As millions embrace the release of The Hunger Games on the big screen, health professional students all across the GTA are gearing up for a battle of their own – entering into the job market.

In preparation for our final test of aptitude and intellect, students spend upwards of six-to-eight years training in demanding post-secondary and clinical institutions.

We write, we present, and we collaborate until we’re sure that we cannot possibly do it again.

And then we do.

This same process is then repeated in the hospital setting where we must prove to our peers and superiors that we are capable and competent. Not a small task when we are also trying to convince ourselves.

During our training, we all develop unique strengths and clinical skills. As the end nears, however, we also begin to realize the incredible number of other students just like us – each with their own set of skills. It is after this realization (and as graduation looms), that conversations about extra learning or networking opportunities become more guarded, and job search strategies become strictly confidential.

At a time of economic uncertainty and instability in healthcare funding, health professional students feel especially vulnerable. As an article in the Globe and Mail last week highlighted, “competition for jobs when the unemployment rate is high has given employers the luxury of being more selective in new hiring’s.” Just reading those words has the ability to increase student anxiety.

Despite this, I myself will enter the job search arena next week. I am keeping my fingers crossed that when I am selected, it is for a job opportunity and not for The Hunger Games. Although at this moment they both seem to be a fight for survival. I know the competition is tough, but I am confident I will be successful in my hunt. My only concern is how hungry I will get before I succeed.

Looking back on my training, I am thankful for my many mentors and teachers both at Sunnybrook and the University of Toronto. They have provided me with the tools I need to begin my career as a Social Worker, and are cheering me on as I take this next step. They have also reminded me that, “we are all learners”, and that although my formal instruction is ending, I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me.

Stacey Creak

Social Work Intern

Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre

The post My Learning Experience @ Sunnybrook appeared first on Your Health Matters.

In reality, having an MRI is good for patients, not ratings, meaning it’s typically routine and drama-free. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging, technology that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to scan the body and produce detailed images. It’s used for everything from back pain to sprained ankles, helping to either detect a problem or figure out the extent of an injury.

Sunnybrook’s three MRI machines scan more than 16,000 patients every year. And for the vast majority, it’s a matter of, “bring your health card, lay down here and keep still for a moment”. You’ll be screened in advance to check for any implanted devices that could inhibit the test. (Unlike certain House scenes would suggest, the MRI magnet won’t rip pacemakers out of your chest, but may in reality interfere with their functioning or placement). It’s best to come to the hospital bling-free, so leave your jewellery and zipper-ladden clothing at home. And if you are having a pelvic or abdominal scan, don’t drink for 4 to 6 hours before your MRI. That’s about it.

The length of the test itself varies, from about 15 minutes to over one hour. And while it would be nice to use this time for rest and reflection, the loud banging noise emitted by the machine makes that hard to do. You will be offered earplugs beforehand, and that definitely helps.

You may also want to talk to your family doctor before coming in about getting a prescription for oral sedation, especially if you find yourself anxious in small spaces. It won’t put you to sleep, but will relax you. Kind of like sitting down to watch your favorite TV show…

Learn more about medical imaging at Sunnybrook

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First step: confirm your appointment. Then, make sure you don’t eat for 3 hours before your scan. The good news is, you can drink as many clear fluids as you want! In fact, before your scan, you’ll most likely be asked to drink a cup of water infused with a special contrast agent. Basically, that’s a dye that will make your inner organs easier to see. And drinking plenty of fluids before and after your scan will help that dye work its way out of your system.

It’s important to also leave yourself lots of time. Besides traffic and parking delays, you may also need additional blood work before you scan is done. That might delay things by 90 minutes, so make sure you have plenty of coin in the parking meter! It may seem like a pain, but the results from the blood work will help the technologist figure out which dye is safest for your body.

After that, it’s off to the change room and in to the infamous hospital gown. Some people may also require an IV if it’s determined that they need a special kind of dye. Now here’s the weird part: you will get a metallic taste in your mouth, and will feel like you’ve just urinated. You haven’t, and this is completely normal. These sensations also pass quickly.

When you scan is done, it’s a good idea to sit for a few minutes to make sure you are OK. After that, drink plenty of clear fluids and eat what you like. Donut anyone?

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