The eyes and ears with which we see and hear life are not the same from when we are born to when we grow older. Human perception plays a large part in our personalities and behavior. Because this perception is constantly changing, our psychological and emotional lives are always in flux. The study of developmental psychology is the scientific study that deals with these changes over the course of our lives.

Developmental psychology is often thought of in terms of having the greatest impact within three spheres of influence: social context, cultural context, and socioeconomic context. This is in contrast to the theory that most psychological and behavioral patterns in humans are innate, and that we are born with them. It is the classic nature versus nurture approach, and while one hundred per cent of emphasis should never go each way, it has been a major breakthrough in how we understand ourselves since developmental psychology has become more common place, not only in theory, but also in practical applications as well.

Many career training programs these days incorporate developmental psychology as part of their coursework. Faculties dealing with community studies are one example, with programs preparing students for careers in childcare, human resources, social services and educational assistants. Healthcare faculties also have many programs that teach developmental psychology. For example, someone attending a school of nursing will attend classes focusing on the theories of personality growth through developmental psychology.

What are some ways an aspiring nurse can actually take advantage of developmental psychology theory?

- Working in pre-natal maternity care, a nurse can assist a soon-to-be mother in preparing the right kind of household environment that will not only be healthy and safe, but will foster a positive and happy environment.

- Neo-natal care, where nurses may have to treat the baby for physical illness and injury, and where knowing the root cause of the problem may involve more than a physical mishap, but be related to the baby's attempting to grasp their reality in their environments.

- Early childhood and youth care, it is important for a nurse to be aware of influences outside the direct sphere of the parents and household, for this is a time when the cause of problems may not be fully understood by the patient or their caregivers. This actually becomes even more the case in adolescents and teenagers as well.

- Old age, here nurses are often working with patients who will constantly need assistance for the rest of their lives. Dealing with the psychological impact of palliative care and death can have major consequences on the health and comfort of the patient in these years.

Nursing is an extremely complicated and multi-faceted profession that works with every aspect of the individual's mental and physical life, and in every stage from birth to death. Getting a strong knowledge of developmental psychology from a nursing school can round off any technical and medical expertise to make a good practitioner also an intelligent and caring person.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on nursing programs

The planet earth is the primal construction site. All of our first building materials are supplied by the earth's resources, and even today's synthetic materials derive in some way from the earth's natural elements. As our cities continue to grow and industrial projects expand, we no longer believe we can proceed with unbridled carelessness in terms of changing the natural environment. Resources are limited. Excessive use of electricity is wasteful. Continuous production of toxic and other waste materials is harmful. In order to continue society's growth, we have come to understand the importance of environmentally-responsible construction, in terms of architecture, engineering, and urban development.

Today, there are many considerations and systems in place that did not previously exist to design and construct buildings while protecting the environment. These should not be viewed as hindrances to development; only in such a short-sighted attitude is development seen as opposed to the protection of the environment. In fact, the opposite is much truer: that a long-term view of development needs to sustain a clean environment, both in terms of managing resources as well as promoting a healthier standard of living.

Environmental Technology

Buildings house people: whether residential or commercial, people live, breathe, eat and perform bodily functions inside of buildings way more often than outside. Architectural technology today must integrate as optimally as possible the management of a building's water supply, wastewater and solid waste management. Environmental technology, or envirotech, is concerned with the design and construction of devices that synthesize recycling, water purification, air purification, sewage treatment and energy conservation. As populations grow and cities expand, clean living will depend on these technologies more and more.

Green Building

Similar to envirotech, green building (sometimes greentech), is more concerned not only with the individual building’s efficiency and waste reduction in-itself, but also for the impact of the building with its surrounding environment. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of green building. Green building is therefore concerned with both the quality of life (air, clean water) inside, and the community outside. Formal systems have been set up to grant certification for meeting green building standards, like the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

Sustainable Design

While envirotech deals mostly with the devices and processes by which buildings remain efficient and reduce waste, and greentech is concerned with how buildings function regularly within their environment, sustainable construction incorporates both of these elements by evaluating and optimizing efficiency and waste-reduction over the entire life-cycle of a building. This cradle-to-the-grave approach begins with the initial designs and remains environmentally-responsible at every stage of construction, day-to-day functioning, as well as considering the building's future. Architectural technicians practicing sustainable design utilize the Life Cycle Assessment technique to integrate every aspect of environmental effects.

From the devices used internally, to the relationship with the communication, to the long-term considerations of our planet, environmentally-responsible construction is the right way to building a better future.

For information on architecture and engineering technology college, visit Mohawk College.

How often does a visit to the family doctor always lead to a second visit to the local pharmacist? We all know those dedicated apothecary workers are experts at reading those illegible scribbles the physicians made on those valuable slips of paper. But the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician need much more knowledge and expertise than mere bad handwriting discernibility.

A pharmacy technician is a healthcare worker who acts primarily as an assistant to a licensed pharmacist, but could also work in many other related functions. Although not a licensed pharmacist, a pharmacy technician does require a diverse and engaging educational program before being able to work. Because of the many functions and areas of industries where a pharmacy technician can work, the courses they take over four-semester programs gives them a wide knowledge of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. For those looking to pursue a career that can combine knowledge of everything ranging from anatomy to legislation and human relations, then enrolling in a pharmacy technician program may be worth considering.

Not just anyone can apply into a pharmacy technician diploma course. Often one must have a minimum of their Grade 11 or 12 in several subjects, such as English, mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics. It is also a good idea to have a high proficiency in computer skills like basic Microsoft Windows OS. Because many programs have limited enrollment, having higher than just-average grades and proficiency will help get you into the most competitive programs. Once enrolled in a program for pharmacy technician training, one will begin getting equipped with a diverse education.

- It will often begin with the acquiring of basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. This will help the student understand the effect of medicine on the body and its various organs.

- The student will learn the role of pharmaceuticals within the greater healthcare industry, including its ethical ramifications.

- Mathematical calculations will be applied to basic pharmaceutical calculations, familiarizing the student for the measuring and preparing of prescription drugs.

- The use of retail pharmacy computer software is taught to help accurately enter different varieties of prescriptions.

- Learning how to form important connections between health information systems to specific clinical practices helps the aspiring pharmacy technician gain better information literacy and management skills.

- A program will make the student understand the various laws and regulations that the pharmaceutical industry is subject to learning how to apply proper compound sterilization methods.

- Teach the student how to adapt their own attitudes and behavioral habits to work better with pharmacists and within the greater community.

- Gaining knowledge of management and the business of the pharmacies by learning about merchandising, inventory, retail and profit margins.

These are just few examples of the kinds of courses offered in schools of health science with programs for pharmacy technicians. The training is a long path with many interesting stops and visits along the way.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on studying at a health science college.

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” These words were spoken by the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, twenty-five hundred years ago, but they remain today as true as ever. But the heart is so much more than the metaphor for the individual's emotional life. As we have come to understand the science of the body, this muscular organ at the centre of the circulatory system has been given great significance in the healthcare industry.

You don't have to become a doctor to specialize in helping others have healthy hearts. There are many qualified assistant careers that are taught that can put you in a position to work with doctors in treating various conditions of the heart, for example, the cardiovascular technologist and cardiac sonographer.

Cardiovascular technology is an assistant to physicians dealing with diagnosis and treatment of cardiac and peripheral vascular problems. In order to become a cardiovascular technologist, one has to complete a two-year program that has accredited status (for example, by the Canadian Medical Association). These programs prepare the future professional to perform a variety of tests, such as:

- Electrocardiography traces impulses from the heart with electrodes.

- Holter ambulatory monitoring observes electrical activity of the cardiovascular system over extended periods of time.

- Exercise training, for example stress tests conducted on a treadmill for blood pressure information.

- Pacemaker follow-up involves regular checkups of the functioning of an internal electrical heart regulator.

- Ambulatory BP monitoring involves the intermittent monitoring of blood pressure.

After completing these various health courses, many graduates continue their education to get training in diagnostic cardiac sonography. Also known as an echo-cardiographer, or cardiac ultrasound technologist, these specialists use ultrasound to examine and monitor the heart and its various components and functions, for example blood flow, valve and muscle functions, and chamber sizes. While cardiac sonographers are not responsible for making diagnoses and deciding upon treatments themselves, they work closely with the doctors to whom they present their findings and results to make further analyses and treat the patients.

Pursuing health and technology training in these fields is hard work but with rewarding results. Programs for cardio-medical assistants take the student through thorough theoretical education and clinical practice. They give the student extensive laboratory experience, with simulated and real situations using state-of-the-art equipment. An excellent cardio program should also offer the student real clinical training with affiliated clinical agencies.

Charles Dickens once wrote, “There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.” With hard work and good schooling, achieving a diploma as a cardiovascular technologist can give you the wisdom of the mind to become a professional servant to the heart.

Visit Mohawk College for information on healthcare training.

If technology can be said to be the handmaiden of the healthcare industry, then there are few other specializations which have such a great relationship with this modern servant than that of medical radiation sciences. This is one of the largest and fastest growing fields in healthcare for many reasons, among the most important, as we continue our understanding and combating of the various forms of cancer. Because of the ever-improving technology and the growing demand of specialists and assistants in his field, there are many colleges and institutions offering programs of study in medical radiation science (MRSc). Is this career right for you? What kind of medical radiation science would best suit your career aspirations?

When researching schools, there is an ideal structure to the program that you should keep in mind. You want a program that introduces the student to all of the aspects of this science in the first year in a generalized common set of courses. This will give you a better idea of what specific area of MRSc you want to pursue, at which point you can specialize in second and third years. A good school will utilize integrated theory and clinical education while also giving you plenty of clinical practice experience in actual laboratories. Finally, even after specialization, you should be able to continue to work in an inter-professional manner with students in other MRSc programs.

A lot of healthcare careers in MRSc can be divided into three main categories: medical radiation technologist, diagnostic medical sonographer, and radiation therapist. While a good background in math and physics is highly valuable for all of these, these specialists also require excellent communication skills.

The medical radiation technologist is a radiography specialist who focuses on X-Ray technology to diagnose and treat injuries and illness with electromagnetic energy. They must be able to both assist doctors and communicate well with patients to ensure maximum safety standards during technical procedures.

A diagnostic medical sonographer is an ultrasound specialist who assesses medical conditions with generated sound-wave images. These specialists must be able to determine very subtle visual cues to help locate any unhealthy area or irregularity.  Like the radiographer, they too must be good with patients who will undergo seemingly unsettling examinations.

Finally, the radiation therapist is the specialist who administers the treatments to cancer patients using high-energy radiation. This is a sensitive career because of the nature of the patients' conditions, and while being technically proficient, they must also be extremely compassionate and understanding with people. Often, the radiation therapist develops personal relationships with their patients who typically have treatments lasting many weeks. Radiation therapy also works closely with many other healthcare specialists, like oncologists, nurses and nutritionists.

Studying medical radiation science can be a long and enduring education. But the career at the end of the journey will be extremely gratifying to you, and appreciated by countless patients and their loved ones. Like the long journey of technology in the service of healthcare, the right healthcare training will put you in the right direction and help you reach your goals.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on health and technology.

Chemistry has come a long way. It began in the old kingdoms of Egypt and developed through ancient times as metallurgy and atomism. By the medieval era, belief in a Philosopher’s Stone, which could transform any metal into gold, led to the rise of alchemy. Although ultimately a failure, alchemy formed the basis for modern chemistry.

Today, the medical and healthcare industries owe much to the field of chemistry for the development and improvement of medicine and prescription drugs. Because not every doctor is a chemist, we have the much needed roles of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to simplify the administration of prescription drugs to patients.

The pharmacy technician, also known as a pharmaceutical technician, is a professional in the healthcare industry who works with licensed pharmacists. They have a variety of functions and can work in a wide range of medical facilities and areas of industry. As a career, the pharmacy technician combines the skills and will to help patients, assist pharmacists and doctors, and work with the healing power of chemistry. It is a challenging career that requires thorough training, but one that pays off not only in terms of competitive salaries, but also because pharmacy technicians know they are working in the business of helping and healing.

To get started in this career, take the time to research some pharmacy technician programs. Many programs vary so you should have an idea of what a great program should emphasize in their training. Some of the key subjects that are covered are:

- assisting pharmacists in delivery of pharmaceutical services

- knowing legislation and methodology of dispensing prescriptions

- preparation and distribution of pharmaceuticals

- drug inventory controls

- learning classes of available drugs and medical devices

- simulated lab courses of community and hospital pharmacy practice

- compounding techniques in the preparation of sterile and non-sterile pharmaceuticals, and others

After a thorough training from an institution which has some sort of accredited status from a national institution (for example, the CCAPP), you should expect to enter an internship or job-placement at some sort of pharmacy.

Aside from your local community pharmacy, a career as a pharmacy technician can take you many other exciting places to work, like hospitals, but also pharmaceutical manufacturers, and insurance companies. Pharmaceutical technicians are even often needed in the service of the government and the military as well.

Because of these diverse areas of employment, it is advantageous to get a degree at an institution with strong ties to other programs in the healthcare industry, such as nursing degree programs. Just as chemistry is the science that binds the elements, the healthcare industry binds together so many professionals with a common goal, fighting sickness and disease and improving the health of the population. Becoming a pharmacy technician is an excellent way to join in this unified goal.

Visit Mohawk College for more information on nursing courses and other degree options.

PSWs assist with providing attentive care to the elderly and to patients who suffer from mental and/or physical disabilities, and chronic illness. Their presence is crucial to the healthcare system because of the assistance they provide to patients on a daily basis.

If you're thinking about pursuing a career as a PSW, you may want to take a look at the three qualities listed below to get a bit of a sneak peek into what is involved.

Career and Task Flexibility

PSWs have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private care settings. A PSW should be willing to work in any of these settings in order to ensure maximum exposure to all sorts of experiences that a PSW career has to offer. There are many jobs that do not offer this level of mobility, so it is definitely an aspect that prospective PSWs can look forward to.

But regardless of the setting, PSWs definitely need to be flexible as far their duties go. Overall, PSWs are relied on to carry out a number of tasks that are crucial to patient care, including bathing patients who have limited mobility; making and changing patient beds; and maintaining a tidy environment for the patient. There is no such thing as 'picking and choosing' which task to do. They all need to get done.

Attentive

PSWs spend a lot one-on-one of time with patients, and are thus exposed to their behavioural patterns. That said, it is important for PSWs to constantly remain mindful of any unusual or alarming behaviour by the patient. Many of these patients will be suffering from ailments that restrict their speech or levels of basic awareness, thus they may be completely incapable or unable to voice their discomfort or their very own concerns regarding their physical state.

What this translates to is that PSWs really have to be sensitive to even the slightest shift in a patient's behaviour. Being able to notice such detail will of course come with experience, and PSWs will have also taken health courses that touch on this topic.

Accepting of Death

This idea of death can be a reality that some people are not comfortable with. Needless to say, this sort of aversion wouldn't be very helpful in the healthcare industry. PSWs, along with every other healthcare professional, care for patients who are in some way fighting an ailment. Whether that ailment is immediately life-threatening or not does not eliminate the immediacy of death that is present in a the healthcare setting on a basis.

Being comfortable with the idea of death does not equate to being insensitive to life. Everyone has their own belief system, and has their own way of accepting life and death. For PSWs, it is important to not only explore their personal take on this, but also to be accepting of the different beliefs that others have. Most Health and Technology programs will include courses that touch on these issues, and will give students a chance to develop their own perspective on the matter.

So, you want a career in the healthcare industry, but you don’t want to be a nurse or a doctor. What other options do you have? Answer: Plenty. Here are just a few healthcare specialties that you can pursue:

Cardiovascular Technology 

Cardiology Technologists (CT) work closely with doctors in diagnosing patients with cardiac ailments. A vital part of a CT’s role is performing cardiac and/or vascular tests, administering and monitoring various cardiac tests, inserting catheters, pacemakers and other medical devices used to treat cardiac patients. 

Most colleges make it so that part of the Cardiovascular Technology program curriculum includes hands-on experience and training at hospitals and clinics. This will allow students to get a realistic
view of what a career in Cardiovascular Technology involves, and will also give them the opportunity to see which healthcare environment they would best like to work in.


Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography 

A sonographer is a healthcare professional who assists physicians in the diagnosis process by taking internal images of patients. Taking these images can be quite invasive, and can make patients feel very uncomfortable, so sonographers are expected to exercise a lot of patience and compassion. 

In addition to taking images, sonographers may also be required to consult and update a patient’s medical history file, aswell as analyze technical data in order to be able to suggest procedures based on diagnostic data. 


Medical Radiation

A Medical Radiation technologist (MRT, or a Radiologic technologist) assists in using radiant energy techniques in order to diagnose and treat patients. When we think radiation, we typically think of cancer treatment. An MRT may spend most of their career assisting with the treatment of cancer patients. But, there are Radiologic specialities that do not only focus on cancer treatment, including radiography , fluoroscopy , sonography and computed tomography. 


Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant

An OTA will work directly with patients who are suffering from a lack of motor functions and reasoning. The severity of a patients’ conditions can vary, meaning OTA’s can expect to work with a range of motor disabilities, including patients who have lost the ability to walk or speak, or even to carry out everyday tasks, like making a pot of coffee or taking a shower.  
 

Personal Support Worker 

A PSW plays a vital role in the healthcare system, and is responsible to perform a variety of extremely necessary tasks, including bathing and dressing patients with limited mobility; making and changing patient beds; maintaining a tidy environment for the patient, being mindful of and reporting any unusual or alarming behaviour by the
patient. PSWs have the opportunity to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or private home care. 


Pharmacy Technician 

The principal role of a pharmacy technician is to assist pharmacists in preparing and administering pharmaceutical
medication. PT’s are also expected to know and be able to advise on the regulations and methodologies regarding
prescriptions.

It may seem as though a pharmacy professional is responsible to know and understand only those issues pertaining to prescription drugs. However, pharmacy technicians are also required to know the ins and outs of alternative or all-natural medication. This better equips them to be able to suggest or advise a client on what type of medication would be best for them to use. 

It is obvious that nurses and doctors are not the only professionals who receive healthcare training. Most Health and Technology colleges offer programs that complement health courses with hands-on training in order to better prepare students for the job in question. 
 


 

Pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician involves more than just filling bottles behind the counter. Much like how doctors rely on their team of nurses, pharmacists look to their technicians for support and to help them ensure that daily responsibilities are carried out properly and smoothly.

Taking on the role of a technician demands vast knowledge of pharmaceutical practices and the industry at large. Typical responsibilities of pharmacy technicians include:

• Assisting pharmacists in preparation and distribution of pharmaceuticals in both public and private practices.
• Advising on the regulations and methodologies regarding prescriptions.
• Advising on the many uses and classes of available drugs and medical devices.

With these responsibilities in mind, it becomes clear that a pharmacy technician must undergo extensive training before launching his or her career. Many schools offer the necessary programs needed to become a certified pharmacy technician. The bulk of such programs will include courses on industry-specific essentials, including calculations, legislation, retailing, and equipment and devices.

While much of such programs focus on healthcare-specific topics and pharmacy fundamentals, the program will also consist of courses that zone in on topics that are not as obviously related to the field. For starters, the program will likely include courses on community engagement and active citizenship. The purpose of implementing these types of courses in the curriculum is to encourage future technicians to be actively involved in community matters and to stay up-to-date with social issues that affect their local communities.

This emphasis on community involvement may be surprising at first, but it is vital that pharmacy professionals develop the proper skills in order to build a strong rapport with their clientele. Like any other member of the healthcare industry, pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in maintaining an open dialogue between healthcare professionals and the public. With so many advancements happening in the prescription and non-prescription drug industries, it is important for pharmacists to be at the forefront of any new developments that their clients should be aware of.

Another unassuming class that health science colleges will likely include in the pharmacy techniciancurriculum is a course on natural health products (i.e., herbal medicine). Studying alternative medicine may seem counter-intuitive at first, seeing as how it is in direct opposition to the pharmaceutical industry. However, it is crucial that pharmacy professionals understand all types of healthcare treatments in order to be confident in their abilities to suggest (or discourage) particular prescription drugs to their clients. Being well-versed in all realms of medicinal products, both prescription and natural, will ensure that a pharmacy professional knows the options that are out there for people to choose from. 

With courses on community involvement and alternative medicine, it is clear that schools of health scienceare offering well-rounded professional training for future pharmacy technicians. 

Many people think that a Nursing degree can only lead to a career as a nurse practitioner. However, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) can lead to many different careers within the healthcare industry.

Educators

After a number of years practicing direct patient care, some nurses will decide to dedicate much of their time to educating colleagues, students, families and the general community.  Nurse educators take their careers in many different directions. Some choose to teach in schools, while others go from clinic to clinic to conduct information sessions to various members of the community. There are also those who work directly in hospitals and educate other healthcare professionals (i.e., doctors, patient attendants and administrators)  and registered patients on various topics, including regulated practices and recent advancements within the industry.

Research

Nurse researchers make vital contributions to the advancement of medical science. Most begin their careers as research assistants or aids, and in time develop enough expertise to lead their own research projects. Most nurse researchers earn a BScN and move on to earn a graduate degree specific to their area of interest.

Entrepreneurs/Managers

Earning a BScN can also open the gateway to starting your own healthcare centre or nursing care business. Such businesses can include wellness centres, recovery centres, or even private care services. Or, if you’re not quite ready to open up your own business just yet, a BScN also prepares you for managerial roles within the nursing industry in general.

Registered Nurse

Lastly, the most obvious career that a school of will lead to is that of a registered nurse (RN). RNs are on the frontline of healthcare. The chief responsibility of every RN is to provide the best patient care possible, which requires exceptional execution of champion practices, proper bedside manners and, most importantly, an incredible amount of patience.

Nurses work in very stressful environments, and are often caught in the midst of budget cuts, under-staffed wards, and hallways that are overflowing with sick patients. What distinguishes nurses from so many other healthcare professionals is their ability to handle these situations with a level of calmness that is so vital.

So, if you’re thinking about applying to a nursing program, know that your degree can lead you into a variety of careers.  Most degree programs will take approximately four years to complete. Most nursing schools will also offer the nursing diploma program, which typically takes two years to complete, but this can vary depending on the school of nursing and whether you are a part-time or full-time student.  Keep in mind, however, that a diploma will not lead you into the careers listed above. Most people who receive a diploma from a school of nursing move on to become registered practical nurse, whose jobs are similar to that of an RN, but with less responsibilities and authority.

Being a nurse is likely one of the most difficult but also most rewarding careers anyone can pursue. Whether working directly with patients or conducting research in a lab, nursing professionals are the backbone of any hospital or healthcare centre, and their expertise plays a crucial role in treating patients and educating the community.