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Work B.C. Letter of intent for * Career training *

Medical Devices Reprocessing Technician Course

I have a strong in terest in pursuing a career in the medical f ield. Over a year ago I was

enroll ed in the Healthcare Assistant Course at Okanagan College. I had to withdraw from

the cour se to care for my elderly widowed mother who had a seri ous lif e threating medical

condition, requiri ng a ful l -time caregiver to sustain safety on a round the clock basis. When I

withdrew fr om the course I

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had to use the money that was given to me to take the course (as a gif t by my mother) to l ive on, as I

could not work whi le caring for her, I moved in wi th her so I could be there to help her. She

appeared to be making some improvement and I returned to a part-time job. I was working 16 hours

a week as a cashi er at Extra- Foods across the street from her home. Af ter about one month of

employment, I was left no other choice but to leave my employment as she had a stroke and her

mental capacity was affected to the poin t where she need so much help doing activit ies of dai ly

living. The Neurologist diagnosed her with Early Alzheimers disease. Her condition was worsening

rapidly and became very exhausting caring for her. She refused any outside help. I am the only

famil y member l iving in Kelowna as other family members live out east in Ontar io and New

Brunswick. I came to the reali zation that I could not care for her anymore on my own, as I needed to

return to the workf orce. Looking into a care home I realized that there was a long wait to obtain a

placement. Having no income, she coul d no longer afford to have me there and cover the cost of me

being there or the cost of br inging care in to the home as her funds where dwindl ing. I had signed up

to the Work B.C. program to see what might be avail able for tr aining. Many of my jobs in the past

where part-time as it was dif fi cult to f ind fu ll -time work. M y oldest daughter moved out, as she is

now an adul t. I always had to share accommodation with other people, as I could not afford a home

on my own, as rents were too high. They informed me that there was training allowance for

employment i n h igh demand jobs with monetary secur ity. Exactly what I need at thi s time. I was

considering going back to the Healthcare Assistant Program I was enrolled in the previous year. I

stil l had to fi gure out what to do for mom, as she could not be lef t alone. I attended a few of the

Workshops when I was able to find someone to stay with her for a couple hours. There were many

Hospital visits to the emergency department both necessary and some not- her excess worry about

her health- she sometimes went there needlessly. We became well known to the Doctors and staff

there. One of the Doctors informed me about a much-needed fi eld of practice worth considering. He

in formed me that M edical Device reprocessor Technicians are in high demand and as the new

Faculty of M edicine for UBC resides at KGH they are opening up MDR- departments there as well

as in future they wil l need them in the new Heart and Surgical Centr e- the fi rst stage already in

operation- the second stage opens in 2015 and it wil l be complete in 2017. He stated that f i f teen

operating theatres wil l be complete at thi s time and they predict that 600 open-heart sur ger ies wil l be

performed yearl y as well as many other coronary surgeries. They are curr entl y hi r ing for these

technicians and do not have enough. He explained to me what these technicians do and thought thi s

would be a very good career choice. I continued my research in th is f ield and discovered that th is is

in high demand th roughout B.C. and al l across Canada as well as worldwide. We have an epidemic

of super bug problems particular ly MRSA of ten contracted in Hospital settings due to lack of

adequate steri li zation and decontaminati on of surgical devices and proper asepsis in operati ng

rooms- due to under staff ing. I am a person whom values the proper care of people and I li ke to be a

part of an important job in which I can make a vital dif ference in the lives of others. This reall y

speaks strongly to my career interest.