Certified Nursing Assistant's in Canada?

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I live in the United States and I was always thinking about moving to Toronto and seeing how it was. Well I also plan on going back to school for my LPN or RN. So if I was to move to CA it probably would be best to do so before I get my RN and just do my school in the Toronto area. Since, I believe it would be easier being a nurse in the US coming from CA then coming from the US and moving to CA. I would also have to know if it would be manageable to be a nursing student while working as a CNA and being able to provide for housing,ect. If so what is the payrate ect? Thanks all for replying to my thread.

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Actually, in my unit, the CNAs do NO patient care. They stock the bedside carts, run specimens to the lab, pick up products from the blood bank, clean equipment , help transport patients and answer phones. They work hard. But they have very little responsibility for patient care or safety. The nurses and respiratory therapists provide ALL direct care.

Actually, in my unit, the CNAs do NO patient care. They stock the bedside carts, run specimens to the lab, pick up products from the blood bank, clean equipment , help transport patients and answer phones. They work hard. But they have very little responsibility for patient care or safety. The nurses and respiratory therapists provide ALL direct care.

Oh, wow. That's what volunteers do in our hospital.

Oh, wow. That's what volunteers do in our hospital.

Uhm, those are union positions in my health authority. Volunteers are there as guides, do some very basic chart assembly, deliver newspapers and sometimes flowers.

I'm surprised there aren't grieveances flying at your place of employment.

Not that I heard of or experienced any grievances. This is not my place of employment, this is actually where I volunteer (and how I came to realization that I want to become a nurse). The volunteers are there when it is a very busy time for the unit. Otherwise the nurses have to do all this stuff, and they don't really have time (and hate doing it, as far as I see).

Its funny how diffrent education is in diffrent places.

Here in Alberta the Health Care Aide course is 12 weeks. A nursing attendent starts out at nearly $18 an hour. Mind you the cost of living can get little crazy out here in the west depending on where you are.

I sure hope that after forking over $3000 aides get to do more then volunteers!

I mean 16 weeks... I don`t know why I keep saying 12.

Depends on the school. My course was 5 months, however now I see they changed some of the courses, added a few and shortened the program :confused: (would make more sense if it were longer).

Also some places will pay $13/hr +, yet if one is hired by AHS or other places in the AUPE union they're wage starts at nearly $18/hr. However we also get a differential wage of $5/hr for nights, and then something like $3,25 and $2.75 for w/e's and evenings :).

That said depending on where one works they are allowed to help with meds (NOT needles), they do bowel care (micros, dulcs, glycerins, and change ostomy's). At times we are allowed to do simple dressings, medicated creams, eyedrops, nasal sprays, eardrops etc, other places will not allow any of that, it boils down to policy.

HCA's do alot of hard work, bedside nursing, however HCA's are much different than LPNs/LVNs. The LPN/LVN program is a 2 year diploma course, not a one year certificate, and there are no RN diploma's any more, as RN's go for 4 years. A RN that quits after 2 years however cannot work as an LPN, at least not here, they need to take the LPN diploma. LPN's do meds, needles, dressings, IV's, hang blood, Pap smears, etc!! The role of the HCA, LPN and RN's are always changing (More responsibility and more education).

A side note, I really believe that the HCA course should expect more than Gr 10 english, I really think it should be grade 12, along with a few other gr 12 subjects as IMO it is a carreer and one that should be regulated, which Alberta is trying to do!!

http://bowvalleycollege.ca/programs-and-courses/health-care/health-care-aide-certificate-full-time.html

http://www.norquest.ca/programs/certificate_diploma/health_care_aide.asp

LPN Scope...

http://www.clpna.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ft0sHV6yN5A%3d&tabid=149

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

In Ontario the PSW program is 2 semesters(6 months I think) and where I work they get about $21/hr. They do strictly ADLs, no meds, no vitals, no bowel care and no dressings.We are fortunate to have a great group where I work.

Specializes in Hospital nursing.
Well their really isnt much to nursing in a role of positions besides giving drugs from a work perspective. I will agree that RN's and LPN's do more then administer drugs in depth theory and skills. But other than that the CNA's do all the work,lol. This is just my opinion. Nevertheless, the basics are what makes the whole pts care and as CNA's its alot of basics that are covered.

While I'm sure some basics are covered, I doubt sincerely that too many of those basics can be covered adequately in 6 weeks or less. PSWs in Canada have 8 months of training, or sometimes nursing students who have completed their first year can work as PSWs. It's a lot more intensive then a 6 week course.

Also, in Canada, PSWs assist clients with ADLs. They do not do things like dressings, catheters, inserting NG tubes or anything like that. RPNs/LPNs or RNs do those skills. PSWs are very valuable members of the health care team, but their scope of practice is different then that of RPNs/LPNs. There is a lot more to being a nurse then "giving drugs from a work perspective". Nurses have to do physical assesments of their patients, for one thing. On an ongoing basis.

If you are serious about moving up here one day, I suggest you do more research into the roles and scopes of practice of the various health care team members.

While I'm sure some basics are covered, I doubt sincerely that too many of those basics can be covered adequately in 6 weeks or less. PSWs in Canada have 8 months of training, or sometimes nursing students who have completed their first year can work as PSWs. It's a lot more intensive then a 6 week course.

Also, in Canada, PSWs assist clients with ADLs. They do not do things like dressings, catheters, inserting NG tubes or anything like that. RPNs/LPNs or RNs do those skills. PSWs are very valuable members of the health care team, but their scope of practice is different then that of RPNs/LPNs. There is a lot more to being a nurse then "giving drugs from a work perspective". Nurses have to do physical assesments of their patients, for one thing. On an ongoing basis.

If you are serious about moving up here one day, I suggest you do more research into the roles and scopes of practice of the various health care team members.

That doesn't apply to all of Canada, as I mentioned it depends on where one works. We can do very basic dressings, LPN's and RN's do the majority however. We don't insert cathetors however we do change the bags, empty the bags, watch for bypassing etc), we collect specimens for C & S when needed-urine or bowel) and at times have taken vitals when asked. We are also assessing residents on an ongoing basis when we do personal care, as we are the ones who report any skin breakdowns, rashes, edema, neurological problems, etc to the RN and LPN's to look and treat). We also do ROM, some places we assist with meds (depending on the facility) which is why many places now ask for a medication delivery course (unless it was included in the program which many are now including).

Im lucky that I am able to work to my full scope as a HCA as I have found being able to do so has helped with the PN program that I am currently taking.:nurse:

Im lucky that as a HCA I can work to my complete scope as it has been very helpful with the PN program :nurse:.

Specializes in Hospital nursing.
That doesn't apply to all of Canada, as I mentioned it depends on where one works. We can do very basic dressings, LPN's and RN's do the majority however. We don't insert cathetors however we do change the bags, empty the bags, watch for bypassing etc), we collect specimens for C & S when needed-urine or bowel) and at times have taken vitals when asked. We are also assessing residents on an ongoing basis when we do personal care, as we are the ones who report any skin breakdowns, rashes, edema, neurological problems, etc to the RN and LPN's to look and treat). We also do ROM, some places we assist with meds (depending on the facility) which is why many places now ask for a medication delivery course (unless it was included in the program which many are now including).

Im lucky that I am able to work to my full scope as a HCA as I have found being able to do so has helped with the PN program that I am currently taking.:nurse:

Im lucky that as a HCA I can work to my complete scope as it has been very helpful with the PN program :nurse:.

I'm sorry - I didn't mean to make it sound like HCAs/PSWs don't assess the patients. I was more trying to show that the scope between them is different, and not the same, as the original poster seemed to believe. You are right, I'm sure, that it widely varies amongst the provinces, and even within the provinces. My experience has only been in the GTA of Ontario. I am sure your half a year program to become an HCA covered quite a bit, and can well believe it has helped you as you transition to PN. :) I wish when I started the PN program that I had experience like that!

I was mostly trying to just reply to the OP's comment about how nurisng is basically just "passing out drugs" in how it differs from being an HCA. In regards to meds, just out of curiousity, are you as an HCA also able to measure out liquid meds and take doses of meds out of bigger containers, or do you take the pre-packaged, pre-checked meds and assist the patient with taking them?

I'm sorry - I didn't mean to make it sound like HCAs/PSWs don't assess the patients. I was more trying to show that the scope between them is different, and not the same, as the original poster seemed to believe. You are right, I'm sure, that it widely varies amongst the provinces, and even within the provinces. My experience has only been in the GTA of Ontario. I am sure your half a year program to become an HCA covered quite a bit, and can well believe it has helped you as you transition to PN. :) I wish when I started the PN program that I had experience like that!

I was mostly trying to just reply to the OP's comment about how nurisng is basically just "passing out drugs" in how it differs from being an HCA. In regards to meds, just out of curiousity, are you as an HCA also able to measure out liquid meds and take doses of meds out of bigger containers, or do you take the pre-packaged, pre-checked meds and assist the patient with taking them?

You are absolutley correct when you say it varies even amongst the same province! Some places will not allow a HCA to do bowel care, eyedrops, nasal drops, medicated creams (Voltaren), etc...and others it is our job :).I am not allowed to pour or pass out medication, that said, if I were working in homecare then yes we would as we would be assisting the patient to take their medication, which in that case is usually prepackaged and prechecked by a pharmacist.

There are someplaces assited living facilities, however that have the HCA assist with medications (giving the medication to the resident), not sure how that works as when one pours the med then they have to be the one to give it. I myself would be interested in knowing how that works?

However that is one reason why the HCA program now has the medication delivery course where as prior it never.

And you are correct...the nursing field is much more than handing out drugs.

Communication (listening) is a huge part of nursing that I think many of us dont spend the time doing, whether it is lack of time (always rushed), or laziness some days, :(

Teaching is another part of nursing, assessing as you said, adl's, ROM, research....list goes on and on and on :lol2:

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