Do you need healthcare hours for your major? They are not as impossible to get as you may think.

Experience in healthcare is excellent for those seeking a career in the field as it helps to build skills as well as it helps advancement to further education where your prior healthcare experience will be evaluated closely. Having the experience will help solidify your interest in healthcare and show others that you are serious about it. As a fellow healthcare major, I can relate to the struggle of obtaining these hours if you do not know where to start. But after going through the process of getting hours myself, I want to share some knowledge and provide tips on getting your hours:

• Research positions
  First, you should take a look at the options you have as there are many different positions that vary in the amount of patient care and duties. Have some knowledge of the experience you would like to get and what positions would provide such experience. For example, being a patient care technician in the emergency department of a hospital may not be as preferable as being a rehab aide if you are learning to become a physical therapist.
• Reach out! (Now is not the time to be shy!)
  I found myself going ONLY to websites like Handshake in search of positions. In the beginning, I saw no positions that fit my need and left it at that assuming I would never find anything. What changed everything was reaching out to organizations while voicing my desire to learn and gain experience as part of being a student with a future in healthcare. To my surprise, many opportunities came my way. If you take one thing away from this, there are more opportunities than are posted online, it is just a matter of reaching out!
• Consider volunteering
  Volunteering opens up many doors to gain experience. Many organizations would be more than happy to allow you to volunteer since you will be providing extra help. In turn, you typically will have more freedom with the hours you choose to be there. This can lead to gaining a paid position as you will be already networking and learning within the organization.

Here is a summary of what your next steps should be if you are reading this and want to gain healthcare experience.

1. Narrow down what field of healthcare you are interested in (medicine, therapy, nursing, etc..). This can help in choosing which experience is right for you.
2. Research what kind of positions are available. You are typically looking at entry-level positions. Be mindful of any training requirements set out by the employer. If you do not meet these requirements, stick with positions that require less training and certifications, such as a nursing assistant or a physical therapist aide.
3. Research the healthcare facilities in your area that would have these positions.
4. Begin inquiring about opportunities. You can easily find contact information online such as a volunteer department or human resources. Do not expect gold on the first try. You may need to reach out to many organizations, but this will uncover the true opportunities that are offered. Keep in mind that many organizations love to incorporate students in order to give back and build relationships with possible future employees.

Know you are not alone and that we at the Career Development Center in Dooling 121 are more than happy to help you on your journey.

Be sure to check out our “Career Pathways in Healthcare for all Majors” on 2/23/2023 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM in Gambet 153!

Here are some resources that may be helpful in the Lehigh Valley area:

• St. Lukes observation program and volunteer department
• St. Lukes therapy student opportunities (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and audiology programs)
• Lehigh Valley Health Network Volunteering
• St. Lukes's Co-op program (paying jobs that work around your academic schedule!)