Staff Spotlight
Laura Hawkes, Rehabilitation Assistant
Rehabilitation assistants (RA) at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) are integral members of the interdisciplinary health care team and work closely with allied health professionals to promote, restore, maintain, and/or enhance a client’s level of functioning in the areas of mobility, self-care, productivity, leisure, and day-to-day activities.
Meet Laura Hawke, a rehabilitation assistant currently working on the iDART (Inpatient Direct Access Rehabilitation Team) at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. “I also float in the tower and cover all acute areas, including ICU (intensive care unit), cardiac, orthopaedics, neuro, and general surgery,” she says.
We asked Laura what she enjoyed most about her job and she says, “Helping people is the obvious cliché answer but it really is the best part! Feeling like I may be able to help someone, make them laugh and make their day just a fraction better is very rewarding.”
The RA role
She explains there can be so much variety within the RA role so working in different areas covering physiotherapy (PT), occupation therapy (OT) or speech-language therapy (SLP) for diverse client populations and that allows for exploration on what is the fit and suitability for each individual.
“I have been an RA for eight years and in that time I have helped people stand up for the first time after a stroke, helped someone practice how to take the bus and navigate the outdoor world in a power wheelchair, fabricated adaptive devices in a woodshop, and sewn compression garments for patients with burn injuries. “
So what motivated Laura to become an RA? “When I was 24 years old, I had been in the service industry for five years and wanted to make a change but didn’t know what direction to go in,” she says. “I had to have a hip replacement and through that experience, working with a great physiotherapist, I realized I wanted to be a part of the rehab community and becoming a rehab assistant was the best path for me.”
Inspirational moments take place whenever someone is discharged and she is able to see the arch of their recovery. “Especially being a float and working in rehab, sometimes I’ll get to see someone from ICU, up to the ward, and potentially in rehab. Watching and being a part of someone working hard to recover, slowly regaining their independence is pretty inspiring,” she says.
Work culture at VCH
VCH aims to provide a supportive environment where our staff is able to grow and thrive. “Throughout my time with VCH, support and recognition has steadily been increasing for this little known sector,” says Laura. “As caseloads increase and patients care needs become more complex, the role of RAs is becoming more important and as we support the rest of the team, we demonstrate our value and the support is reciprocated.”
VCH values are We Care for Everyone, We Are Always Learning, and We Strive for Better Results. Here is how Laura incorporates these values within her role:
“How we care for everyone is not always prescriptive,” says Laura. “We could help carry out the therapist’s treatment plan, assist someone to call a family member, or help them find something misplaced or just listen and provide emotional support can go a long way to boost their morale and elevate their overall experience while in hospital.”
Throughout her time with VCH, Laura has had many educational opportunities through in-services and courses offered to staff. “This is an interesting role because we are assisting multiple disciplines and can acquire a unique perspective of the individual,” she says. “For example, I may be working with a client who had a stroke. They will have a PT program to work on their mobility, an OT program to work on fine motor tasks, way-finding and wheelchair mobility and a speech program, which can include cognitive tasks. We get to treat the patient from multiple angles, which can be really exciting as they progress. I am constantly learning from the therapists I work with.”
With constantly evolving medical advancements, there are always new studies and literature aimed at providing the best outcome for patients. “I think part of achieving better results really has to do with forming a connection with both the team you’re working with and each individual client,” says Laura. “If the client feels genuinely supported and encouraged, their outcome will be better.”
A fun fact about Laura is that she enjoys swimming in the ocean all winter long! “You can often find me somewhere between English Bay and Sunset Beach bobbing around in the water with Slappy the seal, who often makes an appearance!”
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