JOB SHADOWING OPPORTUNITIES

PLEASE NOTE: Windsor Regional Hospital continues to monitor developments regarding the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, including staying up to date on the latest guidelines and information from Health Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Health and our local Public Health unit. We remain vigilant in protecting our staff, patients and visitors through rigorous infection and prevention controls, including screening of patients upon arrival for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and the implementation of visitor restrictions.


As a result, we have temporarily suspended our Take A Walk In My Shoes program for the duration of the outbreak. We thank you for your interest in this program and encourage you to check back regularly for updates regarding when this program will resume.

Take a Walk in My Shoes - A Unique Job Shadowing Experience

The Take a Walk in My Shoes Program at Windsor Regional Hospital provides individuals with experiential learning opportunities designed to help them learn about various health career options as well as the skills that different occupations require.

The program offers a four-hour education and shadowing experience to individuals who are interested in learning about a specific area in healthcare. Program participants have the opportunity to experience the workplace setting as well as the duties performed by the healthcare worker they are shadowing.

Participants are not permitted to take part in any hands-on patient care. Individuals under the age of 18 will require parental consent.

PROGRAM GOALS

  • Observe the daily routines of healthcare workers
  • Begin to identify career interests in healthcare
  • Gain awareness of the academic, technical and personal skills required in healthcare professions
  • Gain an understanding that different health careers have cultures and work environments that can be unique to a particular profession
  • Develop an understanding of the critical connections between school, work and goal attainment

 

PARTICIPATING DISCIPLINES

Windsor Regional will endeavour to offer job shadowing experiences based upon your indicated area of interest with the exception of physicians. Job shadowing will not be arranged in the Operating Room, Mental Health or the Emergency Department.

 

REGISTRATION FORM

To participate in this program, please complete and submit the following form online and email your resume to takeawalkinmyshoes@wrh.on.ca.

A representative from Human Resources will contact you to arrange a date for your job shadowing experience. Please note that we will try to accommodate your schedule as much as possible, however, the date/time that is mutually selected will also be contingent upon departmental staffing levels and patient care priorities.

Click here to fill out the online registration form.

  • Take A Walk In My Shoes Registration Form
  • Take A Walk In My Shoes Registration Form (< 18 years of age)

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Applications to participate in the Take A Walk In My Shoes program are accepted and scheduled throughout the year on an individual basis. Please note that applicants will not be scheduled for their job shadowing experience until all required forms and documentation has been received. Please allow 3-4 weeks for scheduling once you have submitted your paperwork.

Please fax your completed registration form and resume to 519-252-4565 or e-mail your documents to takeawalkinmyshoes@wrh.on.ca 

So that your mentor has an overview in advance of your background and experience to best prepare for your job shadowing experience.

Once we receive your registration form and resume, it will be reviewed to ensure all requirements have been met. Once your application is approved, we will contact you to arrange a date for your job shadowing experience. Once a date has been established, you will be assigned to a Windsor Regional staff member who will act as your mentor for that day. We will confirm the details of your job shadowing via the e-mail address you provided on your application form.

Business casual with close-toed, comfortable walking shoes. If you have further questions regarding proper attire, please contact us directly. Please note that we are a scent-free organization, so no perfume, cologne or heavy scented body lotions are permitted.

We recommend that you prepare questions ahead of time to ask your mentor about his/her profession and work experience within the hospital setting.

Where should I park on the day of my job shadow experience?

Detailed instructions on where to park will be contained within the confirmation letter we send to you by e-mail prior to the date of your job shadowing experience.

Where will I meet my mentor on the day of my job shadow experience?

Detailed instructions on where to meet your mentor will be contained within the confirmation letter we send to you by e-mail prior to the date of your job shadowing experience.

I have been scheduled to job shadow at Windsor Regional Hospital and I seem to be coming down with an illness. What should I do?

Because patient safety is our number one priority, no unhealthy person is permitted to participate in the job shadow program. Should you become ill, please contact the Take A Walk In My Shoes coordinator at takeawalkinmyshoes@wrh.on.ca.  Please ensure that you include your name and phone number in the e-mail message. You will receive priority placement in the same area for a subsequent date. Participants who arrive for their job shadow experience symptomatic will not be permitted to participate.

What should I do if I come down with Chicken Pox, Measles, or some other communicable disease within 48 hours after participating in the Take a Walk in My Shoes Program?

If you develop Chicken Pox, Measles, or some other communicable disease within 48 hours after your Job Shadow experience, it is very important that you contact us immediately. This will allow us to contact the appropriate individuals in an effort to prevent a potentially harmful outbreak that would threaten the health of our patients as well as our healthcare workers.

I have a parent/family member who is a Windsor Regional Hospital employee and I would like to shadow them, can this be arranged?

All staff who apply to have an individual shadow their job are reviewed to determine an appropriate match for your interests. Shadowing experience with a parent/family member will not be arranged as part of the Take a Walk in My Shoes program; however, participation in the program is still available.

I am currently a WRH employee and would like to job shadow a different healthcare profession, am I eligible to participate?

Yes. Current staff can apply to job shadow a different health care profession. If a job shadow is available it will be arranged for a time period when you are otherwise not scheduled to work.

I am interested in having an applicant job shadow my position. What should I do?

Human Resources is currently coordinating "matches" to interested applicants and employees through consultation with management of the area. If you are interested you should speak to your manager/supervisor and let them know!

 

Contact:

For more information, please email takeawalkinmyshoes@wrh.on.ca