vcc.ca
HRCA 1261: Communications for Health Care Assistants 2
Effective date
May 2026
Department
Health Care Assistant Int'l
School
Health Sciences
Description
Students continue to receive professional communication and study skills instruction as they build on the skills of a Health Care Assistant. Professional communication and study skills are developed in conjunction with topics in the Health Care Assistant Term 2 curriculum through real-world communication tasks relevant to the healthcare setting including clinical. Students' professional communication skills are enhanced in class and in lab while simulating care for clients in a complex care setting. Students continue to develop their intercultural competence to support success in their studies and the workplace in a Canadian setting. Upon completion of this course, students have the fundamental communication skills required to provide personal care for clients in a complex care setting and begin to interact professionally and appropriately with clients and health team members.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
HRCA 1161.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Communicate appropriately in class and in a Canadian complex care setting by applying intercultural communication skills.
- Choose and apply strategies to understand unfamiliar written and spoken information.
- Use and respond to HCA Term 2 professional terminology accurately.
- Respond effectively to written and verbal information, explanations, questions, requests, and directives in class and in a complex care setting.
- Document client information clearly and accurately in a complex care setting.
- Report appropriately to health team members in a complex care setting.
- Demonstrate intercultural competence and professional behaviours both in class and in a complex care setting.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 20
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 40
Total Hours: 60
Clinical, Lab, Rehearsal, Shop, Kitchen, Simulation, Studio: 40
Total Hours: 60
Instructional Strategies
Lectures, interactive class activities, lab activities, group work, online activities, simulation.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C+
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Assignments |
30 |
Interactive communication assignments |
|
Assignments |
30 |
Written assignments |
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
|
Participation |
10 |
Participation in class based on a rubric |
Course topics
- 1. Writing development (clarity, organization, sentence structure, mechanics) 2. Writing for the HCA professional (emails, charts, shift report, documentation) 3. Reading for the HCA professional (charts, instructions, emails) 4. Reading Assignments (Health Care Assistant textbook topics) 5. Reading and vocabulary learning strategies 6. Intercultural communication skills and strategies for effective professional communication within a complex care setting (including intercultural awareness and cultural humility) 7. Medical and professional terminology for HCA Term 2 (meaning, use, and pronunciation) 8. Giving and following direction (acknowledging; clarifying; confirming; responding) 9. Giving and receiving shift reports for complex care settings (summarizing, restating; explaining)
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.