 Job Shadowing at Shore Health
Introduces Students To Health Care Careers
Hospitals aimed at making a dent in the nationwide shortage
of health care workers are reaching out to young children with job awareness
programs that introduce them to health care careers.
One such hospital is in our backyard—Shore Health
System, parent of Memorial Hospital in Easton, Dorchester General Hospital in
Cambridge and a host of outpatient facilities on the Eastern Shore.
"The idea is to enhance the image of nursing and health
careers," said Sherry Councell, program support specialist for Shore Health
System's Job Shadowing program.
The Job Shadowing program partners local, middle, and high
schools with the hospitals that Shore Health System manages. Since May 2001,
Shore Health System has partnered with over 16 schools, Councell said. Through
this partnership, students visit the hospitals and outpatient facilities where
they are exposed to various health care professionals and health care careers.
The students often get tours of the hospitals’ emergency rooms, various
diagnostic departments, as well as one-on-one mentoring from medical
professionals. Sometimes, medical professionals from Shore Health System visit
the classrooms instead.
"Students in the eighth grade must develop a four-to-six
year career plan," Councell said. However, many eighth graders have no idea
what they want to do. It is important to let students know what's out there in
the health and human services field. We need help in health care, and sometimes
students are not encouraged to pursue a career in these areas."
“The most common career responses students give to a
survey are becoming a family physician, a pediatrician, or an emergency room
practitioner,” Councell said. Students are frequently unaware of the
amount of money, problem solving, tenacity, and determination it takes to
successfully complete the education for these choices. She arranges for
students to spend time with various hospital professionals, so they can see
first hand what working in health care is all about. Councell supplies students
with career profiles that include the education, salary, future job outlook, as
well as the pros and cons of the job. The information she gives students comes
from the Occupational Outlook Handbook and includes the latest United States
statistics for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals so students
can make better career choices.
Recently, Councell visited eighth graders at North
Dorchester Middle School, where she spoke to about 160 students about nursing
careers. Nursing is a field with many options, and Councell is an advocate for
the profession. She encourages students to consider a career in nursing,
because of the many specialties within the profession.
The hospital also hosted some mid-shore eighth graders
interested in a health care career in Job Shadowing days in April and May of
this year.
"Many nurses have had several different roles within the
career of nursing; nurses can always find a job," says Councell.
Contact:
Sherry Councell
Nurse Support
Program Specialist
Shore Health System
Phone: (410) 822-100 ext. 5457
E-mail: scouncell@shorehealth.org (Back to the top) |
