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Annika
Student
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1
Question
Asked
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Are there any ways you can get patient care hours prior to PA school if you don't want to work as a CNA?
I want to become a pediatric PA, and I've learned that patient care hours are a really important requirement for getting into PA school. I know that the most common route to gaining these hours is through becoming a CNA, but I am really not interested in working in a nursing home or any other similar environment. Are there any alternative routes I could take that don't involve becoming a CNA?
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1 answer
Suzanne Sorkin
Retired family physician and medical educator
125
Answers
Traverse City, Michigan
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Congrats, Annika, on your goal of becoming a pediatric PA and of thinking ahead on how to get to that career. You could look into whether the hospitals in your area which care for children have any need for volunteers on their pediatric units. Sometimes there are play areas for the kids well enough to play outside of their rooms along with their visiting siblings. These places often need volunteers. Check with the Volunteer Office at the hospitals near you.
When applying to PA programs you will then be able to describe your interactions with ill as well as healthy kids.
Often while volunteering in a clinical setting you can make connections with health care workers caring for the patients and set up shadowing opportunities as well.
If there is a pediatric Emergency Department in your hospital system that would be another place to find a volunteer position or even, eventually, a paid position.
Good luck and please write back with further questions.
Here is a website for the children's hospital near you with info on how to volunteer in their "child life zone: https://www.childrensmn.org/support-childrens/volunteer/clinic-hospital-volunteers/
When applying to PA programs you will then be able to describe your interactions with ill as well as healthy kids.
Often while volunteering in a clinical setting you can make connections with health care workers caring for the patients and set up shadowing opportunities as well.
If there is a pediatric Emergency Department in your hospital system that would be another place to find a volunteer position or even, eventually, a paid position.
Good luck and please write back with further questions.
Suzanne recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for the response! This is something I haven't thought of but I will definitely look into it. Thank you!
Annika