The largest number of participants ever are spending the summer working in health-care facilities as part of the health-care futures program.
The 110 Island students working in the program are working in long-term-care facilities, community hospitals, acute-care facilities, public health offices and private nursing homes. All are entering a post-secondary program in health or sciences in the fall.
“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,” said Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn 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.”
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 the Island health-care system.
Jessica MacKinnon is one of 14 students working this summer at Beach Grove Home as part of the program. MacKinnon 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,” MacKinnon said. 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.
For more information on the Secretariat or the Health Care Futures Program, visit www.healthjobspei.ca.
