Discovering Healthcare

How old were you when you decided on a career? Was it your childhood dream to become a nurse? Or was it a last-minute decision when you didn't know what to study, and someone told you that healthcare was a good option?

The Toronto District School Board is helping students to make career decisions before they have graduated from high school. The board has launched a new program called "Discovering Healthcare," which helps students experience work in the healthcare field while they are still in junior high or high school.

Teachers take their students for a half-day visit to the Experiential Learning Centre, where the students participate in hands-on activities related to different healthcare professions. For example, students explore dental careers by carving sets of teeth out of soap. They get an idea of laboratory work by viewing biological samples under microscopes, and documenting what they see. They emulate pharmacy duties by counting "pills" and measuring liquid "medications" to fill prescriptions. They attempt medical record work by transcribing fictitious patient records dictated by a doctor. As "dieticians," they plan balanced meals with a food guide. And they explore nursing jobs by taking a classmate's pulse and completing patient intake forms.

Visiting teachers receive a booklet containing suggested follow-up activities, such as visiting local colleges' healthcare programs, completing certification classes in CPR and first aid, or inviting guest speakers, such as members of healthcare associations.

In addition to visiting the Experiential Learning Centre, Toronto high school students can also participate in cooperative education (or co-op), which are credit courses where students combine classroom and workplace experience. The school board offers healthcare co-op at two major hospitals, where students can go to work almost every day in the semester with a mentor/supervisor. Up to two co-op courses can be counted as compulsory credits towards the high school diploma. And as the largest school board in Canada, these hands-on programs have the potential to reach vast numbers of students.

The Experiential Learning Centre's Discovering Healthcare program and the healthcare co-op program are designed to assist students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about their futures. And if they can see the varied and interesting careers in healthcare, it may help to fill the healthcare ranks for the future.

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