3 Student Positions Related to the Medical Field
Authored By: Megan Mack, October 9th 2021
Looking for clinical experience without a degree can be hard. But don't worry; these three hands-on positions will provide you a glimpse into the medical industry while also allowing you to have a significant influence on your clients. Below we describe the positions of Recreation Assistant, Rehabilitation Assistant, and Executive Function Support.
1. Recreation Assistant
This position entails providing recreational activities and promoting social interactions between residence clients in the care home.
Examples of activities:
Hosting bingo for residents
Arts and crafts
One-on-one chats with residents
Transferring residents to and from destinations
I loved this job because I had the chance to spend time talking to residents and understanding my residence. As a result of acquiring this knowledge, I was able to provide personalized care for each resident's interest and needs. It was really rewarding to work as a Recreation Assistant because, not only did I get to know the residence well but, I was also able to directly improve the quality of life of our residents. This position taught me a lot about the significance of soft skills in the health care industry. The chance to spend time getting to know each resident's family, interests, and culture, as well as their preferred method of treatment, has enabled me to be more empathetic and understanding of each resident’s need. Not only that, but I was able to learn how to communicate more effectively with a broad multi-disciplinary team. This position is perfect for any student as there is flexible hours and no previous education requirements needed. It is also fun and easy-going as you get to plan activities for your residence. All you need for this position is an open-heart and the willingness to learn.
2. Rehabilitation Assistant
This position is responsible for providing physical rehabilitation treatment through group exercise or individual strengthening sessions.
Examples of activities:
Equipment management
Rapport-building with residents
Chart data review
This is a highly fulfilling position since you assist clients accomplish their fundamental rehabilitation goals. You deal closely with clients and can build rapport as a result of your care. As Rehabilitation Assistants work directly with clients, you will build patient-provider communication skills as well as all of the other skills necessary for this profession. This position encompasses a wide-range of facilities and care duties and has the ability to work with all age groups and conditions. This position requires Anatomy and Physiology 100- and 200-level courses for student positions. These classes can be completed during your first-year of post-secondary. This position is great for students that like to be hands-on and enjoy being involved in direct patient care.
3. Executive Function Support
This position develops the skills of independent decision-making and important life skills. This role varies based on the needs of the client, but it mostly consists of working one-on-one with your clients to create activities for them to develop specific abilities. In this role, I worked with children who had autism, Down Syndrome, or learning disabilities to help them improve their life skills. In this position, I was able to work with a team of Psychologists to develop a plan for each client. This experience taught me a lot of things, such as how to assist with behaviour development and how to develop learning plans for non-traditional learners. It was also fulfilling to see my clients happy, engaged, and improving as a result of my care.
Examples of activities:
Care monitoring
Delivery of health education
Chart data review
This role does not need any prior experience. The degree of flexibility is determined by your client, but you are generally working as a private contractor so you may choose your own schedule. This position is perfect for any student looking for a planning and teaching based position.
Other student positions:
Dental Sterilization Technician: This would be great for students wanting to learn more about the dental industry.
Pharmacy Assistant: Great hands-on experience for students wanting to enter the pharmacy industry.
Clinic Receptionist: Great experience for those wanting to learn health related administration tasks such as medical under-writing of doctors letters and charting management.
