Resident Care Attendant

The Resident Care Attendant (RCA) program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to function as frontline care providers in long-term care facilities. Graduates are prepared to provide care to older adults experiencing diverse, often complex, but relatively stable, health and illness needs. Upon completion of the program, graduates are qualified to work in any level of institutionalized continuing care service, including adult daycare, personal care, intermediate care, and extended care.

The program is based on a provincial curriculum and includes classroom and laboratory instruction as well as practicum experience in various facilities. This is a full-time program with daily attendance expected. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

Entrance requirements

1. Successful completion of one of the following:

• B.C. secondary school graduation. Official transcript required.
• Grade 11 with English 11 (regular, not modified). Official transcript required.
• College and Career Preparation (Advanced Level certificate)
• General Education Development (GED) certificate
• Composition Placement Test (minimum score 48)

Note: ESL (English as a Second Language) applicants will be assessed on an individual basis by the ESL department.

2. Current Red Cross Standard certificate or St. John’s Standard Enhanced First Aid certificate.

3. Submission of a signed medical certificate indicating physical fitness and emotional stability. (Form will be provided at interview.)

4. Completion of an immunization program including negative TB test or chest X-ray is required before entry to the program. Hepatitis B immunization will be required after entry to the program. (Form will be provided at interview.)

5. Satisfactory interview with a program faculty member who may accept or defer acceptance based on:

a) Knowledge of and motivation toward a career as a resident care attendant

b) Financial preparation

c) Communication skills

d) Health-care experience. Your health-care experience must consist of:

• Experience as an employee working with residents in a long-term care setting with a satisfactory reference; or
• 30 hours of volunteer experience with residents in a long-term care setting with a satisfactory reference. (Applicants may use the reference form attached to the back of the RCA program application form.)

6. Satisfactory written work or personal reference.

7. Successfully passing a security clearance check. (A criminal record check form will be provided at the interview.)

8. Transportation to classes and practicum locations.

How to apply

1. You may apply to the program prior to the completion of all entrance requirements. The following documents, however, must be submitted to the Admissions and Records office, along with the application fee, in order to process your application:

• UCFV application form
• Resident Care Attendant program application form
• Proof of academic prerequisites (transcript required)*

The UCFV and RCA application forms are available from any UCFV Admissions and Records office or Student Services.

*Note: If you are currently enrolled in Grade 12, a letter is required from your school counsellor stating that you are making satisfactory progress towards meeting the educational requirements for Grade 12 graduation.

Once all these documents have been received by the Admissions and Records office an application date will be recorded, and your application will be forwarded to the Resident Care Attendant program.

2. Submit all remaining documents to the Health Sciences Centre, Chilliwack campus. Applicants will be considered for the program based on:

• Complete applicant status
• Date of application

Documents required in order to achieve “complete applicant status” for Resident Care Attendant applicants include:

• UCFV application form
• Resident Care Attendant program application form
• Proof of academic prerequisite (transcript required)
• Satisfactory employment or volunteer reference working with residents in a long-term care setting (minimum 30 hours)
• Current Red Cross Standard certificate or St. John’s Standard Enhanced first aid certificate
• Work or personal reference.

3. Once “completed applicant status” has been obtained, applicants will be notified of and expected to attend a program orientation. Failure to attend the orientation may delay entry to the program.

4. At the program orientation, applicants will be given a date and time for their interview with program faculty. At the interview, applicants will be given specific immunization, medical, and criminal record check forms and a due date on which the forms must be completed and returned.

5. Applicants will be given written notification as to whether or not they have been accepted once the completed immunization, security clearance, and medical forms have been received and reviewed by program faculty.

6. Upon acceptance into the program, applicants will be provided with registration information by the Admissions and Records office. A deposit is required by a specified date in order to reserve a seat in the program. This deposit is applied to the tuition fees and is not refundable. Applicants who do not register for the program and pay the deposit, forfeit their seat to the next person on the program waiting list and must reapply to the program.

Dates and locations

This is a 20-week program; dates are: July 23–Dec. 7, 2001, and January 7–May 24, 2002. (Note: should funding be received for the 24-week combined Home Support/ Resident Care Attendant program the last Resident Care Attendant program would be offered July 23–Dec. 7, 2001). Classes are located at the Health Sciences Centre, Chilliwack campus. Approximately one-half of the program takes place in a variety of facilities throughout the Fraser Valley.

Tuition fees and additional costs

Fees stated are in effect for 2000/01 and are subject to change for 2001/02.

The tuition fees for the program are approximately $700. Books, supplies, and field trips will cost about $200. Uniform(s) and white duty shoes will cost approximately $200. The cost of travelling to and from practicum locations is the responsibility of the student.

Program outline

Home Support/Resident Care Attendant (subject to funding)

The 24-week Home Support/Resident Care Attendant program expands the current RCA program to include a focus on home support. The HS/RCA program is very similar to the RCA program with the following changes:

Entrance requirements

Same as Resident Care Attendant program, plus valid driver’s licence and reliable vehicle for self transportation to all practica sites.

How to apply

Same as Resident Care Attendant program.

Dates and location (subject to funding)

This is a 24-week program; dates are: November 12– December 7, 2001, and January 7–May 24, 2002. The next program will be offered June 17–November 29, 2002.

Program outline

Faculty

Wanda Gordon, Program Head, RN, BSN, MA (UBC)
Janie Bion, Coordinator, RN, BA (WWU), MA (BYU)
Sandi McGladdery, RN, BSN (UBC), Dip. Gero.
Nettie Regehr, RN
Teri Regts, RN, Dip. NEd
Rose Russell, RN, BScN
Katie Wickers, BSc (Rehab)

Support staff

Janice Corbeil, Program Assistant
Sherry Neetz, Secretary/receptionist

Advisory committee

Ev Brown, Menno Hospital
Kathy Chace, We Care Home Health Services
Hazel Chambers, Pleasant View Home Care Society
Sandra Geddes, Continuing Care, FVHR
Brenda Gillette, Chilliwack Society for Community Living
Donna Ketteringham, Heritage Village, Chilliwack General Hospital
Morag Kilpatrick, Tabor Home
Ann Marie Leyen, Glenwood
Michelle McEwan, ECU, MSA Hospital
Cindy McMillan, Eden Intermediate Care Home
Lynda Marlatt, The Waverly of Chilliwack
Lois Mazuren, Parkholm Lodge, Chilliwack General Hospital
Denise Moore (Chairperson), FVHR, Home Support Service
Karen Moore, ECU, Mission Memorial Hospital
Mike Mutter, Health Programs, FVHR
Lynne Napper, Jackman Manor
Gaye Schmidt, alumni representative
Gladys Tagle, ECU, Chilliwack General Hospital
Andrea Tarling, alumni representative
Shelley Taylor, Fraser Hope Lodge
Gaye Toews, Menno Home
Gwen Williams, Maplewood House

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