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AUPE News & Updates
Member Updates
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003
NorQuest College offers Health Care Aide program
EDMONTON — NorQuest College is now offering several Health Care
Aide Certificate options to nursing attendants throughout Alberta.
As the benchmark program in Alberta, the NorQuest HCA Certificate program
is recognised throughout Alberta and the four western provinces.
NorQuest College offers a Fast Track option that allows nursing attendants
with previous training or experience to challenge the HCA program.
If a challenge is satisfactory, the individual receives a NorQuest HCA
Certificate and pin without having to take courses. If the challenge
identifies the need for additional training, individual custom learning
programs can be devised to help the individual meet the standard.
The college says some employers have contacted it to certify groups
of workers simultaneously as a cost-saving
measure.
NorQuest also offers Regional HCA programs in many communities in Alberta
where individuals take the entire program on a part-time basis and complete
a supervised clinical practicum. The college says this program is designed
for individuals with little experience in health care.
The college says an agency can also obtain certification for staff members
by undertaking the NorQuest In-Service program. Through this program,
people can learn on the job and study with the guidance of a tutor who
works for the same employer.
NorQuest College says it knows people in the field may not be aware
of their options for certifying even though they may be encouraged to
get the certificate. As a result, NorQuest HCA program staff plan to
travel through Alberta’s health regions to speak to AUPE members
and others.
AUPE is the union for all Auxiliary Nursing Care employees in all nine
Alberta health regions. In addition, AUPE represents many nursing attendants
in the private sector in Alberta. AUPE also represents non-academic
employees of NorQuest College.
More information on the HCA Certificate program and the communities
in which it will be offered is available by calling NorQuest College
at 780-422-0703.
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