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  • Staying on Track in a World Full of Chaos

    Staying on Track in a World Full of Chaos

    By Erin Rebello

    It’s no secret that we are all experiencing a strange and scary new reality. With the sudden shift from socializing to social distancing, it truly seems like the world is being flipped upside down. One thing that is on a lot of student’s minds is schoolwork. As of right now, the Government of Ontario has cancelled in-person school until September at the earliest. While this might mean that there are no exams, (woot woot!) this decision also brings on many changes, including the switch to online school and e-learning.

    Utilizing relatively new software such as Google Classroom, Brightspace, and Zoom, students have made the sudden switch to e-learning. This is an extremely short transition period, especially considering that some students have never taken an online course before. Students must also adapt to a completely different style of learning, going from being taught to having to teach themself. It can be very challenging for students to stay on track with their work, but it’s important to remember that there are ways to improve!

    The first and most important thing to do to stay on track would be to stay organized. Staying organized means different things to different people. For some, it’s setting reminders on their phone, while for others it’s keeping a to do list. Personally, I like to make a checklist of things I need to get done every day. Having a list of my daily tasks allows for me to understand what I need to complete, while also not overwhelming myself with work that is due later on. I also love the accomplished feeling of being able to check something off my list! Since everyone has different studying techniques that work for them, you shouldn’t ever feel scared to experiment with new methods of organization. You never know, you might even find a method that improves your study habits way beyond this school semester.

    As ironic as it may sound, another way to stay on track is by talking with your friends! No that doesn’t mean calling with them 24/7, but it does mean keeping in touch and working together. Without full lessons, it can be difficult to understand complicated concepts. One way to overcome this barrier is to get in touch with friends and help each other with homework. Are you struggling with French? Talk with a friend who takes the same class and ask for help with tricky concepts. Is your friend having difficulty with math while you understand it fairly well? Reach out to them and lend a helping hand. In a time where everyone is isolated, peer-to-peer support is crucial to keeping up with your studies

    The last piece of advice, and perhaps the most important piece of advice, would have to be to stay in contact with your teachers. Not only will it improve your relationship with them, but it will also make your life ten times easier. Never be scared to ask for help, no matter how silly your question may seem. Even if it’s something as simple as clarifying a question, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Another thing to remember is that teachers and school staff are there to help, and are typically quite understanding during these times. If you don’t think you’ll be able to submit work on time, send them an email and explain your situation. In most cases, they’ll be able to make arrangements for you to send in your work at a later date. Just don’t make a habit of it!

    Overall, although we are all facing difficult and unprecedented times, there are ways to stay on track with your studies. By staying organized, asking your friends for help, and keeping in touch with your teacher, you can make online learning a much less stressful experience!

  • The Question of Kindness: Have we become more kind and considerate during this Pandemic?

    The Question of Kindness: Have we become more kind and considerate during this Pandemic?

    It’s everywhere despite trying to avoid it. It has caused the world to change at a rapid pace, and also continues to be the elephant in the room at the same time. Do you ever notice people flinch when you are in a position that forces you to be close to each other? It’s talked about on the news almost constantly, and impacts your life in all kinds of ways. Simply put, it’s here, it’s everywhere, and there’s not much we can do about it… unless, you are being kind and considerate to others.

    Has this pandemic made us any more kind or considerate to others? I always try to amplify the positives, because there are always helpers, who are more silent supporters, because they don’t want the publicity for doing the right thing. The front-line workers, from healthcare workers to truckers to work trades to grocery store employees.  Firefighters, paramedics, the people who pick up the garbage we leave at the curb.

    There are people making masks, donating either money or items to several different organizations (look to see what they are in demand of first before you donate), as well as their time through volunteer efforts, or even being considerate of others by staying home as much as possible. There are always several different ways you can help, so don’t feel like you aren’t doing as much as others. Sometimes it can be as simple as checking in on a friend, delivering groceries to your parents, or even making masks in your spare time.

    But the main question to ask is: has this pandemic made us more polite? I’m not entirely sure, since we Canadians do have the strong stereotype (we’re really polite) for a reason. Several companies are volunteering their efforts to help those in need, particularly food banks helping first time users and whose demands have skyrocketed due to the lack of income affecting families. There are children and adults who are helping create personal protective equipment – from 3D-printing plastic masks to sewing gowns for the front-line supporters. These efforts are being showcased a lot, and with good reason: they are helping their community in a time of great need, and that’s what helps us to get through something as disruptive as a virus keeping us locked into one place for a long period of time.

    There have unfortunately been some ugly stories: ridiculous speeding on the nearly-empty (or incredibly light) roads, increasing violence in some high-crime areas (but has really decreased in other places), and there are an awful lot of scams out in the wild targeting those who are in serious financial stress.

    I think we should focus on a positive perspective- to BE the good we see in the world, to encourage more positivity, more kindness, all so that we can support each other. Times are tough, tougher for many people, and comparisons are never a good thing because everybody evaluates stress differently. A helping hand does the same thing for all of us: it makes the world just that little bit brighter, especially now when we really need it to be.

  • A Future of Uncertainty…

    A Future of Uncertainty…

    So, it is your last month of school and you find yourself in your pajamas while reading this- that’s OKAY! Who would have thought your pajamas would get so much use! You might be upset because you cannot attend prom, go to graduation parties and socialize with friends…it sucks. It more than sucks. Everything that this pandemic has brought to the table may seem negative right now. However, you will graduate or move on to the next grade- that is for sure. No one is expecting you to be perfect right now, so remember to take it easy on yourself and take one day at a time. Things have changed, but you will grow stronger with time. You will be able to look back at this time and be amazed about what you actually accomplished under the dire circumstances.

    As usual, this is our last issue for the remaining school year. We hope you all received some information you may not have known, or needed to know in order to help you move forward with your career, post secondary choice, or some helpful tips for school in general.

    Articles of Note for June:

    How to Read, Share and Cope with Covid19 News- Campus Life

    A Closer Look at Being a Vet– Campus Life

    A Closer Look at Being a Home Health Aide– Campus Life

    Social Distancing Reads- Featured Articles

    Staying on Track in a World Full of Chaos- Community

    Hiring in the Time of Covid- Financial Aid

    How the Trades Industry is Keeping Afloat During Covid19 Crisis- Trades

    If you would like to contribute for the next school year, email me at jpdeditor@magiclanternmedia.com .

    Take care, Be Safe, and Good luck!

    Erin Kelly

    Content Editor

  • Career Profile: Contact Centre Customer Service Agent

    Career Profile: Contact Centre Customer Service Agent

    Talking on the phone can be fun, but it can also be useful. If you enjoy helping people and are comfortable with phones and computers, you might want to consider working as a contact centre customer service agent. With the right skills for the job or a willingness to learn, it could be an ideal job, especially in times when many other jobs disappear. It could work as a full time or part time position- which ever you want.

    Working as a contact centre customer service agent is basically about answering questions and helping people through problems that they have with products or services. People in this job might work at telephone companies, government offices, and large corporations. Traditionally, these jobs were in large offices, but many contact centre customer service agents can now work from home as long as they have a computer and telephone that they can use.

    Generally, contact centre customer service agents work with questions that customers have about products or services that a company or other agency offers. In government departments, contact centre customer service agents might answer questions about programs such as Old Age Security or Employment Insurance benefits.

    When people apply for these programs, the call centre agents might take the information over the phone or possibly through a text or e-mail. In businesses, contact centre customer service agents answer questions about products or services, take note of complaints, and find information or contact another person to help.

    Suppose that a customer calls about a dishwasher that is not working. The contact centre customer service agent would take down the information and possibly suggest a few easy solutions. For bigger problems, it might be necessary to make an appointment for someone to repair the machine.

    Training programs for working as a contact centre customer service agent are available at places like Centennial College, but most positions in this field require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Wages start at about $12 per hour or slightly over $25,000 per year and can rise to $19 per hour or $46,000 per year. The job is not physically demanding, although people must be able to sit for many hours.

    Mental strain can be the most difficult part of the job. Contact centre customer service agents always need to be friendly and professional, even when customers are rude. They need to know as much as possible about the product or service so that they can answer many of the questions without looking them up. They should be able to work with other people. Having a quick typing speed is useful for entering information into a computer, but accuracy is more important than speed.

    With the COVID-19 pandemic, the job of a contact centre customer service agent could become more important than ever. Larger towns and cities are more likely than small places to have work for contact centre customer service agents, but jobs in this area are likely to increase, especially for people who can work entirely from home.

    If you enjoy talking on the phone and you want to help people, working as a contact centre customer service agent could be the right choice for you.

    Bibliography:

    Centennial College. “Contact Centre Operations.” https://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/contact-centre-operations/.

    College Grad.com. “Customer Service Representatives.” https://collegegrad.com/careers/customer-service-representatives.

    Day Job.com. “Call Centre Training.” https://www.dayjob.com/call-centre-training-1189/.

    Indeed.com. “Call Centre Agent.” https://ca.indeed.com/Call-Centre-Agent-Customer-Service-jobs?advn=1533551386143070&vjk=c03e5df6dacdf574.

    Payscale Canada. “Call Centre Agent.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Call_Center_Agent/Hourly_Rate.

  • Journaling Your COVID-19 Experience to Keep Your Spirits Up

    Journaling Your COVID-19 Experience to Keep Your Spirits Up

    Before the global storm of COVID-19, which has now staggeringly affected 4.7M individuals worldwide, with 315K deaths as of May 17, we Canadians were busy making springtime and summertime plans. After all, we were almost at the tail-end of winter when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus as a pandemic on March 11, and it was only natural that we were dreaming of enjoying elaborate gardens, amusement parks, outdoor cinemas, food festivals, and carnivals.

    Now almost three months after, our big spring and summer plans have been laid to rest even as some cities begin to ease on the restrictions on non-essential businesses and have started the process of reopening. Physical distancing will be a norm for the time being, which means that large gatherings won’t likely be part of our vocabulary until things get back to what they were.

    Being confined to our homes shouldn’t be seen solely as a disadvantage. Now we can set aside time to gather our thoughts and perhaps prompt ourselves to write them down, via a journal.

    In fact, journaling during these times is highly encouraged by the likes of Catherine O’Donnell, one of the co-founders of A Journal of The Plague Year: A COVID-19 Archive. Currently, O’Donnell is building a substantial archive of COVID-19-related materials, from invites to cancelled events to photos of empty grocery shelves.

    Scribbling about your experience will not only help archivists and historians, it will benefit you in the mental health department, as Karen Blair,  an assistant professor of psychology at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. says, “There’s a lot of research that shows us that writing about traumatic experiences is beneficial for us and that it helps us to process that stress while it’s actually happening.”

    Whether you want to share your journals is up to you, but what matters is you remember these pointers on how to make journaling a fulfilling activity in these challenging times.

    Select the medium that you feel most comfortable with.

    Despite the name, journaling doesn’t have to be strictly limited to pen and paper. After all, we all have our own preferences when it comes to note-taking during classes. We can go for the old-fashioned scribbler and notebook, or we can go for journaling apps like Daylio Journal or Diary with Password. Websites like WordPress and Tumblr are good choices too. Whatever you’re most comfortable with, opt for that.

    Don’t overthink, just think.

    When writing papers for school, we always have to keep grammatical and spelling rules in mind, otherwise, your grades might be affected. But in journaling, remember to throw these rules out the window. Write whatever it is on your mind and don’t put restrictions on yourself. Start with a conjunction or end with a conjunction if you want to or do both.

    Schedule a time to journal.

    Your schedule must be more flexible now more than ever, but that doesn’t mean your daily tasks are less. You still have your commitments and deadlines so keep to a schedule for journaling as much as possible until it has become a routine. And if you’ve set a time and place, be sure to follow it as if someone is checking you do it.

    Be creative and resourceful.

    No one’s checking if you have the right spacing and font size when you’re journaling so there’s no reason not to be creative and resourceful. If you think you will better express yourself by including a lyric from a song or a verse from a poem, then do so. It’s important that you’re exploring creative avenues to jot your thoughts down and if you need more than words to do so, like a painting or a cartoon from a magazine, then include that in your journal as well.

    These are uncertain times, and keeping a journal may be the last thing on your mind. But journaling can help you acquire a different perspective. In the process, you may be able to better cope with the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-april-23-2020-1.5542275/we-want-it-all-keeping-a-covid-19-diary-it-could-help-future-historians-and-your-mental-health-1.5542907

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/community/covid-diaries-1.5539864

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/22/how-to-start-journal-writing-drawing

  • You Matter During This Time of Crisis

    You Matter During This Time of Crisis

    There may be times when you feel frustrated and you no longer want to be socially isolated in your home. You may feel as if you’re not being productive. It is good to remember that you are doing this for a good cause. You are minimizing the chance of catching the virus, and even unknowingly spreading it to others. Staying at home will help flatten the curve. This means that you are helping prevent the number of sick people in hospitals from rising. A quick rise in COVID-19 patients can lead to hospitals and health care workers becoming overwhelmed and unable to treat all the patients equally. Reminding yourself that you are socially isolating to save lives should help you get through this difficult moment!

    Quarantine Can Affect Your Mental Health

    Social distancing and quarantine can be stressful and it is normal to feel upset. You may feel lonely, sad, anxious, and angry. The thought that you have no control over the situation can also occupy your mind.

    Here is a list of emotions that could be experienced while in social isolation:

    • Sadness
    • Confusion
    • Anger
    • Stress
    • Irritability

    The following is a list of symptoms of poor mental health. Keep an eye out for them!

    • Changes in eating patterns
    • Difficulty sleeping and concentrating
    • Worsening in chronic health and mental health conditions
    • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

    How to Care For Your Mental Health

    Everyone copes with difficulties differently. These are some factors can play a role:

    • Your current mental health
    • How you deal with stress
    • Your personality
    • The amount of time you have been in quarantine
    • Keeping yourself busy is a good way to keep your mind healthy. There are several fun things you could do! Here are a few:
    • Create a routine – make a list of everything you would like to achieve that day. It will help you feel like you are being productive.
    • Communicate – if you are in quarantine with other people, have a good conversation with them. Strengthen your relationship! Another option is to call, text, or video chat with others.
    • Exercise – follow free workout videos online. You could also go for a run or walk around your neighbourhood
    • Find a new hobby – try something new such as cooking, sewing, learning a new language, journaling, and more!
    • Eat healthy meals – you could go online and find healthy and easy recipes for you to follow. If you’re not in the mood to cook, you could always support your local restaurants!

    You matter during this tough period of time! Remember that you are protecting lots of people by staying indoors. If you or anyone you know are in need of professional help, please do not hesitate to seek help! Stay safe and wash your hands!

    Resources:

    https://www.verywellmind.com/protect-your-mental-health-during-quarantine-4799766

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-tips-for-protecting-your-mental-health-during-quarantine.html

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

  • How to Read, Share & Cope with COVID-19 News

    How to Read, Share & Cope with COVID-19 News

    It feels like COVID-19 is not just the biggest news story, but also the only. Every headline of every major news outlet relates to the pandemic. This barrage of updates, impacts, and predictions can be too much for the mind to handle. Take a moment to breathe. There are numerous ways to take in all this news, separate facts from misleading clickbait or outright lies, and keep each other updated in a healthy and constructive manner. This starts by reflecting on how you go about getting your news.

    Social media throws seemingly endless news in your direction each and every day. As you sit at home sifting through COVID-19 updates, pay close attention to your news-consuming habits. What websites do you frequently visit? Which sources do you tend to go to more than others? Within those articles, check to see what sources they are using for their research, and ensure it is a reputable and credible organization or expert. Watch out for poor grammar or multiple spelling mistakes, which can be signs of hastily written and poorly researched pieces. Use trusted sites such as the World Health Organization’s myth busters page, especially for scientific information on COVID-19. False information can not only be wrong, but also dangerous.

    Pay attention to how you are sharing news and taking in news shared on social media. Fully read the entire article, not just the headline, before posting to Facebook or Twitter. Be wary if a site is overly eager to get you to share its page, as aggressive viral marketing is an effective method of spreading false information. Add your own comments to the post to encourage conversation amongst friends as opposed to presenting the information as fact. A lot of the ramifications and science related to COVID-19 is still in the early stages and being worked out, so it is best to avoid pieces that claim to have “proof” about the virus’s effects. When you notice pages or profiles sharing news that is definitely false, call it out and encourage your friends to unfollow pages that are more focused on building an audience than being accurate. Have a critical eye for everything you and others share.

    All of this can be overwhelming. It is more important than ever to take breaks away from the news cycle. The constant negative and often contradictory information can take a detrimental toll on your health. It can lead to loss of sleep, increased anxiety, and the mental and physical harm that comes with depression. Make it a habit to step away from your screens on a regular basis. There is no need to or advantage in reading the same news incessantly, and you may want to catch up on news just once a day. Use that time instead to connect with friends, rest, and enjoy hobbies. Certain professionals, like journalists and government officials, may find themselves consumed with news more than most people. But for many, stepping away from the media for the rest of the day will not be a problem. In fact, it might be just what you need.

    The Internet and social media have made news and information more complex than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has simply exasperated an existing problem. Be critical. Verify what you read. Discuss what you share. Step away when needed. There are numerous good habits you can build to help you traverse the social media landscape and consume news in a healthier and more useful way. That being said, no one is free from bias. You cannot get rid of yours, but you can work hard to minimize it. Utilize multiple sources and discuss news with others. There is a lot of news out there. Take a breath and dig in.

    Sources:

    Kh, Ryan. “How to Avoid Fake News About COVID-19 on Social Media.” Social Media Explorer. https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/how-to-avoid-fake-news-about-covid-19-on-social-media/

    Savage, Maddy. “Coronavirus: How much news is too much?” BBC. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200505-coronavirus-how-much-news-is-too-much

    Vanderslott, Samantha. “Here are Simple Tips to Help You Avoid Fake Coronavirus News.” Science Alert. https://www.sciencealert.com/fake-coronavirus-news-is-everywhere-here-s-how-to-discern-the-facts-not-the-fiction

  • Who Is Hardest Hit by Covid19?

    Who Is Hardest Hit by Covid19?

    By Erin Rebello

    With a lot of misinformation about COVID-19 floating around it can be easy to get caught  in a whirlpool of confusion. Some people are caught in a frenzy of panic, while others believe it’s a hoax and do not care at all. However, when we take a step back and look at verified statistics and facts, we’re able to get a much clearer understanding of the situation.

    One question that a lot of people are concerned about is whether or not they’ll catch the coronavirus and how it might impact them. Rough estimates from mid-March have shown that 30-70% of the population will likely have the coronavirus at some point. But before you start panicking and fearing for your life, it’s important to remember that most coronavirus cases are very mild. In fact, you might not even know that you have it because it can present with little to no symptoms. Although you’re probably breathing a sigh of relief, this gives the virus a sort of invisibility, making it harder to keep track of who’s infected and thus harder to protect vulnerable communities. In turn?  We MUST be cautious, respectful and follow the rules set out by the head appointed health professionals in this country. You must consider, what may be good for you, will not be good for everyone else.

    Who are the most vulnerable to COVID 19? Well there are two main groups: the sick, and the elderly. It isn’t really that simple, though; people that are immune compromised, have ashma or lung complications, for example, may be affected greater by the virus. There are new things we learn about this virus every day. If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you’ll probably know that the people who get really sick from COVID tend to be older. In fact, the Canadian government classifies older adults as a vulnerable population. Since COVID is a type of virus, a weakened immune system due to conditions such as cancer, heart disease, or a respiratory ailment mean that the body can’t fight off the virus as well as someone who is healthy. As a result, these two groups are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 and need to be monitored and kept safe. However, everyone from EVERY walk of life, even healthy people, can suffer from this virus. It is unpredictable.

    Two other groups that are highly vulnerable are healthcare specialists and essential workers. With overflowing hospitals and a rising number of cases, it makes sense that healthcare workers are one of the highest-risk groups. Furthermore, considering inadequate preparations and supplies, many doctors and nurses are forced to treat coronavirus patients with improper PPE. As a result, physicians are being forced to risk their health every time they treat a coronavirus patient. Another group that is often forgotten are the essential workers, including cashiers, servers, food delivery, mail services, bus drivers and more. Although we often overlook these jobs, we probably wouldn’t be able to live without them. Essential workers must continue to work while everyone else stays home. As a result, they continue to work with their communities and are much more exposed to the virus than the general population.

    If you’re someone who’s in none of these risk groups, you’re probably wondering what you can do to help. The best way you can help to stop the spread of the virus is by staying home and practicing social-distancing and personal hygiene. Don’t go out unless you absolutely must, and even then be wary of your actions. With a few simple steps and precautions, you can do your part in preventing vulnerable populations from getting sick. Stay home, save lives.

    Sources:

    https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/vulnerable-populations-covid-19.html

    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-between-30-and-70-per-cent-of-canadians-could-be-infected-with/

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Veterinarian

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Veterinarian

    When the coronavirus struck, provinces across Canada implemented physical distancing restrictions and temporarily closed non-essential services, it’s a given why pet care services remained available. According to a previous report from CanadianVeterinarians.net, at least 35% of households have a pet dog, while 38% have a pet cat. Add to this the growing list of organizations across the country that are centred on animal advocacy and activism, the need for veterinarians is ever-increasing. Pet health and wellness is sought after these days as much as those for humans.

    Even during this health crisis, veterinarians across Canada, amounting to 12,000 according to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, veterinarians’ doors are open to anyone who needs treatment and care for animals in need, making them essential workers.

    If this career is something you’re considering, let’s take a deep dive on what exactly this involves.

    Veterinarian– What You Need to Know

    While cats and dogs make up a large portion of veterinarians’ clients, they are not the only clients. This means that the love for fur babies doesn’t necessarily mean you are suited for the career. Apart from domestic pets that everyone love, veterinarians also deal with animals in every shape and form, which means that if you choose to be a vet, you have to prepare to  deal with livestock animals like cows, goats, and pigs and those from the reptilian species like snakes and lizards, and a whole slew of others. You have to have an all-inclusive mindset and not merely focus on the animals that you fill up Instagram pages.

    By definition, a veterinarian is a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM), a professional in animal health care. Vets may opt to practice in various fields, including private practice, government, industry, or teaching and research.

    The most common services performed by vets include check-ups, vaccinations, administering medicine, spaying and neutering, and other surgeries. For vets who work in private practice, they also communicate with owners on how to best provide care and the need for surgery or medication in some cases. Services like vaccinations, deworming, and parasite control are also performed as needed. Vets also make recommendations on how to best maintain pet health and wellness through proper nutrition and adequate exercise. Some issues that vets watch out for in pet owners are overfeeding/too much food, giving too many treats, making food available at all times, giving poor quality food, and giving human food/table scraps.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a veterinarian can earn as much as $78,277 per year with potential for bonus and commission.

    Skills

    To kick things off to become a veterinarian in Canada, you would need to enroll in a college of agriculture or a college of arts and sciences as pre-veterinary education. After that, you would need to apply to a school of veterinary medicine where you would need to complete a variety of courses, including organic chemistry, physics, biology, genetics, microbiology, math, biochemistry, and others.

    It is an advantage to acquire a degree in the natural sciences, such as a degree in biology, zoology, or chemistry, but it is not required as long as you take some prerequisite course. Take note that vocational schools don’t arm you with pre-veterinary training and education and thus may affect your chances for admission in a university of your choice later on.

    Once you have completed your Bachelor degree, you will be then required to finish your training at a veterinary school. For this, you have plenty of options including the University of Prince Edward Island, the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Calgary, and the University of Guelph.

    The next step is to obtain your license through the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association or CVMA. This involves completing a 3-part veterinary licensing examination process, administered by the National Examining Board (NEB). After the exams, you become eligible to apply for license from any of the provincial veterinary licensing bodies.

    To be highly efficient in this profession, veterinarians must possess a solid knowledge of conditions and diseases that afflict animals. A true passion for animals is a big plus, as well as people skills since veterinarians must apply strong customer service skills to achieve client satisfaction and loyalty.

    Pros and Cons

    A career as a veterinarian is a fulfilling one as you help animals as well as the pet owners or clients deal with the animals’ health challenges while at the same time contributing to uphold animal rights and values.

    The challenge is dealing with animals which may turn in unpredictable behavior as it is expected with some animals under high stress. These encounters sometimes involve risk and danger. Veterinarians must always know how to maintain calmness and efficiency in crisis situations.

    SOURCES:

    https://i-studentglobal.com/news/veterinary-studies-in-canada/

    https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/resources/national-examining-board

    http://www.canadafaq.ca/how+to+become+a+veterinarian+in+canada/

    https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/canada-s-pet-wellness-report2011

  • A Closer Look at a Career as a Home Health Aide

    A Closer Look at a Career as a Home Health Aide

    Individuals who are in long-term care and retirement homes have all been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. The media is constantly flooded with news about an outbreak that affects both residents and workers. It has gotten to such dire straits; there is a court action that has been filed against a long-term care facility in London, Ontario brought about by the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) who claims that the owner did not provide them with adequate personal protective equipment or PPE. With the way things are going for this industry, it is most likely that this case won’t be the last of its kind.

    In light of this, there is now a greater need for home health aides who can step in and provide the sufficient care that the senior members of our society needs without the latter having to leave the comfort of their own homes, which we are seeing put them at greater risk to succumbing to the disease.

    If you’re thinking about this career path, read below for more information. It is a tough job, but rewarding, selfless and something that truly has a lasting affect on society and the people in it.

    Home Health Aide– What You Need to Know

    Home health aides might be the answer the country is looking for to control the spread of COVID-19 in the elderly population because they are equipped to attend to the needs of seniors who no longer have the ability to care for themselves. While individuals in their advanced years make up the majority of home health aides’ clientele, they can also be responsible for taking care of patients with a chronic illness or disability. They can also just lend a helping hand when it comes to medical attention.

    In most cases, home health aides collaborate with nurses to maintain a record of the patient’s progress and alert the physician or nurse of any sudden changes in the patient’s health. Generally, a home health aide takes charge of basic care tasks, such as administering oral medicines as needed, changing bed linens, washing and ironing the patient’s laundry, and maintaining the patient’s quarters. Home health aides also check the patient’s pulse, temperature, and respiration. For patients with mobility issues, home health aides help them move in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, and automobiles, and assist them with dressing and grooming

    Apart from physical tasks, home health aides also provide companionship to the geriatric population to help them in their emotional and mental well-being by entertaining them, conversing with them, and maybe playing games with them if the patients are up to it, like puzzles or crosswords.

    Salary

    According to PayScale.com, a certified home health aide can earn between $31,549 to $45,398 per year.

    Skills

    To start a career as a home health aide, completing a certificate from a recognized program at any community college for two semesters is a requirement. This certificate would allow graduates to assume entry-level positions as aides.

    Certification as a home health aide is an advantage but not required, and it mainly involves a minimum of 75 hours of skills training. Take note though that there is a significant number of organizations that require home health aides to complete certified nursing assistant (CNA) training, which usually takes four to eight weeks. Both CHHA and CNA training require passing an exam and completing a number of clinical hours.

    Pros and Cons

    Being a home health aide does have its share of challenges especially when it comes to the physicality required to fulfill the required tasks. At times, it can be emotionally and mentally draining too as one must have an ample amount of patience and understanding to work effectively with their patients. However, it does offer a rewarding experience as they are responsible for looking after the care of their patients, and it’s fulfilling to see patients keep their health and wellness and be free of serious illnesses. The companionship that the senior population provides is also a unique one as they offer a lot of wisdom that can truly be helpful to home health aides especially when it comes to life matters.

    SOURCES:

    https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Certified_Home_Health_Aide_(CHHA)/Hourly_Rate

    https://london.ctvnews.ca/court-action-taken-against-london-long-term-care-home-with-covid-19-outbreak-1.4906128