Careers in Health Care

CAREERS IN HEALTH CARE

Q+A

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif :

From the NFL to Long-Term Care

Mediaplanet sat down with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to discuss pursuing an education in medicine, working in long-term care, and opting out of the NFL season.

What sparked your interest in pursuing a doctorate in medicine?

For me, medicine was the perfect balance between the pure sciences (anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology) and human sciences (social science and psychology). You have to be curious and willing to listen to the patient to customize their treatment plan. You cannot only rely on pathology but also have to take into account several different factors to make the best treatment plan possible and optimize the care of your patient.

What was the driving factor that led you to opt out of the 2020 NFL season?

After the Super Bowl, I went back and helped for 10 weeks before opting out. Long-term care in Quebec was particularly challenging for everybody. I knew I was going to be evolving in the medical commun -

ity in the future. It was important to make a decision that was in line with my conviction.

Andy Reid, the head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, has always respected what I was trying to accomplish with medicine. I think his support removed the weight off my shoulders.

I got a lot of attention and praise. To be honest, it kind of defeated the purpose. While I was struggling to work in the long-term care facility, there were people working overtime and night shifts. They had been there for the last 25 years with little praise and recognition. I was almost shy to work with them because I was getting so much attention. From that point on, I tried to direct attention to them — the front-line workers just doing their jobs without question. I think they’re the real heroes of the pandemic.

How has your experience in medicine influenced your professional football career or vice versa?

A big part of what we do in professional sports, especially professional football, is meeting, installing a game plan and playbook, and looking at tendencies. One of the biggest challenges is to be able to study in the classroom and process the information in real time in a game. It’s easy to get carried away by your emotions and get tunnel vision of the guy in front of you.

Being able to make rational decisions in a stressful environment is something we do in football and something that also helps me in medicine. In medicine, you never know what's going to step through the door and you have to treat based on priority and cannot get distracted by secondary injuries. I think that a rational approach in stressful environments has served me well in both football and medicine.

How Telemetry Registered Nurse Barbara Olas Is Inspiring the Nurses of the Future

What's the most rewarding aspect of your career as a telemetry RN?

This is very easy to answer — knowing that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life by providing compassionate care is the most rewarding aspect. Nothing beats the feeling of making someone’s "worst day ever" a tiny bit better.

What advice do you have for new graduates starting their nursing careers?

Ask questions. You don't know everything — I still don’t know everything — and no one expects you to know everything! You’re now dealing with human life and the last thing you’d want is to negatively affect your patients because you didn't ask a question. Secondly, remember that these are humans you’re dealing with. They have feelings, they remember what you say, and they can hear what’s being

said around them. Treat them with dignity and compassion.

Can you tell us about NurseIQ and @yournursingeducator?

NurseIQ is the small e-commerce business I started two years ago. I wanted to create physical resources that contained need-to-know nursing information for nursing students and nurses. Our best-seller is the Nursing Reference Card Bundle — a bundle of 15 various reference cards (which can be attached to a badge reel or lanyard) containing a variety of information such as code blue drug dosages, pediatric vital signs, trauma assessments, and so on. I’ve received a lot of positive feedback on the brand and the products, so I’m happy with everything thus far!

My Instagram page, @your nursingeducator, is what inspired me to create NurseIQ. On the Insta-

gram page, I share motivational and educational nursing posts and videos. I started this page in 2017 because I couldn’t find anything like it. I had just come out of nursing school, so I knew how stressful and demand ing everything can be. I thought to myself, if I can help another student get through this stressful schooling experience, I’ll be happy! The posts evolved from educational content to a mixture of day-in-the-life-of-a-nurse and nursing school education content. Nothing makes me happier than hearing that I’ve helped a student excel in school.

Barbara Olas, a telemetry registered nurse (RN) from Toronto, talks about what inspired her to create motivational and educational content and resources.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBARA OLAS

How Staffy Is Connecting Health Care Organizations with Trained Workers

In early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout Canada, hospitals and long-term care homes were overcome by worker shortages. It served as a pointed reminder that health care is the backbone of our society. Gaps were identified and challenges were enhanced, and as a consequence, people across the sector were impacted.

As health care facilities scrambled to fill positions, it was clear that finding temporary staff to fill critical roles was a challenge.

The health care organizations doing the hiring were constantly looking for a cost-effective solution to quickly fill vacancies, and the workers themselves were looking for fair wages for the shifts they were filling. A better option was needed.

Work on their own terms

Staffy, a Canadian digital staffing platform, was originally developed to connect workers with vacancies in the hospitality industry. Peter Faist,

founder and CEO of Staffy, identified that the health system needed help responding to the pandemic and retooled the platform to link health care organizations and vaccination clinics with highly-trained workers — from ready-to-work nurses to personal support workers and dietary aides.

It was a winning approach. Workers could accept jobs with shifts and rates that met their needs with direct access to job postings. Meanwhile, health care facilities could set their own fair market rates for critical shifts they needed filled. Staffy’s business model is to ensure that both workers and health care organizations set their own rates, which can result in successful connections through the optimized staffing platform.

Thanks to a technology-enabled process, filling vacancies happens quickly. Workers can be on-site within 90 minutes of an organization posting shifts. Staffy has a higher-than-average shift fill rate, including those harder-to-fill shifts, such as nights or weekends.

Qualified, vetted workers ready to work

Staffy professionally and rigorously vets all of its registered workers — more than 10,000 currently — before they can be enlisted, with a proven multi-step vetting process. Its high standards ensure the availability of

Canadore College Nursing Education — a Tradition of Innovation

Canadore College, headquartered in North Bay, Ont., has been training nurses for more than 30 years. In September 2022, Canadore will launch a new stand-alone Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program. In addition, the college is also launching a Registered Practical Nurse to BScN bridging program in fall 2023.

Nursing training and research opportunities

Canadore College is recognized for its use of simulation in nursing education, one of the cornerstones of The Village, Canadore’s revolutionary approach to teaching Canada’s next generation of health and wellness professionals.

Canadore’s Health Sciences Simulation Centre contains highand low-fidelity labs that support academic programs and research. The labs are equipped with stateof-the-art medical, respiratory, and rehabilitation equipment, audio/ visual simulators, and interactive mannequins that can speak and replicate real symptoms. Students have the opportunity to develop clinical practice skills and be evaluated in this simulated learning environment. The BScN curriculum includes lab, simulation, and clinical practicum components in all eight semesters.

Canadore’s nursing programs are conducting several interprofessional education research initiatives within the college, as well as in co-operation with other universities, industry partners, and international organizations. BScN students will have the opportunity to engage in these research endeavours with faculty, such as projects using social robots to research ways of ending the social isolation of senior citizens.

To learn more, visit canadorecollege.ca

This article was sponsored by Canadore College

only qualified, certified, and licenced talent, which earns the Toronto-based company a high level of trust among partners.

Workers are happy, too. They get to choose their own rates and experience greater levels of empowerment because they're able to choose when and where they work while having the benefit of flexible options. Transparency for everyone is a priority, with a business model that benefits both workers and organizations.

One user, a physician who emigrated from Eritrea to Canada, is using Staffy to get shifts as a personal care aide as he studies to obtain his Canadian medical licence. The digital platform has served him well. He's working at the University Health Network for some of the busiest hospitals in Toronto. “I'm happy to be back on the hospital floor during this challenging time to fulfill my responsibilities, my goal, and my mission as a health care professional,” he says. “What I like most about Staffy is that you can get shifts whenever you want. It’s like freedom of movement. I can work whenever I want, which allows me to study.”

Whether you’re a health care professional, like a nurse or a personal support worker, or an organization looking for solutions and the mostqualified vetted workers, turn to Staffy for help.

Ready for a Career in Health Care?

the Schlegel Community

Katherine Cappellacci

Canada’s population is rapidly aging, with the number of seniors having increased by 18.3 percent from 2016 to 2021.* Employment in retirement residences and long-term care is booming, and many people are finding fulfilling careers helping seniors age with dignity, peace, and happiness.

Offering long-term care and retirement residences across Ontario since 1953, Schlegel Villages provides seniors with a variety of lifestyle options, including full-ser vice suites, assisted care, memory care, and independent living. The company is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of seniors by giving them top-quality support.

Community is at the heart of Schlegel Villages, which means both residents and staff operate as one big neighbourhood. The company maintains a welcoming, diverse workplace, often hiring new immigrants to Canada and internationally-trained nurses. Schlegel Villages “hires for heart,” meaning its staff are not only highly qualified but also good people with strong morals and positive attitudes who feel called to a career in health care.

Fulfilling career options

“We strive to promote from within,” says Tara Rosenow, an Assistant General Manager at Schlegel Villages, who first started there as a housekeeper. “The Schlegel family encourages and accommodates our team members when they pursue further education to allow them to grow in their current positions.”

With education training and support opportunities for staff, Schlegel Villages encourages its employees to build successful careers within the company. “The focus on relationships makes this organization stand out,” adds Rosenow. “If you want a career where you can make a difference every day, Schlegel Villages is the right place for you.”

sponsored

Schlegel Villages

Tara Rosenow Assistant General Manager, Schlegel Villages

Staffy, a digital staffing platform, helps find qualified talent to fill shifts in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Michele Sponagle

To learn more, visit staffy.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF STAFFY

This article was sponsored by Staffy

Family-owned and -operated, Schlegel Villages goes above and beyond for not only its residents but also its employees.

Join

Prepare for a meaningful nursing career with Canadore College.

Cindy Males

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHLEGEL VILLAGES

Nursing Excellence in a Supportive Environment at Mackenzie Health

Mackenzie Health offers nurses an exciting, supportive, and diverse work environment. As a regional health care provider to a population of more than half a million people across York Region and beyond, Mackenzie Health serves patients through two hospitals as well as a number of community-based locations. Each full-service hospital — Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital — has an emergency department, core and specialized services.

To deliver on its mission to create a world-class health experience for patients through quality, compassionate, and timely patient-centred care, Mackenzie Health welcomes nurses with a passion for patient care and provides them with a supportive and connected team-oriented culture and plenty of growth opportunities.

Continuing education initiatives (many offered in-house) help nurses gain additional skills to become certified trainers or acquire specialized certifications in specific areas of health care.

Mackenzie Health also offers recent nursing graduates several options for kick-starting their careers, such as the Nursing Graduate Guarantee Program, designed to support Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses who are within 12 months of registering with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) by providing them with a full-time employment opportunity. For nurses trained in other countries or people trained in other disciplines now wanting to go into nursing, Mackenzie Health offers an array of programs to accelerate the qualification process.

How did you come to work at Mackenzie Health?

ORLAN OLU, RN, MEDICINE TELEMETRY UNIT: I’m an internationally-registered nurse from the Philippines. After coming to Canada in August 2019, I started as a PSW in a long-term care home, then came to Mackenzie as an internationally educated nurse learner. After completing post-graduate courses, I was able to qualify as an RN and now work at Mackenzie full-time.

How does Mackenzie support its staff?

AMANDA CHIODO, RN, EMERGENCY: There’s always someone there to lend a helping hand and check on you to make sure you’re okay. We have such a strong team of charge nurses that you never feel alone.

ETI AYZENBERG, RN, EMERGENCY: There are always opportunities for learning and growth. The management and leadership I work with have been nothing but supportive of me, and it’s a very warm and positive work environment.

What makes Mackenzie a great place to work?

OU: No one else provides their employees with such opportunities to thrive in terms of education and other training. I also love the diversity of the people. We all have different cultural backgrounds, so we embrace each other and work collaboratively as a team, enabling us to provide the best care to our patients.

What makes nursing such a rewarding profession?

EA: It’s a forever growing profession and that’s what I love about it. There’s not a day when I’m not learning, which makes it interesting and exciting.

AC: You may not know it at the time, but you can be the best part of someone’s day. You’re getting people at their lowest and sometimes even the smallest things you do make a huge difference in their health care journey. For me, there is no career more fulfilling than that.

You may not know it at the time, but you can be the best part of someone’s day. You’re getting people at their lowest and sometimes even the smallest things you do make a huge difference in their health care journey. For me, there is no career more fulfilling than that.

Anne Papmehl

This article was sponsored by Mackenzie

Kick start your nursing career at Mackenzie Health.

We offer a culture of support and recognition, and opportunities for professional development and wellness. We have openings in medicine, critical care, surgery, emergency and more.

our hospitals — Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital — are located in York Region, one of the most desirable communities in Canada and just north of Toronto.

Mediaplanet spoke with three recently hired RNs to hear their perspectives on nursing and learn more about how Mackenzie Health helps nurses thrive.

Advancing Health Care by Planning for the Professions of the Future

When we think of health care professionals, doctors and nurses are typically who first come to mind. But there are many types of practitioners who play a vital part in Canada’s health care system, such as medical laboratory technologists, physiotherapists, radiological technologists, and respiratory therapists.

The need for these specialized health care professionals in Canada is expected to grow in the future. “The pandemic really shone a light on the critical role some of these professionals play in health care and where there were gaps,” says Lori Peppler-Beechy, Associate Head of Academic Affairs at The Michener Institute of Education at UHN, a post-secondary medical education institution located in Toronto.

Graduates from Michener’s programs in respiratory therapy, cardiovascular perfusion, and medical laboratory science were in particularly high demand. As new medical areas emerge, such as data analytics and digital health, our medical education institutions must be prepared to respond.

Education programs to meet emerging health care needs

The Michener Institute of Education offers a suite of full-time, part-time, and continuing education programs in these evolving health professions

within our health care system. “Michener is unique in that we're the only educational institute in Canada that's focused entirely on health care education and the only school that’s part of a hospital,” says Peppler-Beechy. “Our very close ties, relationships, and synergies with UHN give us the advantage of being able to adapt and respond quickly to emerging health system priorities and the needs of health care professionals.”

ers who were redeployed to critical care and long-term care facilities. “Because of this collaboration, we were able to deliver Phase 1 of this education package and website within 10 days, something that would typically have taken several months,” says Peppler-Beechy.

Exciting options for starting a career in health care Michener’s ability to adapt, evolve, and respond positions the institution well to fill future gaps in health care. Michener will continue to ensure its program offerings and curricula stay relevant, have more health professionals graduate in areas of critical need, and work with UHN to identify new roles in health care for which it can provide educational support.

Continuing education will be a big part of this. “Health care education doesn’t stop when you graduate. It needs to continue as you’re practising in your chosen career, so we encourage Michener graduates to come back to learn and non-Michener graduates or graduates from other professions to continue their professional development and learning with us,” says Peppler-Beechy.

Visit michener.ca to learn more about The Michener Institute of Education at UHN — the only post-secondary institution in Canada devoted exclusively to health care education.

An exemplary case study of that ability occurred at the start of the pandemic, when a team led by Michener at UHN worked with educational experts, clinicians, academics, and others across Toronto to develop an online education package to support health care work-

Underlining the Community in Community Hospital

If there’s one thing the pandemic has cemented in the minds and spirits of staff, physicians, and volunteers at Halton Healthcare, it’s that access to quality care is best served by an organizational culture built on a compassionate, accountable, and respectful team — a team with concrete links to each other as a community within a community hospital.

“A key piece of the entire health care team is the emphasis on relationships across our teams,” says Joan Jickling, Senior Vice President Patient Engagement and Chief Nursing Executive at Halton Healthcare. “Success to us means that we're all working in lockstep with each other to support our patients and our colleagues.”

The community advantage Serving the three growing communities of Georgetown, Milton, and Oakville, Halton Healthcare’s smalltown advantage begins with a deep sense of connection, as many staff live and work within these communities. It also allows for quick mobilization of expertise across facilities and an expanded reach beyond the limits of the hospital bed to support primary, secondary, and community-based care. As a growing organization, Halton Healthcare holds strong to the advantages of being a community-based system with direct physician communication as well as integrated patient care and access across tightly-knit teams.

Cultivating culture

Halton Healthcare’s teams are supported by a culture of recognition, inclusion, and compassion that goes beyond industry standards. This includes a commitment to its people and values through programs that connect and support them. Some of these options offer the chance for colleagues to share the complexities of working with patients and families.

as an organization is to care. That extends through our patients and families, and across our entire hospital community.

“Our purpose as an organization is to care,” says Jickling. “That extends through our patients and families, and across our entire hospital community.”

For example, Halton Healthcare was one of the first community hospitals in Canada to host Schwartz Rounds. The Rounds provide a multidisciplinary forum to share difficult emotional and social issues when caring for patients. The program has been clinically proven to reduce stress, help prevent burnout and compassion fatigue, and enhance patient care among health care providers.

Organizational support for growth Halton Healthcare couples its staff

Students interested in a medical career with prospects for an exciting, secure, and in-demand job may want to consider a Michener education. “When our students graduate, they’re ready to walk in and start practising in their chosen career,” says Peppler-Beechy.

This article was sponsored by The Michener Institute of Education.

support and assistance programs with progressive technology and foundational programs to support professional development and growth, including opportunities for leadership.

For nurses there are options for specialty education, in partnership with academic institutions, for critical care, perioperative, and emergency nurs ing along with tuition support and leadership programs.

Thanks to the committed efforts of the organization, it has been recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures of 2021, by Waterstone Human Capital. This award is based on an evaluation of corporate culture and highlights recipients that put culture at the centre of everything they do.

While the pandemic has been a source of countless challenges for health human resources, it has also opened as many opportunities for the regeneration of the workforce. “While we've never stopped providing the best possible care, the time we were able to spend connecting with our patients and families just hasn’t been the same,” says Jickling. “We’re committed to evolving for our teams and our patients, and involving people in their care. Ultimately, it’s better for our communities and is an approach that helps patients, families, providers, and the system as a whole.”

Halton Healthcare is delivering on its purpose to care for its communities and its people.

Laura Zilke

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HALTON HEALTHCARE

Joan Jickling Senior Vice President Patient Engagement & Chief Nursing Executive, Halton Healthcare

Our purpose

With first-class educational programs and ties to a major hospital system, The Michener Institute is ensuring that Canada’s health care system is future-ready.

Anne Papmehl

Michener is unique in that we're the only educational institute in Canada that's focused entirely on health care education and the only school that’s part of a hospital.

Grow Your Dental Career at dentalcorp, Where Purpose Meets Passion

Oral care is changing as dental practices seek to deliver exceptional patient experiences in an increasing technology-driven world. Patients today have more choice, information, and access to options, making it more important than ever for dental practices to deliver a full spectrum of comprehensive care to attract and retain patients. Health care professionals know this, and seek careers with practices that will allow them to deliver modernized patient care while supporting their immediate and longterm career goals.

dentalcorp is taking an entrepreneurial, network-driven approach to dentistry. An established leader in Canada, dentalcorp is the fastest-growing network of dental practices in North America, with over 7,600 team members and 500 practices. Through the dentalcorp network, team members can focus on providing quality patient care while leveraging the benefits of the cutting-edge technology, career development programming, and extensive resources available through the organization.

“When you join dentalcorp, you see the shared passion for patient care, and that’s not just limited to within the operatory,” says Lisa Hardill, Clinical Development Manager at dentalcorp. “For example, we have over 20 registered dental hygienist team members within our Support Centre, assisting

practices with clinical development strategies and troubleshooting with operations, compliance, and more. There are so many career options at dentalcorp, whether it’s across our national network of practices or being part of the support system helping those practices reach their patient experience goals.”

dentalcorp's focus

Visit medixcollege.ca to learn more and find out what a career in dentistry might look like for you.

Careers in Dentistry: More than Just a Healthy Smile

The fast-paced nature of a dental practice can provide the foundation for an exhilarating career in health care. Quite literally built by smiles, dental practices provide a variety of career opportunities with positions suited to different personalities and working styles. From practice administration to working with patients, dentistry provides a unique opportunity to start — or resume — a fulfilling career.

Ontario-based Medix College offers programs targeted toward jumpstarting careers in health care, including a Dental Assisting Diploma Program for those keen to work hands-on and a Dental Administrator Diploma Program for those interested in exploring the inner workings of a practice.

Dental assistants and dental administrators are integral to a properly-functioning dental practice. Dental assistants are one of the most in-demand positions within the dental industry and as a dentist’s “right hand,” they provide essential support. On the other side of the desk, dental adminis-

A dental career focused on growth and development

Unlike traditional dental practices, dentalcorp offers inclusion into an ever-growing network of practices, opening doors for team members to explore different departments such as practice development and hygiene float teams. With a focus on providing mentorship and empowerment, dentalcorp team members can concentrate on any area that they're particularly passionate about, growing into various roles across the organization.

For those looking to break into the dental industry or an opportunity to expand their growth, dentalcorp opens new doors for those passionate about the care they’re delivering.

Invested in you

An award-winning learning team helps individuals and practices expand their knowledge, skills, and clinical capabilities.

Stronger as one Join dentalcorp's community of the country’s top dental practices and be welcomed by a passionate team of committed professionals.

trators work to ensure the practice runs smoothly and efficiently.

For years, Medix College has been arming the dental world with dental assistants and dental administrators, providing industry-leading health care career training. With three campuses across Ontario, each featuring state-of-theart facilities, Medix College offers a flexible learning environment customized to different lifestyles. Medix’s flexible programs and online courses make it easy to develop new skills and interests without disrupting home life.

For students, the support offered by the college creates all the difference. “Medix College helps you feel comfortable and confident in your newly-learned skills,” says Zeina Samir, a student in the Dental Assisting Program. “I’m already getting job offers!”

A smile says a thousand words. Few people know this better than those in the dental industry.From the hyper-organized to social butterflies, dentistry is a career rooted in giving people something to smile about.

Why might someone consider a career in dentistry?

Dentistry is never going anywhere. You don’t have to worry about job security. Cavities are plaguing the earth forever. It’s a very secure job but you’re also helping people. You’re helping with their physical looks and their perception of themselves. If you don’t have a nice smile, you shy away from the world. In dentistry, you’re changing people’s lives.

What can someone pursuing a career in dentistry expect?

For someone who likes to be busy, dental offices are great. You need to be organized. It’s fast-paced. There’s never a moment where you look at the clock and think, “There are still four more hours left.” But it’s also a very team-oriented profession and incredibly rewarding.

What makes Medix College's Dental Assisting and Dental Administrator Programs unique? We’re not just here to educate you but also to train you for your new or next career. You’re not just a number — we know our students by name. It’s personal and family-oriented. We’re here to help people achieve their next goals through whatever challenges they have in life.

What can Medix College graduates expect in their first year?

After completing the program, students are likely to be hired right after their externship. Right away, they'll be building new relationships with their teams, working, and continuing to learn as they find their way. The growth doesn’t stop at graduation.

From patient care to front-of-house, Medix College holds the key to the dental industry.

Q&A WITH NANCI HYNES Dental Assistant Instructor at Medix College

Sonya Friesen

Medix College helps you feel comfortable and confident in your newly-learned skills.

Zeina Samir

Dental Assisting Student, Medix College

Nanci Hynes Dental Assistant Instructor, Medix College

dentalcorp brings career flexibility to the next generation of dental professionals.

Sonya Friesen

When you join dentalcorp, you see the shared passion for patient care, and that’s not just limited to within the operatory.

To learn more about the opportunities at dentalcorp, visit dentalcorp.ca/ site/careers

This article was sponsored by dentalcorp

Lisa Hardill Clinical Development Manager, dentalcorp

Focused on care Canadians' well-being is at the centre of everything that dentalcorp does. The company builds long-lasting relationships based on trust and goes above and beyond to provide outstanding patient care.

Looking for Career Opportunities in Senior Care? Check Out Chartwell

When considering the range of career options in health care, senior living is an emerging area with diverse roles for those working in or considering a job that combines well-being, support, and compassionate client relationships. With the potential for growth, learning, and development, working in a retirement or long-term care residence also offers rewarding and meaningful experiences working with an inspiring cohort: seniors.

With Canada’s population aged 85 and over expected to triple from 861,000 to 2.7 million over the next 30 years, many areas of health care and service businesses will increasingly shift to caring for and serving the “grey wave.”

Retirement living is a perfect example of an independent and flexible model of accommodation, care, and services that many seniors are increasingly considering to combat social isolation, reduce the burden of home maintenance, and access flexible care and support options.

With the consistency of the retirement living model offering flexible work schedules around full-time or part-time hours and not shift hours, employees find meaningful client relationships, greater life balance, and growth opportunities as an alternative to the traditional areas of hospital, primary medicine, and community care.

Care support in a retirement residence combines the professional training of nursing, personal care, or on-thejob training for guest attendants with the opportunities of supporting the most respected generation of our population.

Residents are typically over 80 and balancing a range of requirements from fully independent living to supportive living to higher care requirements in assisted living or memory care.

at Chartwell

Make a difference

As Canada’s largest operator of senior housing, which includes retirement residences in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, and long-term care in Ontario and British Columbia.

Chartwell is an employer of choice for many trained health care professionals from Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs), Personal Support Workers (PSWs), Directors of Care, and Guest Attendants.

Chartwell’s vision of “Making People’s Lives Better” includes a commitment to attract and retain employees who care about making a difference in its residents’ lives. The care teams provide a range of wellness services and care delivery designed to help residents achieve comfort and quality of life through Chartwell’s staff, whose highest priority is to help them feel their best every day.

Katie-Lou Rivait, a Health and Wellness Manager at the Chartwell Oak Park LaSalle Retirement Residence in Windsor, Ont., saw her career flourish from student to manager through the Aspiring Leaders Program. Starting as a col lege student, Rivait has increasingly challenged herself to not only grow professionally in her care discipline but also in people leadership and management oversight. “I recommend working at Chartwell to anyone. We’re delivering exceptional care to everyone who walks through the door — residents, family, friends, and fellow workers.”

Exceptional care and ser vice are at the heart of Chartwell’s commitment to its residents and staff. “Our staff feel a deep connection to residents,” says Colleen Laing, Vice President Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development at Chartwell Retirement Residences. “Not many roles in health care allow you to build trusted, consistent relationships with your clients like we can in senior living. We truly have great people doing great things at Chartwell.”

Karen Kim’s career is an excellent example of career growth at Chartwell. Kim is currently working as a Health and Wellness Manager at the Chartwell New Edinburgh Square Retirement Residence in Ottawa, Ont. “What always struck me is that Chartwell wants to improve the lives of its residents and staff,” she says. Karen immigrated to Canada in 2018 and started working for Chartwell as a PSW. After acquiring her nursing license, she was encouraged to apply for a management role. “Chartwell will train you not just for your job but for where that role could take you. You get so much support.”

Learn, grow, and develop Continuous learning and development are a commitment Chartwell offers in attracting and retaining committed employees. One Chartwell program, in particular, seeks to support career growth: Chartwell’s Aspiring Leaders Program, which grows staff into leadership roles.

Be a part of something bigger The past two years have reminded Canadians of the importance of infection control and prevention measures, but more so in health care and senior living.

Chartwell staff have embraced the highest safety standards in keeping its residents and each other safe, healthy, and thriving under those challenges.

Most fulfilling is knowing how much our residents depend on staff for the important connections that come from never being alone. Is there a higher calling than being of service to seniors?

A company that cares Chartwell is not only focused on delivering a great customer experience to its residents but also ensuring a culture of respect, inclusivity, and diversity for its employees.

Join the Chartwell team “We attract employees at Chartwell because the jobs fit their skills, but we retain them because the environment and culture are meaningful in knowing they’re truly making someone’s

better,” says Laing.

For those ready to embark on a meaningful, fulfilling, and challenging career, there is likely a Chartwell residence in your community. Apply today at careersat chartwell.com

life

With a rapidly aging population in Canada, senior living is a growing field within health care. Chartwell offers a wide range of rewarding roles and professional growth opportunities.

Katherine Cappellacci

This article was sponsored by Chartwell.

We attract employees at Chartwell because the jobs fit their skills, but we retain them because the environment and culture are meaningful in knowing they’re truly making someone’s life better.

Karen Kim Health & Wellness Manager, Chartwell New Edinburgh Square Retirement Residence, Ottawa, Ont

Katie-Lou Rivait Health & Wellness Manager, Chartwell Oak Park LaSalle Retirement Residence, Windsor, Ont

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHARTWELL