Effective February 1, 2024 - due to limited demand, the part-time Health Care Aide program through the Winnipeg Campus is currently not offering courses. Please refer to Health Care Aide: RRC Polytech: Program Explorer for information about the full-time program. For those students currently in the part time HCA program with the Winnipeg Campus, please reach out to the Continuing Education Health Sciences Program Facilitator as we will continue to work with you to complete your program.
Description
This program develops the knowledge and skills you need to become a health care worker who, under the supervision of a nurse, assists hospital patients, personal care home residents, or home care clients. Health care aides help people to remain independent by assisting them with their physical, emotional, and social needs and their daily activities.
You will learn about the expectations and responsibilities of the role and the knowledge and skills required to be a health care aide. You will study related topics including interpersonal communications, growth and development, gerontological care, and home care.
You will have opportunities to gain experience in simulated laboratory settings at the College and in actual practice settings in health care agencies.
You must complete the program within 36 months.
You must attend a Personal Health Information Act session prior to registering for the Health Care Aide Clinical Experience. Please bring your Red River College student ID card to the session.
Note: Clinical practicums placements cannot be guaranteed as spaces are limited and available on a fluctuating basis. There may be a waiting period for practicum registrations and placements.
Immunizations and Testing
Note: Applicants must submit academic credentials and Canadian Language Benchmarks for approval prior to registering in the Health Care Delivery course (first course of study)
Regular Admission Requirements
1. Successful completion of Grade 12, including one credit in each of the following:
- Grade 12 English
- Grade 12 Math
- Grade 10, 11 or 12 Science
and
Meet English Language Proficiency Requirements
English is the language of instruction at the College. Applicants to the College are responsible for a level of English proficiency that is sufficient to participate in all aspects of College study, including lectures, reading, writing, and discussion.
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to meet one of the following English language proficiency requirements:
a.. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Listening 6; Speaking 6; Reading 6; Writing 6
b. Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees(CanTEST) Listening 4; Speaking 4; Reading 4; Writing 3.5
*To make an appointment to complete the Canadian Language Benchmark assessments, contact:
Red River College
Language Training Centre
300-123 Main Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A3
204-945-6151
Mature Student Admission Requirements
If you are 19 years of age or older and have been out of high school for a minimum of one year at the time of application, and you do not meet the regular admission requirements, you may apply under the Mature Student admission requirements.
1. Successful completion of Grade 10, including one credit in each of the following:
- Grade 10 English
- Grade 10 Math
- Grade 10 Science
and
2. Meet English Language Proficiency Requirements.
| English Language Assessment | Minimum Required Levels | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L - Listening, S - Speaking, R - Reading, W - Writing | L | S | R | W |
| CAEL and CAEL Online (Canadian Academic English Language) | 60 | 50 | 60 | 60 |
| Communication for Health Professions
(RRC Pathway)
Canadian Citizens: LINC programs are not available. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Communication for Internationally Educ Health Prof
(RRC Pathway)
Canadian Citizens: LINC programs are not available. | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| IELTS - Academic
(International English Language Testing System)
Please Note: 3 year expiry date for Nursing Program Applicants | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Password Skills
(An in person English Language Assessment hosted by RRC Polytech)
This in-person, computer-based test is composed of four test modules: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The test takes 3 hours and 5 minutes to complete and is conducted in two parts. The first part assesses reading, listening, and writing, and the second part assesses speaking in a separate room.
Password Skills costs $139 to take through RRC Polytech.
Password Skills is hosted by the RRC Polytech Testing and Assessment Centre: E440, Manitou a bi Bii Daziigae building, on the fourth floor.
If you wish to do Password Skills remotely (not in-person), Password Skills Plus can be taken online. RRC Polytech does not offer Password Skills Plus, but we do accept the results for entry into program.
| 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Password Skills Plus (Password Skills Plus is an online assessment that can be taken instead of Password Skills. ) | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| TOEFL-iBT
(Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet Based Test)
To meet the needs of students who are unable to take the TOEFL iBT® test at a test center due to public health concerns, ETS is temporarily offering the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test in selected areas. | 19 | 18 | 18 | 21 |
To be a successful health care worker, you must be a caring, flexible person. It is important that you enjoy working with people of all ages and that you are able to think and act responsibly and with integrity.
Skill in oral, written and interpersonal communication is essential for developing effective relationships with clients and co-workers.
You will need to be able to accept constructive criticism and improve performance based on such criticism.
You must be prepared to accept a schedule that involves evening and weekend work during your practical experience in the program and in the workplace after you graduate.
This program must be completed within 36-months. The passing grade for each course is 70%.
First Course of Study:
The following courses have pre-requisites and should be taken in the following order:
Last Course of Study:
* For additional information and Clinical Practice requirements, please see "CO-OP/Practicum Information"
Legend:
Gain the knowledge and skills to assist clients with daily activities. Learn more about mobility, hygiene and grooming. You must also complete the skills lab.
Continue to develop the knowledge and skills you'll need to assist clients with activities of daily living. Topics include nutrition, circulation, respiration, and elimination. You must also complete the skills lab.
Explore the concepts of the aging process. Examine the critical issues that affect aging, personal adaptation to aging, and community resources. Topics include the demography of aging, societal and personal attitudes to aging, major theories of aging, physical aging, psycho-social aging, economic, social and political factors.
Examine home care and other community agencies and the services they provide to clients in the community. Discover the differences in caring for clients in community settings, and the special skills needed by direct service workers.
Explore the concepts of a family unit and the role that each member plays. Examine the various stages of growth and development throughout the life cycle. The issue of domestic violence will also be addressed.
Identify role change and other tasks associated with the long-term care. Common health problems will be discussed. Rehabilitation and the promotion of independence are stressed. Other topics include mental health and illness, informal care giving, institutionalization and end-of-life care.
Examine the process of communication and develop interpersonal communication skills. Learn how concepts such as basic human needs, the helping relationship, mental health and stress impact interpersonal relationships. Explore theory and practice related to written communication, job search skills and the use of medical terminology.
This course is for students who have taken the following courses through distance delivery: Activities of Daily Living, Part 1, Activities of Daily Living, Part 2, and Safety in Health Care Settings. Students will develop and demonstrate skills in a practice setting.
Discuss principles of medical asepsis, infection control and the prevention of the spread of communicable diseases. Accident and fire prevention, and the role of the health care aid/health unit clerk in an emergency are stressed.
Cultivate an understanding of the Manitoba health care system. Topics include the roles of individual members of the health care team, multiculturalism, ethical and legal considerations, problem-solving and the organization of workload, and the role of the health care aide in admitting, transferring and discharging patients.
The clinical practice course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply, in the practice setting, the knowledge and skills learned in the theory courses. Students are eligible for clinical practice after successfully completing all theory courses. The clinical practice course is a minimum of six weeks (full-time) in length. Students will have a three-week clinical experience in both an acute and a long-term care setting. During clinical practice, students will practice directly with an experienced health care aide preceptor, under the supervision of a RRC clinical instructor. Clinical practice is arranged by Red River College. Unit assignments and individual shift schedules will be arranged according to the guidelines agreed upon by RRC and the health care facility. Please note that the clinical practice course requires a BLS for Health Care Provider certificate, proof of PHIA attendance, and RRC photo identification. Students must submit an Adult Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector (ACRVS) check and a Provincial Child Abuse Registry (PCAR) check within six months prior to the start date of clinical.
The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (R) Program is a safe, non-harmful behaviour management system designed to aid human service professionals in the management of disruptive and assaultive people, even during the most violent moments. It has been developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute, a training organization devoted to training staff in the safe management of potentially violent individuals.
The BLS Provider Course is designed to prepare healthcare professionals to recognize several life-threatening emergencies and to provide CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking in a safe, timely, and effective manner as per the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This course includes adult, child and infant rescue skills in both out of hospital and in-hospital settings.
Click the "More Info" link beside the course's name to view the description of the course.
The Health Care Aide Clinical Experience course provides you with the opportunity to apply, in the practice setting, the knowledge and skills learned in the theory courses. You are eligible for clinical practice after successfully completing all theory courses and all practicum requirements.
The clinical practice course is a minimum of six weeks (full-time) in length. You will have a three-week clinical experience in both an acute and a long-term care setting. This includes a short experience in a community (home care) setting. During clinical practice, you will practice directly with an experienced health care aide preceptor, under the supervision of a College clinical instructor.
Clinical practice is arranged by the College and will take place in Winnipeg. Unit assignments and individual shift schedules will be arranged according to the guidelines agreed upon by RRC and the health care facility. You must be available for day, evening and/or weekend shifts for a six-week period.
Registration deadline for the clinical practicum is three weeks prior to the start date of the practicum.
You must submit the following documents a minimum of four weeks prior to the start date of the practicum:
1. Immunization Testing
2. Adult Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector (ACRVS), Adult Abuse Registry (AAR) and Provincial Child Abuse Registry (PCAR) checks conducted no more than six months prior to you attending the clinical practice. You must submit original documents. For more information, see: Police Information Check
3. Copy of a Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider (formerly BLS for Health Care Providers) - Level C (must be current within one (1) year prior to you attending the practicum). The course must comply with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada guidelines.
4. Proof of attendance at a PHIA information session
5. Copy of your RRC Photo Identification
6. Proof of completion in the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention ® Training Program (program must be current; taken within one year prior to attending practicum)
7. Proof of N95 mask fitting. You will be responsible for any associated fees.
If you have any questions or concerns about practicum/entrance requirements or document submission please contact the Program Facilitator @ schuhai@rrc.ca.
Note: Placements cannot be guaranteed as spaces are limited and available on a fluctuating basis. There may be a waiting period for practicum registrations and placements.
Online learning is a critical component of course delivery in all Red River College programs. To ensure each student has the tools they need to achieve their academic goals, all Red River College students require, at minimum:
1. Off-campus access to a current computer with a webcam
2. A high speed internet connection
• Recommended minimum speed: 10 mbps for download, 3 mbps for upload
• Slower internet connection speeds may result in audio and video issues. Please keep in mind that if others in your home are using the same internet connection at the same time as you are, you may also experience audio and video issues.
• Please refer to https://www.rrc.ca/future-students/computer-requirements/for further information on Computer Requirements for Students.
Please note that any anticipated costs are not included in Books and Supplies estimates.
Upon successful completion of the Health Care Aide Program, under the supervision of a nurse, you will show evidence of a beginning ability to:
For this program, you may be eligible for RPL if:
or
or
Joanna Simons-Swinden
Coordinator - Student Advisement
Nursing Department
204-632-3019
jswinden@rrc.ca
You must successfully complete your part-time program with in 36 months from the start of the first course of the program unless otherwise stated in the program outline. You must obtain a minimum grade of 70% (B) in each course to be successful in this program.
When you have successfully completed all the required courses in this program, be sure to apply for your certificate. For complete details and forms, see rrc.ca/convocation
You will not be granted more than 75% of your credit requirements for graduation through transfer of credit. Questions about graduation? Please call 204-694-1789 or 1-866-242-7073 for assistance.