Health Care Assistant Upgrade

Benefits of health care assistant upgrade program

This program prepares individuals with previous health care assistant education and experience for practice in BC.

It is designed to address individual needs as identified through the NCAS (Nursing Community Assessment Service) HCA Competency Assessment.

It enables individuals to review and enhance previously acquired knowledge and upgrade their skills to meet practice requirements so that they may become registered as HCAs in BC with BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

The NCAS Health Care Assistant Upgrade Program includes the following:

1. Comprehensive Theory Review Modules (2 months, 155 hours)

The theory review component is designed to be completed in a self-paced and self-directed format, with  online learning modules and assessments. Students will work at their own pace, and an HCA instructor will be available to answer content-specific questions and to support student progress.

2. HCA Lab Skills Review and Skills Testing (1 month, 20 hours)

After completing the theory review, students will be oriented to the skills lab and will work with an HCA instructor for a basic HCA skills refresher before being assessed for a complex care placement.

3. Supervised Practice Experience Multi-Level/Complex Care (40 hours)

Students will be assigned to a clinical setting under the supervision of an HCA Clinical Instructor, where the student will be expected to meet program learning outcomes in the practice setting.

Learning Objectives of health care assistant upgrade program:

The nine program learning outcomes prescribed by the NCAS that the students must meet for successful completion of this program are:

Provides person-centred care and assistance that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual client

Uses an informed problem-solving approach to provide care and assistance that promotes the physical, psychological, social, cognitive and/or spiritual well-being of clients and families

Provides care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges

Provides care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges

Interacts with other members of the healthcare team in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals

Communicates clearly, accurately, and in sensitive ways with clients and families within a variety of community and facility contexts

Provides personal care and assistance in a safe, competent and organized manner

Recognizes and responds to own self-development, learning and health-enhancement needs

Performs the care provider role in a reflective, responsible, accountable and professional/ethical manner

The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry

Reviews and recognizes the Health Care Assistant Upgrade Program 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 health care assistant upgrade 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.

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