Seeking Advice - CNA

MonaCoelho · Oct 30, 2014

Thank you once again NotReady4PrimeTime. In US the cut off is 16 years. I thought it would be the same here. In this case I will alter my plans then.

MonaCoelho · Oct 30, 2014

Nice to know. Good for you. Thanks

loriangel14, RN · Oct 30, 2014

Yes you would need to be at least 19 to take the PSW course and at least 19 to get hired as such. You can hold a job at 16 but not a patient care job.Actually you can legally work before 16 in Canada.If you plan on being a doctor nursing is not a step towards that.

MonaCoelho · Oct 30, 2014

I didn't return to school until I was 30, and then I took a year of prerequisites while living on my own and working full time. After that, I went through the degree program, moved and took three post RN certifications while working full time.
I'm nothing special. Yes, it was exhausting and many people do it. You're young and if you want to reach your goals, you'll do what it takes.

joanna73: Nice to know. Good for you. Thanks

MonaCoelho · Oct 30, 2014

Yes you would need to be at least 19 to take the PSW course and at least 19 to get hired as such. You can hold a job at 16 but not a patient care job.Actually you can legally work before 16 in Canada.If you plan on being a doctor nursing is not a step towards that.

Thanks much loriangel14. Yes I do not intend to do full time nursing. I would mostly be taking "life sciences" in University. However I thought since the starting age for a CNA (Certified Nursing Asst) is 16 in US, it will be the same here, so I thought I may as well use these 2 years to do some meaningful part time job.

You cannot legally work in Canada before you are 16. Not even at Mac Donalds or any such job.

loriangel14, RN · Oct 31, 2014

Thanks much loriangel14. Yes I do not intend to do full time nursing. I would mostly be taking "life sciences" in University. However I thought since the starting age for a CNA (Certified Nursing Asst) is 16 in US, it will be the same here, so I thought I may as well use these 2 years to do some meaningful part time job.
You cannot legally work in Canada before you are 16. Not even at Mac Donalds or any such job.

Sure you can. My friend's son worked at Sobey's when he was 14.My best friend worked in a convenience store at 15.

Fiona59 · Nov 1, 2014

In Alberta, with parental consent, you can work at 13. There are restrictions on the hours children can work.

My first job was at age 15 in BC

kp1987 · Nov 1, 2014

I used to be a hiring manager in BC and I hired 15 years olds all the time in the service industry

RNGrad2006 · Nov 2, 2014

Their schooling may not be very long but their skills are definitely comparable having worked in both the US and Canada.

MonaCoelho · Nov 4, 2014

I’m not responding to the posts on “minimum working age” – no offence to anyone. Thanks for responding. However I would like to stick to the my main topic and get meaningful advice / guidance from seniors here.

There is no way I will be able to manage 2 courses - my IB high school & full time PSW (maybe some people can as some have mentioned here, I appreciate them, but it’s not me). So do you think I can do the short course in US over summer of 2015 and offer my services as a volunteer CNA? If they don’t have to pay me, and it is not a regulated profession, there might be a chance that they would accept me? I will be very grateful if you would kindly share your thoughts around this.

MonaCoelho · Nov 4, 2014

My thoughts exactly. Thanks much :)

So keeping this as the base, do you think if I do a course in US over summer of 2015, I can get someone to hire me as a volunteer at least?

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Nov 4, 2014

No. No one will allow you to provide any level of care as a volunteer. There are too many liability issues.