A 19 yr old CNA

DDRN4me · May 22, 2008

I was a nurses aide (long before certification) at 16 till I finished my LPN program at 20.

It is not your age but how you conduct yourself; be respectful, professional and polite and gain any knowledge that you can; look for ways to learn and you will be well respected . Good luck! mary

casi, ASN, RN · May 22, 2008

I'm a younger nurses aide and I've worked with a lot of younger ones in both ltc and hospital and it really does have to do with how you present yourself.

If you are confident and when you are unsure ask questions, patients will respect you much more.

walkingon, CNA, LPN · May 22, 2008

The 21 y/o nursing student I work with in LTC is one of my favorites there. She is a gem. She's been there longer than me and always has time to help, doesn't get ouchy with the residents, and doesn't join in the breakroom drama & gossip. Age can work to your advantage if it shows in your energy and good attitude. :monkeydance:

Gabby_101, BSN · May 22, 2008

i am 18 and have been an aide since i was 15. i work with 2 other aides that are both 19. i would have to say that we are all pretty mature so the nurses really like us. they always want to know what it is like to be a teenager these days. when i worked in ltc we had several teen aides and they were awful because they were really immature so things didn't work out. they did not make it. age really isn't the big deal maturity level is huge. good luck and if you are on here and actually taking intrest in your job it is obvious that you will do great. good luck!!! :up:

ChristineN, BSN, RN · May 23, 2008

I too was a very young nurse's aid, and seldom get slack about my age. I proved myself to be a hard worker, always willing to help out if needed. If you have a good work ethic, nurses and aides will be thrilled to have a man around!

chevyv, BSN, RN · May 23, 2008

I was a cna at 19, and I never had problems with age or anything. I'm now in my late 30's and still have patients telling me "Oh, you look so young". This is a great time for you, lots of energy and the ability to work as much as you desire.

lvnandmomx3 · May 23, 2008

I took CNA in high school.I was certified upon graduation, I was 17. As PP stated it is how you conduct yourself on the job that counts not your age.

Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN · May 24, 2008

I became a CNA when I was 15, and got a job as a NA at my local hospital at the same age.

I work with about 20 CNA's who are younger than I am, and I'm 19 now.

So no, no one will look down on you and as a matter of fact they will take a liking to you for showing interest in a such a serious profession at a young age.

Jenee Jones · May 25, 2008

While I'm only 20 but I know that I have the upper hand in the nursing jobs because we are young and can learn things faster.

So I look at it as a good thing but on the down side we don't have alot of experice but I know the age facter will help us out.

MotivatedOne · May 25, 2008

I got my certification March of 07. I was 24 at the time and had about 10 classmates who were 18-20. I'm now 25 and the youngest employee on my floor. I honestly believe that every nursing student should be a CNA for at least a year before they are accepted into a nursing program. The reason I say this is because as Nurses, I believe they'd respect CNA's more.

SaraO'Hara · May 26, 2008

I became a CNA at 17. I'm 19 now, and just graduated from LVN school.

I've been the youngest at my facility for a while