February 2010

Growing up in Fort McMurray, Jennifer King always knew she wanted to follow in her aunt’s footsteps and become a nurse. Today, she’s living her dream, employed as a registered nurse in the maternity ward at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

“I love my job. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” says the 22-year-old King, who earned her nursing degree at Keyano College in Fort McMurray. “I really enjoy coming to work. It’s a great place, a very busy place—we delivered close to 1,100 babies in 2009! It’s so rewarding to help new life come into the world.”

Alberta Health Services (albertahealthservices.ca) is the largest employer of health care workers and support staff in the Fort McMurray and area, with 1,200 employees. They work in a variety of interesting and fulfilling positions, each requiring different levels of training and education.

“There are so many different kinds of professions. It’s so much more than doctors and nurses,” says Jeff Gillis, recruitment advisor for the North Zone. “You will find a diverse work staff in our hospitals, health centres and clinics.”

Over the past several years, the largest demand in the region has been for nursing and nursing support staff. This includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and health care aides.

But there are also ongoing opportunities in many other areas, including:

• Allied health: This includes occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, recreational therapist, medical laboratory technologist and combined laboratory/X-ray technologist.

• Clerical and general support: This includes clerk, secretary, laundry worker, housekeeping worker, therapy assistant, cook and food services worker.
  

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