Certified Nursing Assistant's in Canada?

loriangel14, RN · May 29, 2008

Up here they are called Personal Support Workers. You would have to take a community college program. When I stopped being a PSW last year (I graduated as an RPN) I was making $15/h. Some nursing homes pay more but you have to be there a long time.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · May 29, 2008

CNA pay isn't very good, and Toronto is a very expensive place to live. It's doubtful that you'd get a work permit to work as a CNA, since there really isn't a shortage of them. It actually would be easier for you to come up here as an RN than it would be as a CNA. But only if you have a degree in nursing and not an ADN or diploma, because almost every province has moved to a degree as the standard for entry to practice. Maybe you should give all of this more thought.

student456 · May 29, 2008

It is alot easier to enroll in RN school in canada then while your in School just work as a psw on the side. I know several of my classmates, me included, who have worked as PSW's with agencies without even taking the 1 year psw program here in ontario. Agencies didn't seem to care too much as long as you were finished your 1rst or 2nd year of nursing school

The pay isnt that great to support yourself (usually around 12 - 15 $ an hour) but its good for a part time job during School. It would be VERY difficult to support yourself solely on a psw salary in Toronto...a nice 1 bedroom apartment is around 800$ and apartments can be priced ALOT higher depending on where you live in toronto. its an expensive city!

good luck!

student456 · May 29, 2008

ok question...

how come our psw program is a YEAR long in ontario (dont know about other provinces) and its full time too - how come the CNA programs in the states are usually 8 weeks long? isnt it the same course material? I wonder why such a big difference in length!

loriangel14, RN · May 29, 2008

I know our programs expanded in recent years. When I took it it was 5 months, going three days a week. Now it is a year. Must be more content than the 8 week in the US.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · May 29, 2008

Before you consider the preceeding suggestions, you should look into the legalities of working while in Canada on a student visa. And you should also consider that there are lengthy waiting lists for faculty of nursing seats at every university in Canada. It isn't as simple as it appears.

Fiona59 · May 29, 2008

And if that's not bad enough, check out the fees per 3 credit course that our publicly funded universities and college charge for nonCanadian students.

FutureNurse23 · May 30, 2008

Well, I actually would rather to finish my education in the United States since I'm a US citizen. I dont know if I could live my entire life away from my family in the states. So I would like to finish my schooling here so if I ever decided if Canada just wasn't for me,lol. It was just a thought to see how being a CNA compared to being one in the US. Also most CNA courses in the US is no longer than 6wks. I had 3 weeks of class work and 1 week of clinicals 8am-3pm.There is some CNA programs that are 5months long and expensive as ever and they teach you the same skills. After the 1st 3 wks I had to come back 2 weeks later to take my State Exam. The state exam consist of 75 questions and 5 skills you must do in front of a Registered Nurse who is the examiner. CNA's do everything but administer drugs and give meds also they are under the supervison of LPN's and RN's. They are the eyes and the ears for the Nursing staff. They spend more time with the pt's then anyone else on the floor. And answer more call lights then they have down a hall,lol.

I'm thinking that your PSW is the same as our LPN( License Practical Nurse) or LVN( License Vocational Nurse) in the state of California and Texas. The schooling is 1 year long 12-14 months. The LPN can do mostly everything a RN can do but pass some drugs. And in some states they can't push IV's I believe. And they usually work in Nursing Homes. In the States they have been rumors for years of them trying to phase LPN's and LVN's out. Also in some states they dont hire LPN's in Hospitals. They will never phase LPN's out though:D Also we have PCT's who are CNA's but can take blood and read ekg's. The the chain of comand goes from top to bottom in nursing is Charge Nurse, RN's,LPN,CNA. I also agree with you poster above. I will obtain my BSN before I head up North, Toronto!

kimsnothome · May 30, 2008

I have to chime in here and clarify that CNA's do not even remotely do everything but administer meds. When you start nursing school, your head will spin with all of the knowledge you are expected to have and all the responsibility that falls on your shoulders. That said, a bad CNA can make your life hell while a good one is worth their weight in gold.

Also, a PSW is definitely more similar to a CNA/PCT (than an LPN) - it's simply that almost all healthcare related jobs in Canada require more education than is required in the US. Or at least it sure seems that way! :)

Best of luck in your studies!

CNA's do everything but administer drugs and give meds....
I'm thinking that your PSW is the same as our LPN( License Practical Nurse)

loriangel14, RN · May 30, 2008

I would agree with that.In spite of the year long course PSWs help with ADLs but do not perform any skills that could be construed as an LVN role.

FutureNurse23 · May 31, 2008

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.