Careers
The following is a dictionary of sorts that lists the various careers in healthcare, most of which are required at the Musquodoboit Valley Memorial Hospital and Braeside Long Term Care facility. There is a brief description of each position that includes some of the duties that may be required to be preformed. Most of the positions can be further explored at https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/ Each career path takes about the requirements for entry into the field, the duties and the projected salary. This dictionary will also include a short list of local institutions where the courses are offered. Other options exist as well. Generally, careers in the healthcare begin with a solid basis in science and biology in high school. Some will require an undergraduate degree, but others can be accomplished with shorter certification programs.
Physician
Dalhousie University offer some of the most advanced medical and research education programs in Canada, including a MD program, through graduate studies, residency training and continuing professional development programs. They apply the latest in evidence-based education practice.
Physician
Registered Nurse (RN)
A registered nurse is a nurse who works with physicians and other members of the healthcare team to provide patient-centered care. They may specialize in care for specific populations and centers, such as working on a hospital floor, urgency department or at a long-term care facility.
Dalhousie University, St. Francis Exavior University, Cape Brenton University, and Acadia.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Family Practice Nurse (FPN)
Family practice nurses are usually a RN who practice within the primary health care settings. They provide a broad range of health services, including preventative health promotion and screening (e.g. well-baby assessments, immunizations and cervical screening), health education (e.g. healthy living, disease self-management, behavior change), healthcare management (e.g. management (extension), therapeutic interventions (e.g. wound care, injections), and coordination of care with community partners.
Family Practice Nurse (FPN)
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
NPs provide a wide range of direct care services to people at every stage of life. In addition to treating illnesses, they teach individuals and their families about healthy living, preventing disease and managing illness. NPs bring together medical knowledge with the values and skills of nursing. NPs are also leaders, consultants and researchers who incorporate new knowledge into their practice.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse Educator
Nurse educators are registered nurses (RNs) who have obtained advanced nursing degrees that allow them to teach nursing curricula at colleges and universities, educating and training the future nurses of the world. Some nurse educators work in healthcare settings as staff development officers or clinical supervisors.
The Nova Scotia Health Learning Institute for Health Care Providers offers education programming designed to meet the needs of learners across the province and strengthen our health care system. We are committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-informed programming that enables providers to develop and maintain foundational and specialty competencies.
● About Us (nshealth.ca)
● Cancer Systemic Therapy Certification Course (CSTCC)
● Critical Care Nursing Program (CCNP)
● Critical Care Paramedic Program (CCPP)
● Emergency Nursing Program (ENP)
● Family Practice Nursing Program (FPNP)
● Foundations in Nephrology Nursing (FNNP)
● High Acuity Nursing Program (HANP)
● Interprofessional Simulation Facilitation Course (Sim-IPE)
● Leadership in Long Term Care
● Mental Health and Addictions Nursing Specialty Program (MHANSP)
● Perioperative Nursing Program (PONP)
● Suicide Risk Assessment & Intervention Interprofessional Program (SRAI)
● NCLEX-RN Preparation
Nurse Educator
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed practical nurses are medical practitioners who provide basic and specialized care across various healthcare settings. Their duties include administering medications, taking samples and monitoring patient’s health.
Nova Scotia Community College: various campuses.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Continuing Care Assistant (CCA)
Continuing Care Assistant provide supports for people who need help with their daily lives. They do personal care and other activities to help them live well. They may help clients participate in meaningful activities such as inclusion in social interactions and recreation.
Nova Scotia Community College: various campuses.
Continuing Care Assistant (CCA)
Dietician
Dietitians are experts in the world of nutrition, and their primary role is to guide people through the process of learning about nutrition and making dietary changes. Dietitians serve as educators, advocates, and support for clients on their nutrition journey. Dietitians may offer to their clients: basic nutrition education chronic disease management weight management meal planning services eating disorder recovery. See list of Universities that offer programs.
Dietician
Clinical Dietician
The primary role of a clinical dietician is to design nutrition programs to improve or maintain the health of patients. These programs may be short-term, such as to ensure that proper nutrition is delivered to an accident victim until full healing has occurred. Or they may be long-term for patients with diabetes, kidney disease or old age conditions that affect proper nutrition. The programs designed may be preventive, for heart disease or obesity, or therapeutic to help a patient with heart disease maintain a baseline health and nutrition state.
Acadia University, Mount Saint Vincent, NS Health Authority and Dalhousie University offer programs.
Clinical Dietician
Social Worker
Social workers are regulated health professionals who work with clients—individuals, families, groups and communities—to improve individual and collective well-being. They often work in interdisciplinary teams to provide services, share resources, improve conditions and create opportunities for growth, recovery and personal development.
Dalhousie University offer the program though the School of Social Work.
Social Worker
Administrator
A healthcare administrator, also known as a healthcare executive or health services manager, plays a pivotal role in the seamless operation of medical facilities and the delivery of quality patient care. They are the strategic leaders who oversee the business aspects of healthcare, ensuring that their organizations are well-coordinated and effectively managed. Tasked with the responsibility of aligning the complex machinery of healthcare services with the ever-evolving landscape of regulations and technologies, healthcare administrators are the backbone of the medical industry's infrastructure. Their expertise encompasses a blend of health policy knowledge, organizational acumen, and a deep commitment to enhancing patient experiences and outcomes. As architects of healthcare's future, they are instrumental in shaping policies, managing finances, and leading teams to achieve excellence in a sector that sits at the heart of community well-being.
Administrator
X-ray Technician
An x-ray technician is a healthcare professional who uses special equipment to take pictures of the human body. They help doctors diagnose diseases and injuries. If you want to become an x-ray technician, learning more about this career can help you decide if it's a good fit for your skills and professional aspirations.
Dalhousie School of Health Sciences offers the programs in Radiological Technology, Nuclear Medicine or Diagnostic Medical Sonography as well as Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
X-ray Technician
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory technicians perform critical tasks that help execute important processes, such as research and innovation. A lab technician typically works in immersive environments of technology and science with various professionals, such as doctors, scientists, or engineers.
A lab technician's tasks can vary in different environments and areas of study. Some of their responsibilities may include preparing orders and invoices, maintaining notebooks, describing procedures, and maintaining records. A large part of their job involves conducting routine inspections of laboratory equipment to determine when maintenance is necessary. They also make sure that the laboratory area is clean and free of spills and contamination.
Nova Scotia Community College offers the course.
Laboratory Technician
Recreation Therapist
A recreation therapist is a healthcare professional who works to improve their patient's mental, physical, behavioural, or occupational health through structured activities. They work in a variety of settings and may specialize in working with a particular population, such as children with autism or ageing adults with cognitive challenges. Often, recreation therapists work as part of a team that includes other healthcare professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, registered nurses, and psychologists. In other settings, they may work alongside teachers, social workers, and community recreation workers.
A recreation therapist plans, implements, and coordinates recreational activities to help people with disabilities, illnesses, injuries, or other conditions improve their functioning and work toward their clinical goals. They may help their patients manage stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, recover physical or cognitive abilities, develop confidence, and improve social skills. For example, a recreation therapist may organize a bowling league for patients with paralysis to help them improve physical strength, learn adaptive techniques, and meet others with similar conditions to form supportive a community.
Dalhousie University offer the program.
Recreation Therapist
Recreation Activities Coordinator
A recreation coordinator is someone who organizes, executes, and supports recreational activities for a range of demographics. They may work in both profit-driven and non-profit-driven organizations to support mental and physical health, wellness, culture, social enjoyment, and community engagement. Recreation coordinators are useful in organizations that interact with or comprise extensive communities. The recreational activities they coordinate may involve camps, holiday activities, exercise sessions, sporting events, games, tournaments and other competitions. These can be activities for small or large groups and be recurring or one-off events.
The Nova Scotia Community College offers the course.
Recreation Activities Coordinator
Phlebotomist
A phlebotomist is a medical professional who is trained to perform blood draws on children and adults. They collect and prepare blood for testing so it can be analyzed in a medical laboratory. They also collect blood for donation. Phlebotomy programs are normally offered at technical and vocational schools and community colleges. They usually take less than a year to complete.
The Nova Scotia Community College offers the course.
Phlebotomist
Physiotherapist
A Physiotherapist is a person qualified to treat disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise. This helps patients manage pain, balance, mobility, and motor functions. They take whole-body approach, addressing not only the physical aspects of your well-being, but also your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. They work at all stages of healthcare, including prevention, education, intervention, rehabilitation, and treatment.
Dalhousie University offers the program.
Physiotherapist
Rehabilitation Assistant
Rehabilitation assistant assists in implementing the rehab plan outlined by a therapist or specialist for each patient. The duties include overseeing patients’ activities, instructing patients in the use of equipment, documenting patient’s progress in reports, managing patients’ activities and discussing the patients with supervisor.
The Nova Scotia Community College offers the course.
Rehabilitation Assistant
Occupational Therapist
These professionals frequently aid patients who can't walk, are very ill, or have severe injuries with daily tasks. They often assist patients in relearning and developing the abilities necessary to live and work independently. Occupational therapists fulfill the following duties: Examine patients, create treatment plans, help with activities and exercises, and recommend improvements. Most occupational therapists work in close collaboration with patients' families and caregivers, particularly when aiding children or geriatric patients.
The Nova Scotia community college offers the course.
Occupational Therapist
Social Worker
Social workers are regulated health professionals who work with clients—individuals, families, groups and communities—to improve individual and collective well-being. They often work in interdisciplinary teams to provide services, share resources, improve conditions and create opportunities for growth, recovery and personal development.
As well as working with clients, social workers respond to social issues and address barriers and injustice within society and organizations. The profession advocates for social justice, human rights and fair access to health and social services.
Because social work is such a vast field, there are many opportunities to specialize in a particular area (e.g. casework, policy and administration, research) practice area (e.g. child welfare, community development, long-term care) or client population (e.g. Indigenous peoples, 2SLGBTQIA+, elderly, newcomers to Canada). Social workers work in treatment teams in general and psychiatric hospitals. They contribute to the care, treatment and rehabilitation of patients. They also provide an important link between the treatment team and families, and help families find community resources.
Social Worker
Respiratory Therapist
A respiratory therapist uses a spirometry devise that helps treat patients’ lungs to restore and maintain their functions. A respiratory therapist operates the machine in aid of diagnosing, treating and managing the conditions affecting patients’ lungs as a result of lung disease, injury or surgery.
Dalhousie University offer the program.
Respiratory Therapist
Hospital Manager
Hospital mangers oversee the general administration of hospital and other provider facilities. Their central goals are to prioritize patients’ safety, as well as to ensure the financial and operational sustainability of the sites they manage. In addition, they monitor the healthcare quality in the facility, review staff performance, select and implement relevant medical technologies and IT infrastructure, and promote a collaborative organizational culture.
Hospital Manager
Administrative Professional
Administrative professionals preform organizational office and front desk-related tasks for a health care provider. These individuals may support hospitals, clinics, or doctors’ offices. Their tasks include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, updating patient records, managing payments and communicating with insurance companies. In addition, they may help patients with paperwork or answer questions about medical office’s services.
The Nova Scotia Community offers courses in medical office technologies.
Administrative Professional
Utility Worker
Utility Workers performs general repetitive tasks in maintaining an assigned area, with due consideration for patients, visitors and staff. This position maintains clean and sanitary conditions in assigned areas as directed, according to established standards, observing proper cleaning and disinfecting techniques.
This position observes all hospital and departmental personnel policies with particular reference to patient confidentiality; practices and promotes safety awareness; observes fire regulations and reports any suspected safety hazards; participates in and contributes to the departmental quality management program; and supports and participates in departmental continuing education programs.
Utility Worker
Maintenance
Maintenance workers perform trades duties approaching the journeyman level in various areas such as electrical, plumbing, and painting, ensuring compliance with applicable codes and regulations. They may supervise other maintenance workers and designated staff, constructing items like walls, doors, floors, ceilings, and windows, as well as designing, constructing, and repairing furniture, cabinets, desks, tables, and shelves. In addition, plastering, painting, and decorating by selecting and applying various paint, plaster, and wall coverings for both minor building renovations and general maintenance will be included.
Maintenance
Pharmacist
A pharmacist is a healthcare professional with expertise in various medications including prescription drugs, who focuses on safe and effective drug use for patients. They understand what aliments or conditions different medications treat, how they interact, and how to use and prescribe them properly. A pharmacist is also qualified to give advice and guidance about all medications and dispense prescriptions. Some common duties they preform include properly reviewing prescriptions, managing and maintaining the pharmacy’s inventory, collaborating with physicians and providers to discuss potential medicine compatibilities and incompatibilities, advising patients on how to take medicine properly, giving various shots, processing insurance claims, and recommending over-the-counter medications.
Dalhousie University offers the program.
Pharmacist
Paramedic
Paramedics are medical professionals who operate outside medical facilities, either in ambulances or other emergency vehicles, to offer emergency care to patients. When patients need further medical attention, they also oversee the transportation of patients to a health care facility and ensure they remain stable during transit. Paramedics differ from an emergency medical responder (EMR), who performs less advanced functions. Paramedics are also responsible for administering medication and filing reports.
Some duties include: responding to emergencies, assessing and treating patients, and transporting patients. Patients receiving palliative care in Nova Scotia can get support from paramedics for pain and symptom management at home.
There are paramedic education programs in Dartmouth, NS and Charlottetown, PEI. For more information, visit medaviehealthed.com or hollandcollege.com.
Paramedic
Advanced Care Paramedics
Advanced care paramedics often work in hospitals alongside other medical staff. As a result, critical care paramedics need to have more advanced medical skills so that they can provide care in a more complex setting. They also need to be able to effectively communicate with other medical staff members in order to coordinate care.
Home - Medavie HealthEdMedavie HealthEd.
Advanced Care Paramedics
Emergency Medical Responder
The emergency medical responder is trained to provide basic emergency medical care, things like assessing and managing patients at the scene, administering CPR, controlling bleeding, stabilizing injuries. They will also be able to assist with hospital patient transfers and assist in offload areas in emergency rooms. The new role also presents a path for health professionals to work their way up to becoming paramedics. He said clinical transport operators can upgrade to become emergency medical responders and then complete paramedic training.
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Emergency Medical Responder
Medical Technician
Medical technicians are the professionals who work with laboratory technicians to assist in the preparation, examination and analysis of lab samples and specimens. Additionally, you can choose to specialize in a specific concentration for medical technicians, where you can find positions as a phlebotomist or surgical technician.
How To Become a Medical Technician | Indeed.com.
Medical Technician
Surgical Technician
A surgical technician or tech, also known as a surgical technologist, operating room technicians, or scrub, assists surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and other medical experts with surgical procedures. Generally, these individuals perform various tasks and assist the surgical team throughout the three stages of surgeries to help provide safe, sterile procedures for patients.
Their tasks may involve: sterilizing operating tools and equipment, including any medications or sterile solutions, ensure equipment is working before surgery, transfer patients to and from the OR, prep the OR, check patients’ medical charts and records before surgery to ensure accuracy, monitor equipment and pass operating tools to surgeon during surgery, clean patient and the operating table post surgery, help with a patient’s dressing or bandages, dispose all the leftover materials in the operating room properly and restock the OR.
How To Become a Surgical Technician (With Helpful FAQS) | Indeed.com.
Surgical Technician
