Is it harder as a CNA in a LTC or Hospital?

funtimes · Dec 25, 2013

Wrong on so many levels

Have you worked as a CNA in LTC?

taylynnfree · Dec 25, 2013

Have you worked as a CNA in LTC?

No. I worked as a tech in hosp float pool for 3 yrs. I dont agree w/ the motivation for working in an ltc. I got offered $8.50 to work at a few ltc's though. I think the reasons you gave to work in an ltc as a CNA would actually be reasons not to work in one. Of course you might not have the option of where you work due to job availability. But given the choice I say hospital all day. When your paid so close to the poverty level anyway every dollar counts.

Im actually glad my license was never on the line because I made mistakes in the beginning. .

For me being an ltc CNA wouldve been the kiss of death for my future nursing career.

I got my hands in so many things in the hospital I learned alot and had a workable patient load. I got to see art lines put in , did compressions, saw bone marrow biopsies, an emergency thoracotomy !, intubations, cardiac asthma, heart attacks, the list goes on ... if I was in an ltc I wouldve quit and went a diff direction w/ my life. I also did ekg, trach care, phlebotomy, sterile dressing change, turned patients in traction, I/o chest tubes, foleys, burn unit debridement etc ..just depended on what floor I was on.

cardiacfreak, ADN · Dec 25, 2013

I was a CNA for 9 years in LTC, then 5 years as a PCA in a hospital. LTC is physically more demanding than working in an acute care setting.

@Funtimes, it is NOT the responsibility of the CNA to know s/s of pneumonia, it is the nurse that is responsible. I didn't understand disease processes as a CNA in LTC, but when I became the PCA on an ICU step-down unit I did learn a lot more.

I am now a registered nurse and still work on the same step-down unit, but I do miss some aspects of LTC, like getting to know the residents and knowing when they didn't feel good or weren't acting right. That is when I alerted the nurse, but I didn't know what was wrong, just that something wasn't right. I am now pushing 50 years old and I know my body won't hold up to the physical aspects that are required in acute care and I will eventually return to LTC.

guest769224 · Dec 26, 2013

I highly prefer working in a hospital over LTC!

I first worked in a nursing home for a few months, then moved to the medical/oncology unit in a local hospital,

and now I am a tech in the ICU/ER congruently.

In the nursing home, I was rushed, over worked, on the brink of compromising patient safety to meet time deadlines, and not valued as a staff member. I quit within 2 months. Those poor residents receive bare minimum in a nursing home.

At the hospital, I actually enjoy and look forward to going to work. My scope of practice is expanded!

I insert foley catheters, IV's, draw blood, work with vented patients, become involved with trauma experiences.

It is very cool, and was the ultimate inspiration for nursing school.

I would never, ever, ever go back to a nursing home or LTC even if I were paid double.

taylynnfree · Dec 26, 2013

Exactly. I loved icu..the Rns were sooo smart and I got to see and do so much. When I went to psych the nurses had no med skills ..the whole experience let me know I want to work with the physically sickest ppl... im starting lpn school and im not looking forward to the ltc ...but id rather be a nurse there than a cna...just more incentive to bridge