resident care attendant

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 24, 2009

You could approach hospitals about the lack of experience. Be aware that working as a HCA will not count as experience and I do think you will have problems getting a LMO as I doubt that HCA will be on the shortage

petgroomer · Apr 24, 2009

Erisirene, why don't you try contacting people from your country regarding how the college(s) performed the assessment, even if it's done in a case by case basis some similarities occur with people coming from the same country. Experience is not necessary to have a positive assessment providing that you did not graduate more than 5 years ago and that you have the necessary hours.

As Silverdragon stated, Non-RN healthcare experience doesn't count towards the assessment. Some places in Canada give IENs position as RNSI (RN student intern) this experience, although non counting towards the assessment, would help in finding jobs after licensure. However, don't count on this as a means to come to Canada.

I think your best bet, if you really want to come, is to apply as RN and see what the college says. It also depends on the Canadian embassy in your country, I've seen people coming with their families as "qualified workers" without even having the "exam eligible" paper, so go figure. Good luck for you and remember, immigrating is a very difficult process, a big part of you will "die", but you may feel "reborn" in the long run.

5cats · Apr 25, 2009

Plus to add, I've seen that you wanted to go to the States, you will need current experience as a RN and nothing else. Decent employers will not sponsor you when you have only HCA experience. m

5cats

MobileNurseSara · Apr 27, 2009

In my area (Eastern Ontario) the pay is good... around $20/hr (I made $18 + in lieu during NS).

There are no jobs in my area, though.

erisirene · Apr 28, 2009

Thanks everyone for your advise I'll try to fix my career path..

CanuckLPN73 · Sep 27, 2010

In Alberta the wage for an HCA is $17 -$19 not including wage differential. With wage differential an HCA can make anywhere from $23-$27 an hour depending on if they are working nights/weekends/evenings. An HCA does all the grunt work! They deserve the pay IMO and those who are not unionized need to get so that their pay is up there to the scale that it should be at! Many times HCA's end up working short shifted, work over time, bust their backs going at full speed trying to get things done by a certain time, even though in reality how can one actually put time on patient care?

I have heard though that the Province is trying to have HCA's licenced which is why the Government changed the PCA to HCA and had any who took the course before 2004(?) upgrade certain parts of their course to become HCA's so that we are all on the same standing (rather than some being PCA's, some NA's and others HCA's). Those who do not have their HCA by a certain date from my understanding will not be able to work, at least through the alberta health region, again do not quote me on that.

All I'm saying is that HCA's are the backbone and a very important member of the team and deserve recognition for what they do...Range of Motion, DAL's, eye gtts, nasal sprays bowel routines, TPR...just look up what the scope of practice is within the HCA through Norquest and BowValley!!

HCA is a wonderful career for those who love patient care, beside nursing....just my 2 cents :)

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 27, 2010

I have heard though that the Province is trying to have HCA's licenced which is why the Government changed the PCA to HCA and had any who took the course before 2004(?) upgrade certain parts of their course to become HCA's so that we are all on the same standing (rather than some being PCA's, some NA's and others HCA's). Those who do not have their HCA by a certain date from my understanding will not be able to work, at least through the alberta health region, again do not quote me on that.

That is completely true. The aide staff at one faith-based nursing home are having to pay for all their expenses out of pocket and are still expected to work their usual FTE while doing the training. They first were assessed based on prior learning and then given their own course lists to carry out. From what I understand from someone with first-hand knowledge of all of this, their duties will not be changing in any way but they're required to have more education and a license.

tarahope · Oct 1, 2010

In BC, they pay is low as well as the working hours are never enough. I've heard that too many people flock into this market so some of them can't find a job after got certificate. Before entering any career, do market research is important.

OttawaRPN · Oct 1, 2010

In Ontario, PSW programs are replacing the old HCA presumably to make everyone at par, although the training still varies greatly. If it's a government funded course, the training can be up to a year but at a private "career" college, you can get through the program in as little as 3 months and still get the certificate. PSWs here make approx $16-18/hr in the LTC facilities and are always in demand. There are some very attractive ads from these private schools appealing mostly to those of ethnic origin, as where else can you come into this country, fork over some money upfront, go to school for a mere 3 months, then end up with a guaranteed job making $16-18/hr??

I've worked with a lot of PSWs, some of whom are respectable, diligent workers but I've also worked with those that don't have one iota of work ethic. Usually, these are the ones that muddled through the 3 month program barely even learning how to speak the language, just so they can make $16-18/hr right out the gate, without realizing they actually have to work physically hard in order to achieve this goal. And as long as this sector is unregulated, I don't see anything changing in regard to accountability or commitment.

PSWs may be hard workers, but no harder than nurses. In the hospitals that don't employ orderlies, we do all the smut work for our patients in addition to meds, assessments, drs orders, admissions, discharges, etc. etc.

CanuckLPN73 · Nov 17, 2010

That is completely true. The aide staff at one faith-based nursing home are having to pay for all their expenses out of pocket and are still expected to work their usual FTE while doing the training. They first were assessed based on prior learning and then given their own course lists to carry out. From what I understand from someone with first-hand knowledge of all of this, their duties will not be changing in any way but they're required to have more education and a license.

The duties depend on where one works though as where I work in a LTC facility I work to my full scope...however I know others who have worked for private nursing homes and they are not allowed to do eyedrops, nasal sprays, medicinal creams, oxygen, laxatives or any kind of bowel treatment,inhalers, nebulizers, etc...all of that is left to the LPN! I also know HCA's who work in emerg and again their scope is different again as much of what they do is CPR. Just pointing out that an HCA's duties vary depending on where they are working and whether the place of employment allows one to work to one's full scope or not. :)

CanuckLPN73 · Nov 17, 2010

In Ontario, PSW programs are replacing the old HCA presumably to make everyone at par, although the training still varies greatly. If it's a government funded course, the training can be up to a year but at a private "career" college, you can get through the program in as little as 3 months and still get the certificate. PSWs here make approx $16-18/hr in the LTC facilities and are always in demand. There are some very attractive ads from these private schools appealing mostly to those of ethnic origin, as where else can you come into this country, fork over some money upfront, go to school for a mere 3 months, then end up with a guaranteed job making $16-18/hr??
I've worked with a lot of PSWs, some of whom are respectable, diligent workers but I've also worked with those that don't have one iota of work ethic. Usually, these are the ones that muddled through the 3 month program barely even learning how to speak the language, just so they can make $16-18/hr right out the gate, without realizing they actually have to work physically hard in order to achieve this goal. And as long as this sector is unregulated, I don't see anything changing in regard to accountability or commitment.
PSWs may be hard workers, but no harder than nurses. In the hospitals that don't employ orderlies, we do all the smut work for our patients in addition to meds, assessments, drs orders, admissions, discharges, etc. etc.

As a HCA who is taking the PN program I really feel as though HCA's should be regulated...

this way only those of us who attended school (at a recognized college) are hired, not off the street workers who have no clue about patient care.

Thankfully where I work we all have an HCA course from a recognized college and are allowed and encouraged to use our brains while on the floor!

Although I do have to say out west HCA's are hired at the hosp, again they are from recognized college's and need certification in other area's as well which they are able to take at Norquest and BVC :)

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Nov 17, 2010

The duties depend on where one works though as where I work in a LTC facility I work to my full scope...however I know others who have worked for private nursing homes and they are not allowed to do eyedrops, nasal sprays, medicinal creams, oxygen, laxatives or any kind of bowel treatment,inhalers, nebulizers, etc...all of that is left to the LPN! I also know HCA's who work in emerg and again their scope is different again as much of what they do is CPR. Just pointing out that an HCA's duties vary depending on where they are working and whether the place of employment allows one to work to one's full scope or not. :)

In one LTC I work at, HCAs can do saline eyedrops and medicated creams for rashes, but cannot do glycerine supps? (Or any supps, but not even glycerine)

The other LTC I work at, the HCAs do all the supps, but never eyedrops or creams.

None of them do any nasal sprays, oxygen, oral laxative, inhalers, nebulizers. Those to me are under the nursing scope and not the HCA scope.