Home, Health and Hospice holds career discovery day
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 15, 2004 2:00 PM
Children on spring break this week were given an opportunity to begin thinking about careers in the health field.
Employees at Home Health and Hospice were invited to bring a child to work on Wednesday as part of its annual career discovery day. This marks the 15th year for the event.
"Kids really seem to like it," said Sheila Mattey, who works in corporate employee relations.
"Some stay with one person but others spread out and help wherever they're needed. They stay busy all day."
This is Damon Farmer's third year helping in the office. The Rosewood Elementary School fifth-grader spent the day working with his grandmother Teresa Richardson in the business department.
He described his duties in one word: "Paperwork."
Tracie Anderson works in the nursing department and with employee relations. She said 9-year-old daughter Angie Anderson learned about the event and asked to come.
Gina Rackley is a regional director with 3HC and lives in Clinton.
She said her 13-year-old daughter Amber thinks all she does all day is go to meetings.
The Sampson Middle School student is interested in physical therapy careers but wanted to explore what her mother does on the job.
Jean Lee, vice president of auxiliary services, brought three assistants with her, including two grandchildren visiting from out of town.
Ciara Allen, 13, of Newport News, Va., "had no clue what her grandmother does," Ms. Lee said.
"It's been fun, though. She's been a lot of help, running errands, making copies, answering the phone."
She also brought Destiny Boykin of Mount Olive, a Carver Elementary School student, and Tiara Allen, 9, also from Newport News.
"Kids seem to really like this event," Ms. Mattey said.
"It's just a fun day. They actually enjoy this over sitting at home."
She said the career day has been open to children 9 years old and up, which is not too early to start encouraging careers in the health field.
"There's so much we can show them," she said, "and not only in areas such as nursing, but in business and computers.
"It's also a morale booster for us, having them come in and work. Their eagerness is great."