16 year old CNA...

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Hello...I am a noob to this forum

I recently became a CNA, I am 16 year old.

I am desperate to begin working, but it seems that you have to be at least 18 to work at my hospital...and apparently 18 at a Nursing home...

I am also going to be licensed as an EMT-B soon as well(In like 2 weeks)...I can't do anything with that except volunteer at the local ambulance service.

I recently did the ambulance rotation, and the ER Rotation. I found out that I did not like the ambulance rotation that much...and preferred the ER...

What can I do with my CNA Certification right now? I really want to get patient contact hours at the Hospital more...Apparently the reason why I can't work at the Hospital is because of bodily fluids...Yet they allowed us to work with bodily fluids during our training...

I really would like to utilize this certification as soon as possible...One of my goals is becoming an ER Tech...I heard those are pretty competitive.

*To all you nice people in the field of Nursing/Medicine: What can I do right now with my CNA certification and soon EMT certification?*

*Is it possible that I can still work at the Hospital with patients even if I am 16? Or is that illegal?*

What is the best advice you can give? :D

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Specializes in PMH.

This seems odd. Were there any other 16 year olds in your CNA class? Are they able to get jobs? Most jobs require a high school diploma, have you graduated? I'm guessing that most employers would rather hire adults. I may be sheltered but I've never heard of a hospital or ambulance company hiring a child to work in direct patient care positions. More info may result in better suggestions for you.

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Specializes in Long term care.

Have you tried home care CNA or assisted living facilities.

Home care are always looking to hire.

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For now I would volunteer. I know you also have to be 18 to be able to use the hoyer lift and other mechanical lifts, that's what I was told. Good luck!

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Unfortunately healthcare is an area where it is very difficult to work under the age of 18. The reason being that if you are under 18 contracts can NOT be enforced. No healthcare organization wants to put some one whose contract to to keep patient information confidential is unenforceable in a role where they have access to confidential information.

Furthermore there are higher laws around physical safety for minors, and many positions are forbidden on grounds of chemical exposure, bodily fluid risk, or machinery with high risk for injury (e.g. in a grocery store individuals under 18 typically can't work meat or deli departments due to needing to be 18 to operate meat slicers)

If you want to work in healthcare as a 16 year old you will likely have to accept non-direct care positions. E.g. working as a server in a nursing home dining hall, and then plan on transferring positions once you turn 18.

I am really surprised that any EMT or CNA course allowed you to complete training as programs I have looked at all require high school diploma or GED as a pre-req and require that you be 18 in order to attend clinical/ hands-on training.

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@verene Yeah, you're right. My EMT course allows me to get certified as an EMT-B with a parental consent form, and I would have to retake the national registry skills portion again at 18. I am told the only thing I can do as an EMT-B is volunteer for the local service.

I got the CNA Certification through my High School, @ MagnumRN, BSN, RN There were other 16 years olds in my class....To be honest....I think a girl got in a Nursing Home at 17 through her mother (I don't know for sure)

Seriously though, it sucks that I have to wait a little less than 1.5 years to work with patients directly...The perks of having a late Birthday, lol.

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Specializes in PMH.

Best of luck to you, HemOncAspire, I wish I had had your energy and motivation when I was your age!

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^ Thank you :D

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I was a just barely 17 year old CNA, I was certified through a course in high school. I worked in a LTC facility as did the other teenage CNA's in my class. I think it all depends on the state you work in, I don't think hospital's in my area hire anyone under 18, and the LTC's may have strayed from it as this was 12 years ago, but it was doable then.

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I also have a late birthday :p I'm 16 and currently enrolled in a CNA course. I think our state has changed their regulations, as you used to have to be 17 to take your state boards. I haven't run into any problems yet though with my course and there are high school juniors in the class as well as seniors. Nursing homes, at least in my state, are low on CNAs and they are willing to work with schooling and other problems. I wish you luck :)

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@FutureNurse965 You know what, that just made me feel a little more optimistic! Thanks and good luck with your course!

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Not sure what state you ate in, but I am in Utah and I worked with a lot of CNA's who started when they were 16/were 16 when I worked there!

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