vcc.ca
HRCA 2161: Communications for Health Care Assistants 3
Effective date
May 2026
Department
Health Care Assistant Int'l
School
Health Sciences
Description
Students continue to receive professional communication instruction as they build on the skills developed in clinical. Professional communication skills are further developed in conjunction with topics in the Health Care Assistant Term 3 curriculum through real-world communication tasks relevant to the healthcare setting including clinical. Students' professional communication skills are further enhanced in class and in clinical. 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 many of the communication skills required to provide personal care for clients in a special care setting and to interact professionally and appropriately with clients and health team members.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
2nd Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
HRCA 1220.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Communicate appropriately in class and in a Canadian special care setting by applying intercultural communication skills.
- Apply effective strategies to understand unfamiliar written and spoken information.
- Use and respond to HCA Term 3 professional terminology accurately.
- Respond effectively to written and verbal information, explanations, questions, requests, and directives in class and in a special care setting.
- Report and document client information clearly and accurately in a special care setting.
- Plan, organize and present a group presentation.
- Demonstrate intercultural competence and professional behaviours both in class and in a special 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 and online activities
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. Group presentation skills (planning; organizing; presenting) 2. Writing development (clarity; organization; sentence structure; mechanics) 3. Writing for the HCA professional (emails, charts, shift report, documentation) 4. Reading for the HCA professional (charts, instructions, emails) 5. Reading assignments (HCA Term 3 textbook topics) 6. Intercultural communication skills and strategies for effective professional communication within a special care setting (including intercultural awareness and cultural humility) 7. Medical and professional terminology for HCA Term 3 (meaning, use, and pronunciation) 8. Giving and following direction (acknowledging; clarifying; confirming; responding). 9. Giving and receiving shift reports (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.