Young CNA

[Androoo]

My name is Andrew, and I am planning on training to become a CNA during this upcoming Summer. I am still in High School, hence I am still 16 years old. I am thinking it would be a good idea to get certified while in High School, so then right when I graduate or even before I graduate I can start looking for work. Is it possible to work so young as a CNA (17)? I've also heard without prior work experience it might be difficult to get a job. Does volunteering count as experience? Does anyone know where it would be a good place for me to start volunteering? I am in the Palm Springs area. I am definitely motivated to continue my career as a nurse but I am just wondering about how my chances seem to be after I graduate. I'm looking to getting this path moving fast. Thank you. :)

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

Try to get a job in home health. I was 16 when I was trained, 17 when I got my license (training went right through my brithday ) and it was really difficult for me to find a job at 17 without having my high school diploma. Luckily a home health agency took a chance on me and I got over a year of experience before moving out of the area to go to school. If your high school will pay for it (some of them do through the local tech centers) go for your LPN during your last 2 years of school and then go for your RN. It's a lot easier to get into LPN-RN transiton programs than it is for basic RN programs. I wish I would have done the LPN program through my high school, it would have saved me a lot of heartache.