Introduction to Health Care Aide Roles and Terminology

Focuses on the person centered care approach and the Alberta-specific care model.
Key themes include promoting client wellness and independence, the role of family, and recognizing individual backgrounds (culture, religion, and personality).

Define and apply terminology related to the role and responsibilities of the health care aide.
Examine health within the context of the Canadian health care system.

Accountability: The obligation to answer for the professional, ethical, and legal responsibilities of one's actions.
Responsibility: Being trustworthy, reliable, and dependable in meeting conduct obligations.
Scope of practice: Parameters outlining roles as defined by legislation and regulatory authorities.
Health care aide scope of practice: Defined specifically by the Alberta Health Care Aid Competency Profile 2018 (updates pending).
CLHA: College of Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aids in Alberta.
Supervisor: The professional health care provider (generally an RN or LPN) to whom the health care aide reports.

Balanced lifestyle: Equilibrium between physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and learning needs.
Mental hardiness: The ability to cope with life's changes and challenges.
Resilience: Positively recovering from loss, change, and disease.
Alternative healing: Nontraditional medical treatments, such as acupuncture.
Frame of reference: An individual's worldview based on personal history, family, education, and culture.
Blood kin: Individuals related by birth rather than marriage.
Continuity: A predictable pattern of events.
Denial: Refusal to acknowledge facts or experiences.
Trauma: Injury caused by an accident.