Lifestyle and Introduction to Practice

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
HCSW 1102
Descriptive
Lifestyle and Introduction to Practice
Department
Mental Health and Personal Support Work
Faculty
Health Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
32
Contact Hours
60 hrs per semester
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Learning Activities

Lecture

Group discussion/group activities

Audio-visual materials

Case studies

May include other methods (e.g. guest speakers role play, etc.)

Course Description
This course introduces students to a holistic concept of health and the components of a health-enhancing lifestyle. Students will be invited to reflect on their own experience of health, recognizing challenges and resources that can impact lifestyle choices. Students will be introduced to a model that can be applied in other courses to understand the multi-faceted aspects of health and healing. Students will also be introduced to the role of the Health Care Assistant (HCA) within the British Columbia health care system. Students will be introduced to the healthcare team and the roles and function of the HCA within the team. Students will also have opportunities to develop self-reflective skills required for competent practice and will be introduced to effective job-finding approaches.
Course Content

Understanding Health

Health as process i.e. a journey not a destination

Physical, psychological/emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual dimensions of health

Determinants of Health and how they affect health

Stress and stress management

Lifestyle Change

Workplace Settings and Contexts

Team work in Healthcare Settings

Legal and Ethical Issues

Professional Approaches to Practice

Self-reflective Practice

Employability Skills

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Discuss the interrelationship of physical, social, cognitive, emotional and spiritual dimensions of health.
  2. Display an understanding of how lifestyle choices and behaviours contribute to the dimensions of health.
  3. Display an understanding of the complexity of the change process in relation to health promotion.
  4. Display an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of HCAs within the health care system in British Columbia.
  5. Contribute to the effective functioning of the healthcare team.
  6. Function in a responsible, accountable fashion recognizing legal and ethical parameters of the HCA role.
  7. Apply self-reflection and self-appraisal processes in order to recognize and respond to own self-development needs as a care provider.
  8. Confidently conduct a job-search process.
Means of Assessment

Course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College course evaluation policy.  An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.

This is a graded course.  A minimum mark of 65% is necessary to be successful in the course.

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

 A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided to students at the beginning of the semester.

Corequisites