The Transition From High School To College.

This was my final year of high school, and I had to choose where I wanted to continue my path. I was sure that I wanted to study in a medical field. What college should I go to?

Choice 1 : Apply at Vieux Montreal College.

Choice 2 : Apply at Ahuntsic College.

Apply at Vieux Montreal College.

I applied at Vieux Montreal College and I got accepted in the Nursing program. In my first year I struggled a lot. I knew I was putting aside my health because I was sick all the time because of the overwhelming amount of homework and assignments I had to do in a short period. I ended up quitting school, and it left me with an anxiety disorder. I knew I didn’t like this field that’s why I couldn’t keep moving forward.

Choice 1 : The Transition From High School To College.

Apply at Ahuntsic College.

I applied at Ahuntsic College and I got accepted in Diagnostic Imaging program. The amount of studies I had to do was overwhelming but I knew I loved this field. It was hard, but I was able to keep up with everyone around me because I knew this was the purpose of my life. I wanted to help people without getting too close to them. I was really glad that I got accepted in this program.

Choice 1 : In need of an Income.

In Need of an Income.

After a semester of studying in this field, I knew I wanted to have a job, so I could become independent and pay for my educational books without the help of my parents. Where should I get my first job as a student?

Choice 1 : Apply At Provigo.

Choice 2 : Apply At McDonald's.

Apply at Provigo.

I went to Provigo and I did my interview with a manager from the pastry department. The interview was well-done and I got the job. In this grocery store, the one doing the background check was the secretary. This job was the best for me as a student because I didn’t need to work full time and I could choose which days I was available. Even though it is a dead-job for me, I was able to gain experience from it and it was a foot in the door in the real world.

Choice 1 : My First Internship.

Apply at McDonald’s.

I applied at McDonald’s and I did an interview. I thought everything went well during the interview. They never called back and my confidence was crushed.

Choice 1 : In Need of an Income.

My First Internship.

During my third semester, I had to choose where I wanted to do my first internship. I knew I wanted to go somewhere close to where I live because I didn’t have a driver's license. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : Go to the Jean-Talon Hospital.

Choice 2 : Go to the CHUM.

Go to the Jean-Talon Hospital.

I went to the Jean-Talon hospital. I got treated badly. The staffs weren’t welcoming at all because of all the leg work they had to do. There was a shortage of staffs, everyone was so stressed, and nobody wanted to take me under their wings. I thought after a week of observation, I was going to be able to do some leg work. When my internship ended, I didn’t even do a projection radiography. All I did was to tell a patient to put on a gown. I felt like I didn’t learn the ropes at all. Because I didn’t really had the chance to do anything, I failed my internship.

Choice 1 : My First Internship.

Go to the CHUM.

I went to the CHUM, and it is one of the largest hospitals in Canada. I was so glad that they had a place for me to do my internship. Everyone was welcoming even if they had a lot of leg work to do. My experience in that hospital was worthwhile because I felt like I had learned a lot. During my first day, I was given a prescription and I had to call a patient. I told the patient to put on a gown and I asked the patient to lay on the examining table. After 4 months of internship, I managed to inject a contrast dye, do a bone density test, do an angiography and do a tomography. I passed my internship.

Choice 1 : My Final Internship.

My Final Internship.

This was my final semester in this program. I had to choose in which hospital I wanted to do my final internship. I knew I wanted to go somewhere I am familiar with. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : Go to the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital.

Choice 2 : Go to The Hotel-Dieu Hospital.

Go to the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital.

I went in this institute and everything was quite new to me, but I was really interested in learning more about the brain. I had the chance to do many tomographies and use the contrast dye. It was difficult but since I liked what I was doing, this pushed me to learn more and gain knowledge. I managed to pull off every examination and I got straight A’s.

Choice 1 : The Transition From College to a Real Job.

Go to The Hotel-Dieu Hospital.

I went to the Hotel-Dieu Hospital and It was a disaster. I was so stressed because I didn’t know how things worked over there. Their catheter was the old style and I didn’t really know how to use it. I passed my internship poorly. I knew I really didn’t want to set foot there ever again. This was not a good experience.

Choice 1 : My Final Internship.

The Transition From College to a Real Job.

I passed the final exam, and I had to find a job in my field. I knew I wanted to go somewhere I was familiar with. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : Go to The Jewish General Hospital.

Choice 2 : Go to the CHUM.

Go to The Jewish General Hospital.

I was so nervous because this is my first interview in a hospital. When the interviewer asked some question, I was only able to answer half of them. I was too nervous and they never called me back.

Choice 1 : The Transition From College to a Real Job.

Go to The CHUM.

I went to the CHUM and I’m so glad that I already set a foot in the door by going to this hospital during my first internship. I know I had a long way before learning all the ins-and-outs of this hospital.Their X-ray detector and their X-ray generator were easy to use. Their technology is particularly advanced since it’s a new building. My interview went according to plan and I got the job at the CHUM.

Choice 1 : Two Weeks of Being a Trainee.

Two Weeks of Being a Trainee.

After getting the job that I wanted, I have two weeks of on-the-job-training. My first patient was a male, and he had pain on a level 10. He kept moving because of the pain, and he was really rude. What should I do?

Choice 1 : Proceed to the examination without paying attention to his pain.

Choice 2 : Ask the patient If he wants to do the examination on another day.

Proceed to The Examination Without Paying Attention to His Pain.

I proceeded to do the examination calmly. It was maddening because he kept moving. I was not able to scan the part of the body that I needed to scan. He kept moving so the radiograph didn’t come out the way I wanted. I had to retake the radiograph at least five times. After sending the images, the doctor called back and screamed at me because the images weren’t the best.

Choice 1 : Two Weeks of Being a Trainee.

Ask The Patient If He Wants to do The Examination on Another Day.

I asked the patient if he wanted to do the examination on another day because I wouldn’t be able to to a good scan if he kept on moving. The patient calmed down and became nice because I thought about his pain. I instructed him to put his hand on the image plate, and he did it. He tried hard to not move and I got a good image out of it. I was being thoughtful with the patient that's why he listened to my instructions.

Choice 1 : My First Day of Independence.

My First Day of Independence.

After those two weeks of on-the-jog-training, I became a real technologist. I was able to do things on my own without a supervisor. There were two urgent cases. One patient had a heart attack and I had to do an angiography. The other one had abdominal pain and I have to do abdominal X-ray scan. Which one should I do first?

Choice 1 : Do the angiography.

Choice 2 : Do The Abdominal X-ray.

Do The Angiography.

I did the angiography in a short amount of time. The doctor in charge was glad that I did it because the patient needed an urgent surgery. After this, I had time to to the abdominal X-ray on the other patient.

Choice 1 : The Transition From High School To College.

Do The Abdominal X-ray.

While I was doing the abdominal X-ray, the other patient died.

Choice 1 : The Transition From High School To College.