– One hundred and ten Island students are spending their summer working with the Health Care Futures Program in various health care facilities throughout the province learning more about careers in the many health care fields, says Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram.
“We had a tremendous level of interest in our program this summer, and I am pleased that this year we hired the largest number of participants ever with the Health Care Futures Program,” said Bertram. “Students from across the province are hired to work in the public and private health care facilities alongside health professionals. Students have the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience while contributing to Prince Edward Island’s health care system.”
Students are working in long term care facilities, community hospitals, acute care facilities, public health offices and private nursing homes. The province’s Health Recruitment and Retention Secretariat manages the program. One of the primary objectives of the program is to provide exposure to health care careers in Prince Edward Island. Today there are approximately 200 former health care futures students who have pursued health care careers working in our Island’s health care system.
Jessica MacKinnon is one of 14 students working this summer at Beach Grove Home as part of Health Care Futures. Jessica is a Bachelor of Science student studying Biology and Psychology at UPEI, where she is entering her final year. She has decided that upon graduation she will apply to the Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing Program at UPEI.
“Working as a Health Care Futures student has helped me to learn more about the nursing profession, and I have decided to pursue a career in this field,” said Jessica. She indicated that the experience has been a very rewarding one for her, and the opportunity to work with the residents is what she has enjoyed most about her summer employment at Beach Grove Home.
All students in the Health Care Futures program are entering a post secondary program in a health or science field.
For more information on the Secretariat or the Health Care Futures Program, visit www.healthjobspei.ca.