Education/training
Students explore HEALing careersWalk into Marie Rayner's classroom and you just may wonder whether you're in a high school or a hospital. The room is filled with hospital beds, wheelchairs, defibrillators, bedpans and a "virtual simulator" patient so realistic it can moan and make breathing sounds. LINDA WHITE |
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 [ 2005-11-09 ] |
Laura Bond performs a chest assessment on a dummy patient at Dr. F. J. Donevan Collegiate Institute in Oshawa.
"We're very excited about our patient," Rayner says. "It can answer 'Yes' or 'No' questions. We can program a scenario so students can practise and see if they're accurate with vital signs. We can do dressings on it, injections and (intravenous)."
The classroom is the setting for the Health Education Alternative Learning (HEAL) program, launched at Dr. F.J. Donevan Collegiate Institute in Oshawa last year. "Our goal is to introduce students to various health care careers," Rayner says.
She worked as a registered nurse at Rouge Valley Centenary hospital in Scarborough, primarily in the emergency department. She created HEAL by adapting a personal support worker program she had taught for adults.
Upon completion of the HEAL program, students earn a Grade 11 health care credit, a Grade 12 medical technologies credit and two co-op credits.
They spend the first part of the semester in the classroom learning a variety of skills, including anatomy, CPR, vital signs, hand washing, bed baths, safe transfers and ambulation.
"All along the way, they're learning important communication skills, such as introducing themselves to patients," Rayner says.
Students put that classroom learning to use in two placements. The first is at Thornton View long-term care facility in Oshawa, where students shadow physicians, RNs, music therapists, occupational therapists and other health care professionals.
The second placement is more specific to a student's interests. They can explore such careers as nurses, paramedics, dental hygienists, dental assistants, x-ray/ultrasound and radiation technologists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physicians, social workers and recreational therapists.
Rayner recognizes the importance of introducing students to career choices. She dropped out of high school and attended college as a mature student after working in retail. "I was involved with a family member who was ill and was impressed with a nurse who took care of that family member. I wanted to be just like her."
Her students are confident the program will give them an advantage if they choose to pursue a health care education. "I've always wanted to help people," student Lori Summers says. "When I was in the hospital, the nurses were so nice. I'd like to be able to give that back."
Student Ashleigh Earnshaw hopes the program will help her decide whether health care is for her. "I don't know what I want to do yet, but if I decide health care is what I want to do, this will help me get into it."
Rayner is working with a community college to create a liaison between the program and post-secondary health-care programs. HEAL is winning rave reviews from parents and health-care professionals who recognize the need to attract students to the field, Rayner says.
"At our parent-teacher night, I heard from parents who've seen their children developing new confidence," she says. "Parents are extremely proud of their children, many of whom have done better in this course than any others. Attendance and punctuality is important. They need to treat their co-op like a job. Some students had extremely poor attendance last year and are here every day. They don't want to be late for school."
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QUICK FACTS
The Health Education Alternative Learning Program (HEAL) is a medical course for Grade 11 and 12 students interested in pursuing a health-care career. The Durham District School Board offers the one-semester program at Dr. F.J. Donevan Collegiate Institute in Oshawa.
Students learn medical terminology, communication skills, health care techniques and skills, and enjoy health care opportunities.
The program is open to all Durham students. They can visit their guidance department or call Donevan Collegiate at 905-728-7315 or e-mail drfjdonevan_ci@durham.edu.on.ca to learn more.
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