Graduating college and finding a job at the start of a global pandemic is a challenge that this week’s Sprott Shaw Hero, Lisa Courtney, conquered. Lisa’s passion and commitment to helping others reinforced her dedication to persevere through these difficult times.
Earlier this year, Lisa graduated from our Nanaimo campus as a student in our Health Care Assistant program. While starting her health care career at the onset of COVID-19 is an experience that Lisa will never forget, she was fortunately hired right after she graduated and received her registry number from the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.
A Day in the Life as a Health Care Assistant
After graduating from her Sprott Shaw program, Lisa was hired in March of this year at Kiwanis Village in Nanaimo as a Health Care Assistant.
As Lisa started her role as a Health Care Assistant on the verge of the pandemic, it has been interesting for her to see how the situation is evolving and how the centre has been adapting their care to make these difficult times easier for the residents.
Working as a Health Care Assistant has been dynamic for Lisa as there isn’t ever a ‘typical’ day for her. However, the one thing that does hold true in any shift, is that her residents’ needs come before anything else.
To take care of and look after her residents, Lisa often helps them with their personal care including making sure that her elders are living their best lives by helping them meet their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs. Depending on the shift that she works, she may help them get dressed, take a bath, or even just keep them company by sitting and chatting with them.
Lisa loves being able to work and connect with the residents as her favourite part of the job is building relationships with them and bringing smiles to their faces.
Preparing for a Career in Health Care
As her sister is a Registered Nurse (RN), Lisa saw the impact that her sister had on her patients and the people she worked with. While Lisa believed that she didn’t have what it takes to work in health care for the longest time, by the time she was in her late 20’s, she realized that the retail path she was following wasn’t working for her. She wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives and a career in health care was the best way to see this through. So, she returned back to school to pursue further education and enroll at Sprott Shaw.
A successful career in health care requires safe and competent education, knowledge, training, and practice – which is exactly what Lisa received during her studies at Sprott Shaw. For her, her supportive instructor, Erin Childs, was so passionate and patient that it cemented the idea that health care is where she is meant to be. The insights into the field that Erin gave her every day made her feel like she could handle anything that was handed to her.
As Lisa says, “I’m so grateful to Sprott Shaw for helping me realize my passion for health care. I wouldn’t have made it if not for all the support both by instructors and all the other staff on campus and I’m so excited to see where my career goes from here. I have plans I never could have dreamed of just a few years ago.”
We’re equally excited for Lisa and can’t wait to see what’s in store for her. Thank you, Lisa, for always putting your residents’ needs first and taking care of them. We are so proud to have a Sprott Shaw Hero like you in the world!
