New employee shares experience gained during student placement
An individual who was placed at the Red Fish Healing Centre as a student reflects on their diverse experiences, and the value of staff preceptors/mentors.
Today’s students are our future health care team members – BC has recognized the importance of student learning as part of its health human resource strategy. PHSA strives to be a leader in the resources and tools, planning, coordination and hosting of students across its sites and programs.
There are approximately 2,600 students and 850 residents placed in health programs across PHSA each year for their practice experience. In recent years, several hundred new employees hired noted that they had a student experience at PHSA and that the experience was a factor in their employment decision.
The role of staff in supporting student placements is an important part of PHSA’s academic mandate, and also an important part of PHSA’s recruitment efforts.
Hear from a PHSA employee who completed a student practicum at the Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction.
Renay, mental health and addictions support worker
At what point in your career path or academic program are you?
I’m currently in my third year of the Psychiatric Nursing program at Douglas College and am a newly-hired Mental Health and Addictions Support Worker here at Red Fish Healing Centre.
What interested you about being at the Red Fish Healing Centre?
As a part of my nursing program, I completed a seven-week clinical rotation at Red Fish. In those seven weeks, I was led and supported by incredible staff and peers. Because of my positive experience, I was interested to seek an opportunity to return and become a part of the Red Fish team.
What were the best parts of your experience? If you could change something about your placement, what would it be?
The best parts of my experience included the welcoming team and environment; a space where I could expand my learning and establish therapeutic relationships with clients. Being a student nurse, entering a new placement can feel overwhelming. However, at Red Fish, it was completely non-judgemental and I felt comfortable asking questions and seeking advice from the team on rotation.
If I could change something about the placement, it would simply be that it was longer! My confidence grew each week and the overall experience was enjoyable. I am pleased to be back and a part of the team.
Did you learn something that you hadn’t expected about yourself, the team, the clients, or anything else?
Absolutely. I learnt that as a student nurse I am capable of so much more than I initially thought I could manage, and [staff at] Red Fish encouraged me to discover that potential. In turn, this reflected in my skills with working with a team and taking on different roles as support but as a leader as well.
Additionally, the opportunity to work with vulnerable clients, hearing their individual journeys and helping support their recovery was a memorable experience.
Would you recommend that other students consider a placement at PHSA? Any advice for interested individuals?
I would completely recommend that other students consider a placement at PHSA. The team is incredibly supportive, transparent and will lead you step by step into entering a health authority. I’d advise individuals to be confident in their actions and reciprocate the same way in having open and clear communication no matter the inquiry they have.
For more information
PHSA is actively looking for ways to increase capacity to host students and innovate practice experiences.
If you know of any students who would like to be placed throughout PHSA, their school’s placement coordinator can request a placement directly through the Health Sciences Placement Network (HSPnet).