportunity to master job search skills. Through practice, students will have an opportunity to develop job interview skills.

Food Safe Certificate
This course provides learners with basic information about procedures and conditions necessary for the prevention of food-borne illness by using safe food handling methods and food preparation techniques to minimize the risk of illness. It is structured to promote worker health and safety.

WHMIS Certificate
Established by Health Canada, WHMIS is Canada’s hazard materials standard. This course addresses the safe handling of chemicals in the workplace and all the requirements set by WCB to ensure that controlled products used, stored, handled or disposed of in the workplace are properly labeled.

Clinical 1: Complex Facility Care and Specialized Dementia Care
This course introduces learners to the role of the Health Care Assistant in facility based care. Supported by a clinical instructor, students will have opportunity to implement personal care skills with clients with complex care needs and/or dementia. Students will gain expertise and confidence in the role of the Health Care Assistant in a complex care facility and develop effective problem solving, decision making, and time management skills. Students will be expected to care for a minimum of 4 clients independently by the end of the course.

Practicum 1: Complex Care &
Practicum 2: Multi-level Care
This course introduces learners to the role of the Health Care Assistant in the group home context and provides an opportunity to apply knowledge from all courses to implement competent care for persons with complex mental, physical and/or developmental disabilities. Learners will apply problem-solving skills while implementing care to clients and develop increased professionalism working collaboratively with the health team.

Practicum 3: Assisted Living
This course introduces learners to the role of the Health Care Assistant in Assisted Living and to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses. Students will have the opportunity to observe and/or implement learned clinical skills and to develop a greater appreciation for the promotion of independence.

Practicum 4: Home Support
This practice course provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses with individuals and families who receive home support service in their homes. Students will work collaboratively with a certified Health Care Assistant and under the guidance of agency Field Supervisors and Nurse Educators, to further develop problem-solving abilities and implement skills to provide safe care to clients in their homes. The practicum experience also provides the student the opportunity to develop increased independence, self awareness and professionalism.