4 minute read
Introduction to Health Care
Introduction to Health Care
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
To ensure the future has many rural healthcare professionals, the Rural Health Professionals Action Plan (RhPAP), Vegreville Region Physician and Health Provider Attraction & Retention Committee, and St. Joseph’s General Hospital hosted (RhPAP) Let’s Go Rural! High School Event at St. Joseph’s General
Site Administrator of St. Joseph’s General Hospital Lindsay Rypien explained, “The goal of the High School events is to support the future of rural healthcare by exposing students to various professions in rural health, helping them to understand the scope of rural practice while highlighting the benefits of living the rural lifestyle. These days help plant the seed for students to consider returning to the community they grew up in, or any rural community, to pursue a healthcare career. These events are also a great opportunity for community members to work together and show appreciation for the commitment and skills of local healthcare providers.
There were students from Vegreville Composite High School and St. Mary’s Catholic School who participated in this program.
The skills stations included introductions to intubation, suturing, IV starts, lab testing, x-rays, diagnostic imaging, casting, and various therapies including physical and recreational.”
Allowing the students to try hands-on skills while engaging with the various healthcare providers opens the door for conversation and exploration into the vast world of rural healthcare and those professions they might not yet be familiar with. It also exposes them to the many different post-secondary options available and the steps they need now in their high school years to best prepare themselves for the related requirements.”
Rypien added, “In addition to the Skills Stations, the students were treated to a lunch panel of guest speakers that kicked off with a representative from each of the many hospital departments, opening their eyes to the fact that our local hospital is the biggest employer in the community. CAREER NextGen summer student Avery Jardine and Site Administrator Lindsay Rypien spoke about the internship opportunities that allow students to explore work-integrated learning internships in trades, technologies, and in-demand occupations through the Youth Internship Incentive Program. Norquest College representatives attended in person to speak to the students regarding the various routes, programs, and opportunities students can capitalize on in their journey to practice rural healthcare, including flexible online study options with in-person lab components and bridging programs that enable individuals to expand their scope of practice while working.”
When asked, student Sarah Olaleye from St. Mary replied, “I learned about the different types of X-rays and how each requires a different area of schooling and many other skills.
Another thing I think was cool was seeing the process of taking your blood in the lab and the part when I got to look at the microscope at different types of blood cells and how our blood cells change depending on the various types of illnesses we have.”
“I am thinking about pursuing a career in the health care field. Both of my parents and my grandparents are doctors.”
Also from St. Mary’s Anya Kulmatycki mentioned that she learned step-by-step each of the roles of the staff at the hospital’s jobs. “My favorite part was working in the lab as I want to pursue a career as a lab technician. I like experiencing how to learn to take someone’s blood and looking under the microscope at the different samples. We learned about the various blood cells and how to give an intravenous.”
Sadie Kuzyk from Vegreville Composite High School answered, “My favorite part was having the opportunity to have a hands-on learning experience with many different technical skills which included suturing, casting, x-rays, and intubation. The main highlight of the experience was being able to suture pork hocks. It was a challenging experience at first, but by the end with the nurses' help, I could imagine myself doing something similar in the future.
I went into this event undecided on what I wanted to pursue after my graduation, it was a great opportunity that helped me feel more confident about my future. This skills day showed me the many paths and options available in rural health care. Before this event myself and many of my fellow classmates were unaware of the variety of career opportunities in the healthcare field. After attending this skills day I’m glad to say rural health care is my top choice when looking for my future career path.
