I’m reading a lot of amazing accounts of high schoolers doing impressive research with university professors and in labs.
My 10th grader is very interested in medicine and health care, but the practical & hands on side. He’d love to set a bone, put on a cast, draw blood, etc. I’m trying to think of some experiences for him that would be the equivalent of this high-level research I see, does such a thing exist for someone who is under 18?
He is already CPR/AED/BLS certified, and he volunteers in a hospital. When he thinks of his future, it’s in a clinical, patient-facing role.
Are there any experiences on par with medical research for kids who want something hands-on? Additionally, will a lack of research be a mark against a kid wanting to go into healthcare?
Could consider taking a CNA or registered nursing assistant course. My S took one last summer at a local community college after he was late to the application process for summer research programs. Yes, you are paying to take more school, but it is good and literally hands on patient facing experience. Once certified, there is usually a lot of need for CNAs and RNAs on a PRN basis, giving good flexibility for students to earn money/experience even during the school year. Easily transfers to most states. Also, everybody seems to respect the RNA experience because they know they are doing a lot of the, how should I say it, “dirty work” which you wouldn’t do if you weren’t dedicated to the cause of healthcare.
I should mention, age restrictions may vary by state. I googled and some start at 16, others 18. Also, some states don’t even require certification by law, but service providers may still ask for it. With his existing certifications, he might be ready to go, depending on your state.
+1 on working as a CNA assistant, and the whole idea that if the student isn’t passionate about helping people the CNA work will make that abundantly clear. In Illinois, many HSers go this route.
I think these activities are highly unlikely to happen for an untrained HSer.
He can’t do it until he is 18, but he should consider EMT certification. He can join a volunteer squad where he would be working directly with patients and the hours count toward volunteer hours on med school applications.
If he wants to draw blood, he can take a class at a community college to get his certification. I believe he has to be 18 to be covered by insurers. It doesn’t take long to learn, plus he can earn money during college. It pays a decent amount of money, and he can work anywhere. Some phlebotomists do house calls.
Google search said that CNA in MA requires 18, but I saw a nursing assistant/ HHA training program at MetroWest Healthcare that says minimum age of 16 and at least 10th grade “level of understanding” to take the course. Says 69 hrs of lecture/theory and 21 hrs of clinical work in the program. Sounds like what my S took. So it seems there is a level or nursing assistant that doesn’t require 18 yrs old in MA like a CNA. Might want to call a place offering this type of program to see.
He might get to watch these things, but he is NOT going to get to do them. Think of the liability there. There is a reason doctors carry malpractice insurance. Plenty can go wrong…an untrained HS student is not going to be able to do this.
Re:blood. Maybe he can volunteer to do something at blood drives…not drawing blood…but helping in some other way.
Oh I know this, believe me. And some places do offer EMT cadet placements to under 18s, unfortunately not in the city of Boston.
Can you help me think of any other opportunities that are considered as prestigious as lab research with a professor? I don’t want to turn my son off to his health care ambitions, but he is decidedly not interested in research, and I don’t know many other avenues for activities on that level. You don’t get a “first author” for CPR certification after all.
Future doctors do NOT need to do research as high school students. They actually don’t need to do research in college either!
I would suggest that your son check to see if he can get EMS certified, or CNA. Ages vary by state.
Remember, if your son applies to medical school, the things he does in high school won’t matter one bit. The things he does in college will.
You said he already volunteers in a hospital, and that is a good way to see how things are done. He could also reach out to some doctors to see if he can shadow them but as an under 18 year old HS student, this might not be a realistic expectation.
What should he do? Take a great course load in high school…and get great grades. This will open up options for undergrad school. And possibly merit aid which will be helpful IF he eventually goes to medical school.
I would also suggest he look into some other health care professions.
I will check in with our local ambulance firms but unfortunately my “town” is the city of Boston, so there are loads of adults already doing this work in paid positions. EMS opportunities through the city start at 18.