Written by: Isabella Vergara Bedoya

World Youth Skills Day, celebrated on July 15 every year, aims to raise awareness about the importance of equipping young people with the necessary skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

At Humber River Health (Humber), we are dedicated to supporting the educational journeys of our students and young professionals. Our Hospital accepts the highest number of students each semester from various disciplines across the GTA, accommodating between 700 to 900 students on average.

Gurmit Maghera is Humber’s manager of the Simulation Lab, BPSO, WOUND and SKIN. Her role involves organizing nursing orientation every month, hosting a variety of mentorship workshops and planning open houses.

Since beginning her career at Humber 22 years ago, Gurmit has witnessed the Hospital’s efforts to instill confidence in young staff and empower them to deliver safe, high-quality patient care.

Gurmit believes it is really important to provide ongoing support to young individuals, especially in their workforce transition. In her role, she has welcomed many recently graduated nursing and non-nursing staff into orientation programs and provided support during their school placements and consolidations.

Humber’s nursing orientation program consists of eight training days with a wide range of theoretical and clinical activities. Throughout the eight days, leaders from various hospital departments cover nursing and non-nursing topics. Following this, the orientation team evaluates the new employees’ physical assessment competency through simulation activities. If someone is unsuccessful, they receive additional support through preparation sessions and return to the safe simulation lab environment to practice and learn from their mistakes.

After receiving an extensive orientation, the new staff members continue to be supported by unit managers, clinical practice leaders (CPLs), resource persons, team leaders and patient flow managers (PFMs).

Gurmit considers the goal of orientation is to enhance the knowledge of young professionals and build upon their previous skills, ensuring they are confident before they go on the floor. “Many times, I have heard young professionals say Humber has the best orientation program because here they learn everything needed to be independent nursing staff,” says Gurmit.

Within the Hospital, numerous cases exemplify the support and opportunities available to young professionals.

22-year-old, Melissa Fiore, is a coordinator in the Simulation Lab and BPSO who has been at Humber since January 2024.

Melissa initially interned at the Hospital during her health management program at York University, where she gained experience in education coordination and familiarized herself with the Hospital’s systems and processes.

Following her internship, Melissa looked for job opportunities in the Professional Practice Department, as she was enjoying how much they expand on the education and learning process for young staff especially. Her interest in these areas ultimately led to her transition into a full-time role at the Simulation Centre.

Melissa is thankful for the opportunity to enhance her skills and knowledge. She would recommend Humber to other students seeking placements or externships to advance their healthcare careers. “Humber is a great place for younger staff to work, especially as a start to the healthcare realm, either nursing or non-nursing. It has a great support program,” says Melissa.

Humber River Health continues its commitment to the development and growth of young professionals. World Youth Skills Day serves as a reminder of the importance of investing in the skills of young individuals, ensuring a bright future for both the healthcare industry and the youth entering the workforce.