Experience before nursing school in Canada.

[Jasonw3]

Hello all,

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I've been strongly considering nursing for about a year now. I've set things up and should hopefully be entering into a program in Ontario this fall. I'm about 90% sure this is what I want, but it's hard to really know before being in it. I know in the the States they have CNAs and other entry level jobs that take a month or so to certify for. Is there any kind of similar position in Canada I could do to get some first hand exposure before nursing school, and gain some work experience that may help when looking for a job after school. I would really appreciate any suggestions as to what I could be doing now.

[itsmejuli]

Look into training for nursing assistant.

[loriangel14, RN]

In Ontario they are called Personal Support Workers and the course is about 8 months long full time.Pretty much every where requires the PSW certificate but some LTC facilities will hire without it.

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

Yes, in Ontario they are called psw's and mostly work in ltc. If you have already been accepted into a nursing program you can get a job as a psw after a month or so into the program. So doing the psw course might be a waste of time and money. In the mean time you could get a job as a dietary aide in a nursing home, or a homemaker for home care to get your foot in the door

[loriangel14, RN]

Most homecare companies now want the psw certificate as well. You are right, Daisy, after you have done your fundamentals you should be able to get a PSW job.I work in a hospital and we have some PSWs.

[toronto_nurse]

A common job for most nursing students is working as a sitter either in facilities or homecare. Most places require a certificate to work as a PSW but some agencies may hire a nursing student to provide private duty care in a client's home. The pay ain't great but its more relevant to nursing than working in retail, etc...

[Daisy_08, BSN, RN]

As a psw, yes they require some training, but I'm talking about homemaking ( cooking, cleaning, shopping and watching granny). Ltc in small towns don't have the luxury to be picky and many retirement homes hire any joe blow to do personal care and even give meds ( my friends charge nurse at a company that hires cashiers and factory workers- and yes they are making big errors) so you might find a job if your in the right place at the right time

[Mewsin]

PSWs are CCAs in SK. In SK the course is about $6000 and takes 10 months. In SK though you do not have to have your course to work, just a contract that states you will get your course within the 2 years. As well, here, once you get accepted into a nursing program you no longer have to take the CCA course.

[lemur00, BSN, RN]

PSWs are CCAs in SK. In SK the course is about $6000 and takes 10 months. In SK though you do not have to have your course to work, just a contract that states you will get your course within the 2 years. As well, here, once you get accepted into a nursing program you no longer have to take the CCA course.

This depends on whether the manager of a facility wants to hire people without education. They can, but they don't have to. In the facility I worked in, our manager wouldn't hire us until we were actually finished the course. Others would hire us as students.

[Mewsin]

This depends on whether the manager of a facility wants to hire people without education. They can, but they don't have to. In the facility I worked in, our manager wouldn't hire us until we were actually finished the course. Others would hire us as students.

We didn't even have to be students, or now the new aides still don't have to be students. We can't get a permanent position without the course but to be casual we don't have to have the course.

[lemur00, BSN, RN]

Like I said, it is up to the manager. Ours would not hire anyone who didn't have their course at any time.