Updated March 2023
Have any doubts about how important health care aides are in the medical profession? Wondering exactly how you'll be supporting patients, and improving their quality of life, as a health care aide?
You've come to the right place. In this post, we'll break down five solid ways in which HCAs truly make a difference in the lives of their patients (and patients' families) in both practical and very personal ways.
Let's get straight to it!
Updated March 2023
Aiming to play a key role on a patient care team without going through years of university training? Then you may want to become a health care aide.
Health care aides deliver the kind of front-line, compassionate support that makes a real difference in patients’ lives. By providing practical assistance and companionship, they help their clients stay as safe and independent as possible.
And now is an excellent time to get into this career. There’s very strong demand for health care aides in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba.
So what does it take to get started? How do you become a health care aide?
Read on to learn about five simple steps that can help you reach your goal.
Updated December 2023
You’ve landed on this page because you’re interested in a career in healthcare. You’re drawn to roles where you can really help people and make a meaningful difference in their lives, but you don’t want to spend years at university earning a degree.
Community support worker (CSW) and health care aide (HCA) are two excellent alternatives. Both are front-line roles with positive impact. Both are in demand. And you can train for either career in 12 months or less.
Which path should you choose? Which role suits you best?
In this post, we’ll walk you through the main differences between community support workers and health care aides. You will learn how training, job responsibilities, skills, and career options vary between these two roles. By the end, you’ll know which path is right for you and exactly how to get started.
Students practising health care aide techniques at Herzing College Winnipeg
Updated March 2023
Are you considering becoming a health care aide? Chances are, you have probably already started researching health care aide courses in Winnipeg. The city has several colleges that offer this program, so there are many options to choose from.
Most health care aide programs deliver similar courses and teach similar skills. They take the same amount of time to complete, include an internship, and promise good employment opportunities after graduation.
If programs are so similar, how do you know which college offers the best health care aide course?
You need to find the school that goes above and beyond basic requirements. You want the highest quality training delivered by the most experienced instructors.
Most importantly, you want a program that includes additional instruction in cutting-edge skills employers really want.
Over the years, Herzing College has developed a reputation for exceptional health care aide training. That's because we have some very special people developing and teaching this course.
Nancy Scott RN (centre) wins the Herzing College Teacher of the Year award for her outstanding work with health care aide students
Health care aides (HCAs) are in high demand in Winnipeg and across most of Canada. Our rapidly aging population and dwindling health care budgets have long-term care facilities bursting at the seams.
Meanwhile, many seniors are opting to stay in their own homes for longer, creating a need for trained health care aides who can assist them to live safely on their own.
If you're looking for a career in healthcare that doesn't require years of training, but involves challenging, meaningful work—becoming a health care aide is an ideal option.
Photo: Herzing graduate Sheri Richard in her Health Care Aide uniform at Extendicare Oakview Place in Winnipeg
It's always really exciting to catch up with Herzing grads and see how much their lives have changed since finishing school and starting a brand new career.
Health care aide graduate Sheri Richard is a great example. She switched career paths later in life, when she could no longer find work in her field and needed a new direction.
Sheri knew she wanted to help people, so she started looking around for quick training options. A five-month health care aide diploma was an ideal fit.
And even though she has three children and a very busy schedule, Sheri took the leap and started the program. Turns out, it was the best decision she ever made.
Here's what she told us about heading back to school, starting her health care aide career, and where she's working now.
Susan Zirk in her health care aide scrubs, in Selkirk, Manitoba.
Are you considering becoming a health care aide, and wondering if you'd be a good fit for the role?
Looking to switch jobs, but don't want to spend years re-training? You're definitely not alone.
Susan Zirk was working a high-pressure finance job when she started looking around for other options. She wanted to do something with more meaning - work that actually helps people and feels rewarding.
Finally, she took the plunge and signed up for Health Care Aide training at Herzing College Winnipeg.
Now she's living a completely different life, working for a home-care company that helps seniors live safely and independently in their own residences.
We checked in with Susan this week to see how her new career is going and learn more about her experience becoming a health care aide. Read on for the highlights!
Herzing Health Care Aide students pose for a photo
Are you considering becoming a health care aide (HCA)? Wondering what's involved in training, and whether you'd be a good fit for this career?
There's no one better to talk to than Nancy Scott, RN. Nancy has been teaching full-time for 20 years, and actually helped develop the Health Care Aide Program at Herzing College in Winnipeg.
She started as a health care aide herself, and has brought years of experience, dedication, and passion to the program. In fact, it's because of Nancy's commitment to excellence that Herzing now offers the most comprehensive, cutting-edge health care aide training in Winnipeg.
Updated December 2024
If you live in Winnipeg and want to start a career in health care (without years of university training), becoming a health care aide is an excellent option.
This is a front-line role that involves caring directly for patients and playing a key part in their daily lives. The job is not easy, but if you're passionate about making a real difference in the lives of others, working as a health care aide can be tremendously rewarding.
What should you know about this career path before you commit to a training program?
First, understand exactly what a health care aide does, what you'll study in training, and your job options after college. Let's get started.
Updated March 2023
Considering becoming a health care aide (HCA)? The personalized support HCAs offer patients makes this career path particularly rewarding—and increasingly important.
As Canada's population ages, demand for in-home and daily health care support is on the rise. But working as a health care aide is challenging. It takes resilience, physical and emotional stamina, and a clear understanding of how to provide safe and effective patient care.
Read on to discover 10 of the most important hard and soft skills you'll need to succeed in this career.
