prestoconfuoco

Hello, I am a dual citizen of US/Canada. Last year I received my CNA training in the US. It lasted around six weeks. Afterward, I got a job in a long term care facility, where I worked for 10 months until I recently moved back to Canada, BC specifically. I've tried applying to various nursing homes but I can't seem to get a clear answer on whether or not I'm qualified to work in BC as a Residential Care Aide (or Health Care Aide... they're called so many different names, lol). A few people said that it didn't matter because RCAs aren't licensed. Others have said that my training wasn't sufficient because it only lasted six weeks, whereas the course up here lasts six months. Many job postings I've seen have said "must have completed RCA course or equivalent." But nobody seems to know what counts as "equivalent". I would like to think that my CNA training PLUS the 10 months of experience would count as equivalent. SO my question is, has anyone moved up to Canada and gotten a job at a nursing home with their CNA training/experience? Or do you know anyone who has done something similar? I really don't want to have to attend a six month long course to learn the same stuff I already know, if I don't have to.

My class spent five days in clinicals at a nursing home. We were given a partner and assigned two residents each. However, many of our assigned residents were fairly active and didn't need assistance. I don't think I did anything at all with one of my residents, as she was up and out of bed all day every day. So for the most part we just went around offering help to any resident whenever they needed it. The way my days went... I arrived at 7:30, helped distribute breakfast trays in the dining room, and then I'd follow the cart back to the rooms and would assist with feeding whomever needed to be fed (not necessarily my assigned resident). After breakfast, I'd get together with my partner and we had to give one complete bed bath to a very heavy-set bed-ridden woman with dementia who would go back and forth between saying "I love you" and slapping/hitting us... lol. After getting her dressed, we used a mechanical lift to get her out of bed and into the living area. Our next resident was independent enough to give herself a bed bath, but one of us had to stay in the room with her to make sure she didn't have an accident. She had a catheter which we had to clean and empty, and record I&O. We also had another resident which we had to get her out of bed and dressed, and wheel her into the living area. And obviously we had to make their beds once they were up and about. We had to do all of this by lunch time, which doesn't sound difficult to do but every day it seemed like we struggled to get everything done on time. The experienced CNA's working there seemed to spend 5 minutes doing things that took us half an hour... lol. There were times I felt quite incompetent, although I'm sure everyone goes through that stage in the beginning. After lunch, we weren't so rushed, and spent the afternoons answering call lights, helping with transfers/going to the bathroom, taking BP and TPR, and simply hanging out and chatting with the residents. I definitely enjoyed the experience and felt like I learned A LOT, moreso than could ever be taught in a classroom. My only complaint, however, is that many of the nurses and CNAs who worked there were slightly rude, and seemed to treat us more like a burden than anything else, even though we were doing most of their work, thus allowing them to sit on their butts the whole time we were there. I also was not fond of the charge nurse, who was harsh and abrasive and complained about my partner & I behind our backs (smiling to our face, of course).

I live in East TN (Sevierville area) and I'm taking a CNA course at Walter State in a few weeks. I don't really have a clue what the wages are like here, but I'm guessing for nursing homes it's probably on the low end, around $7 or $8. I think if you can get hired at Fort Sanders though the pay jumps up to over $10.

Anyone familiar with East TN wages? I'm thinking it's probably on the lower end...

Thanks for the link! On the FAQ it says that I'll recieve test results in 5-7 business days... does that mean I'll be certified as soon as I get my results, or is it a separate wait for the actual certificate?

Hello! I have enrolled in a CNA course that lasts from August 27th to October 7th. I am very excited, but I wonder, after I finish the course, how long will I have to wait to take the exam? And once I've taken the exam, how long does it generally take to recieve certification so I can get a job? I was hoping to have a job by the end of the year, but I don't really have a clue how long the process takes. I'm in TN if that makes any difference. Thank you!