Becoming a CNA while still attending High-school?

[Kenanipel]

I will say right now and up-front, I am a very goal oriented person and I like to focus on career rather than sports or romantic relationships like most teens. (I have had bf's but i just don't focus on it as much as others seem to.) I'm a 16 yr old junior in Highschool and I'm wanting to go for a BSN once graduated. However, the thought of 2 more years of research into it and not actually starting anything is somewhat time pressing and disappointing. I've been looking for a job and already do volunteer work around the community. I'm looking into local job shadowing opportunities and more volunteer opts.

Then i recently stumbled upon a discussion about CNA's and became interested; It would be a good way to get your foot in the door and gain experience.

After a lot of looking into it and hrs of searching programs, the main things I could come up with are: There are many types of names for a CNA and the jobs they do, many argue over whether or not you need a HS diploma\GED, there are top schools who offer the program, and it's a good stepping stone.

With what I have found, not all places require a HS diploma\ GED and if you are a minor you need signed permission from your parents. I keep coming back to the same thought: This would be something really great to do and to gain experience and a chance to start doing something I enjoy earlier than I thought possible while continuing my education at HS. I figured that if I could find a program online it would make it better because I could balance out the school work. But when i tryed to find programs, it was all the top-notch places that kept coming up which is mostly formal (2-yr, 4-yr) edu and you had to be graduated or graduating this yr to even request info.

I was hoping some of you may be able to give me insight to this and possibly a program if you know of any.

My GPA for this past yr was 4.0 and cumulative is about 3.8 . I have been in honors math since 7th grade and signed up for honors English courses. I've had 2yrs of spanish, basic science classes as well as biology and chemistry. This year I'm signed up for chem2 and college chem(Both give college credit which i have already passed the placement assessment test for,) Anatomy and physiology, psychology\sociology, and spanish3.

I would really love to start education now in the nursing field and I'm trying to find out if that is possible. I know the experience will be a great advantage and I was hoping to go straight into college after graduation so if I could get a CNA within the next year or so, that would be a great thing for me. Almost my entire family, except an aunt:nurse:, started their lives out early and didn't go to college... I want to go to college,however, the feel of starting my life out early in a job and with friends\a family is also there due to who i grew up around.

Is there anything I can do or any CNA program I just haven't found yet that would be possible for me to take online?

ThankYou for taking the time to read this extremely-long message, I apologize for the length (I'm just the writer-type of person )

[Hygiene Queen]

Go talk to your high school counselor.

We can't possibly know what is available to you.

I know quite a few aides who started out at the tender age of 16.

One was a nurse @ 19.

Good luck!

[K_girl]

I took my training at a home health agency. If you were 16 you had to have a parent's signature. Nursing homes will usually have a program too.

If I were you, I would try searching for your state's approved programs. There should be a list out there.

Good luck!

[northernguy]

I dont see any reason why high school students couldnt get their CNA certification, as long as they are doing well in school and it doesnt interfere with academic studies. A few states even allow high school students to get their EMT license(which I think is a bad idea), so if high school kids are considered mature enough to handle patients with severe life threatening injuries in an uncontrolled pre hospital environment, they should certainly be able to handle a CNA's duties.

[Kenanipel]

Thankyou both very much! I will do that.. talk to counselor and look at State programs. It's reassuring to know that someone has started out at an early age, thank you greatly xD !

[Kenanipel]

Thank You also northernguy :) and yeah.. I don't see many high schoolers being able to handle an EMT job..

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

I definitely say go for it! When I started college, many of the girls in my Intro to Biology class were CNA's. Our county school system has a program where juniors & seniors could get certified while still in high school. In hindsight, I should have taken advantage of that program..silly me. Maybe you could see if your school system offers something like this? In other counties in my area, some even have LPN programs that high school students can attend, so that when they finish, not only do they have a HS diploma, but a LPN certificate. I think that is just the coolest thing! Anyways, good luck to you! You seem to be very focused :)

[Kenanipel]

I definitely say go for it! When I started college, many of the girls in my Intro to Biology class were CNA's. Our county school system has a program where juniors & seniors could get certified while still in high school. In hindsight, I should have taken advantage of that program..silly me. Maybe you could see if your school system offers something like this? In other counties in my area, some even have LPN programs that high school students can attend, so that when they finish, not only do they have a HS diploma, but a LPN certificate. I think that is just the coolest thing! Anyways, good luck to you! You seem to be very focused :)

lol thankyou :) I will keep that in mind and look into it!

I am confused.. i won't deny that I'm not really certain on all the opportunities out there and I try to find it on my own and ask for advice every now and then from ppl not biased and who's seen a bit more of things. I had no idea til recently that a minor could get a job like a CNA under 18.. It's really not common in the area I live at.. almost unheard of actually. The nearest place i can find that has a program for CNA that allows 16\17 yr olds is about an hour away. My small town is just that..a small, boring town that two counties over, ppl's never heard of us. Sometimes I can't wait to get out of here and find some different scenery ;D I love new experiences.. and there's not much to be had here. (We think it's ironic that we have over 3 motels and a hotel but no reason to stop cept fast food.. ) haha..but ther are even more small towns not too far. This site has been really great for me and i'm glad i found it.. otherwise i would still be even more confused :lvan: But seriously, thank-you greatly!