Shaunik Kumar is a Student Clinical Nurse Extern in the Emergency Department at Humber River Health, who started his journey in February 2023.

After receiving previous placement experience in the Surgical Department at Humber, Shaunik has decided to transition to assist in providing emergency care.

Shaunik has recently completed the second year of his four-year nursing program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and chose to undergo his placements at Humber River Health. “I felt that Humber was the match for me,” explained Shaunik. “Being in a community-based hospital, I believed Humber would provide me increased learning opportunities and enhance my ability to grow within my field.”

Through working in the Emergency Department, Shaunik assists in providing care to a diverse population, ranging from young children to elderly patients. “This allows us to diversify our skillset and receive experience supporting various healthcare needs,” said Shaunik.

As an extern, Shaunik remains up to date on his progress and responsibilities through performance development interviews with his manager, which is pivotal for the professional growth of students. He is also able to assist with and shadow the emergency nurses on their procedures and clinical tasks, which exposes him to new tools and techniques to use as he develops his career in healthcare.

In addition to the managerial and clinical support, Shaunik has found that the innovation available at Humber has allowed him to strengthen his digital skillset. “I’ve found this to be useful and important,” he explains, “as the future of healthcare is moving towards a more modernized, technological design.”

To other students looking to improve their skill sets and advance their careers in healthcare, Shaunik encourages them to work or volunteer in a hospital setting. “Working or volunteering inside a hospital exposes you to so much and gives you the hands-on experience you need to grow in this field.”