Aspiring to make a difference: high school graduate sets her sights on healthcare industry
Growing up in Medicine Hat, Emma Mourton saw herself becoming a teacher; but in her senior year at Crescent Heights High School those ambitions changed.
With an interest in the sciences, the 19-year-old was curious about the medical field but a fear of needles and seeing blood was holding her back from possible careers in healthcare. As it turned out, she didn’t need to be afraid.
The eight-month Health Care Aide certificate at Medicine Hat College (MHC) provided a short-term opportunity for Emma to test her comfort and suitability in the field, which has since given her a sense of belonging and a deeper purpose.
“It was definitely worth it for me to take the risk and see what it was like to be a health care aide,” says Emma, adding there is so much more to the career than people might think. ”But even if you find out it’s not for you, you’re definitely going to take something away, whether it’s new friends, a bit of new knowledge or just a deeper understanding of people.”
Beyond the bedside: why HCAs are key members of the healthcare team
Emma believes that aides play a critical role in the healthcare industry and that many of the misconceptions about them being less valued members of the team or solely responsible for personal hygiene and grooming are simply untrue.
“We tend to be, what my instructors call, the eyes and ears of the healthcare team. It’s up to us to see how these people are, see how they’re changing because we’re with them every day. We’re able to sit one-on-one with our residents, clients, or patients, and see things that others may not notice, whether it’s the way they are acting, a mark or scratch, it is up to us to report it.”
She feels the roles and responsibilities of an aide will continue to grow, providing an exciting and ever-changing work environment.
“It is much more medical-based than what you’d think. But even just being able to sit down and talk with a resident and help them heal - it’s a wonderful experience, you’re constantly learning each day. I don’t think it’s a career that would ever get boring if you’re happy with it. While there are routines, it’s never a routine day.”
The job of a health care aide is to help clients maintain independence and quality of life. Tasks can range from helping patients take their medications, monitoring and recording patient information, and providing emotional and social support to assisting with mobility and treatment plans from physicians, checking vital signs, and helping with personal care.
The MHC experience
When asked about her college experience, Emma explains that it was different in a good way, noting it isn’t as “hard or rigid” as she had expected. She’s also been able to make new friends from different backgrounds and age groups.
“On the first day, one of our instructors told us to look around the room and said ‘these are your new friends - your teammates. The quicker you become friends, the easier it’s going to be for you.’ And she was right; the quicker we became friends the easier it became. I’ve made a lot of friends in the cohort; they are all lovely people who want to help each other out.”
With increased confidence and a stronger voice, she reflects on the impact the program had on her.
“I’ve become more compassionate. I find it easier to look at other people’s perspective, and in terms of the phrase put yourself in other people’s shoes, I feel like now I could maybe even wear the jacket as well.”
For more information on the HCA program visit www.mhc.ab.ca/HCA.
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