[yangkchoua]

what's the difference between ADN & CNA? what does a adn do?

also, does a nursing assistant and home health aide have different duties and which one is ranked higher in education?

and i'm confused with the NA/HHA exam vs. the NNAAP exam. what's the difference and is it for two totally different (whats the word?) job?

on another note, what's a passing score on the exam? i've never tooken a cna training program but took a sample test online..some of them were common sense..does that go the same for the real exam? i got 40/60 :S i believe that if i take the training course, i'd get at least 50+

-Choua

[Spazzy Nurse]

CNA = certified nursing assistant (or certified nurse's aide)
ADN = associate degree in nursing

I have my ADN and I am an RN. Would people who have a 2 year LPN degree also say that they have their ADN? (Sorry to answer your post with another question!)

A CNA ranks slightly above an HHA---at least it did back in my aide days....maybe things have changed. I was a CNA and that automatically made me a HHA when I applied to a home health agency. I don't believe a HHA would automatically be a CNA though if the situation were reversed (make sense?). Please, someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Sorry I can't help out with any of the exam questions. I guess I didn't help out with any of your questions though, did I.

[Pbelle]

LPNs receive a diploma, but not a degree.

How's it going Spazzy?

[Melilem]

CNA requires a training course and an 80 on that test. CNA work is no fun, you get to do all the nurses dirty work, get no respect, and around here you make $8.50 hr. The PSS (used to be PCA: personal care attendent, don't know what it means now) is a shorter course and you arent allowed to do the dirtiest jobs. I know... awww. $8.00 hr. As Spazzy Nurse said, ADN is a 2 year nursing degree. (It's $21 to start as a student here.)

[asoldierswife05]

CNA is a very necessary, but low wage position due to the difference in educational background. Some courses in this area can be anywhere from 6 weeks to three months. You perform basic pt care. I don't consider it 'the nurse's dirty work' because of how important it is to the patient. (Perhaps, the person performing the duty wishes they didn't have to do the job...but to that pt taking a bath and being assisted to the bathroom or placed on the bedpan, it is an extremely important aspect to everyday living) A CNA has every right to be proud of the duties they perform and if that is what you wish to be...NEVER let anyone make you feel inferior.

An ADN in nursing is quite different. You receive extensive collegiate level training in not only nursing care, but the humanities and sciences. You learn very valuable skills as well as the rationale behind performing those skills, the importance of critical thinking, pathophysiology of various diseases/disorders, common diagnostic procedures, function of other healthcare providers/delegation of duties, physician responsibility, pharmocology, when to question physician orders, ethical/legal aspects, pt advocacy, etc. etc. It is quite rigorous and you are awarded a license by the state in which you practice with autonomy. You can find yourself in a world of trouble if you violate the terms of licensure, standards of care set forth by professional organizations, regulations of the state nurse practice act, or violations of hospital policy. In short, it is a greater amount of knowledge and scope of practice, balanced with a greater amount of personal liability. While some argue that the pay is great in comparison to the former feild, most nurses would disagree.

I cannot speak to any other questions addressed in your post, but I hope this is helpful. For more information on different levels of care provided by healthcare workers, you may want to speak to a representative at a local university or hospital. The state Board of Nursing has a wealth of information available as well on the scope of practice of the nurse( RN and LPN), and what can be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel.

[Spazzy Nurse]

I have always said that a person has not really had a JOB until they have worked as a CNA. That's a job. It's such a very, very important job with skills that you will use for the rest of your life should you enter the healthcare field. It's not always pretty, but you quickly develop a strong stomach and every job after a CNA job seems easier and smells nicer. I wouldn't trade my years as a CNA for anything. Not only did that experience made my schooling first for LPN and then RN a million times easier, but I think that it made me a better nurse. Plus you can always tell nurses who have been CNAs. They were easy to spot when I was an aide.

Originally Posted by Pbelle

LPNs receive a diploma, but not a degree.

If it is a 2 year LPN, wouldn't that be considered an associate degree? I always thought 1 year LPN was a diploma and 2 year LPN was a degree. (I'm glad we're talking about this--- I've always been confused about it!)

Originally Posted by Pbelle

How's it going Spazzy?

And heyya, Pbelle!

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by Pbelle

LPNs receive a diploma, but not a degree.

Many LPNs have earned associate degrees in practical nursing. Not all LPNs "receive" diplomas.

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by yangkchoua

what's the difference between ADN & CNA? what does a adn do?

An ADN is a registered nurse who has earned an associate degree in nursing from a community college or regional state university.

ADN = Associate Degree in Nursing

[BecomeNurse06]

CNA doesn't make a lot of money. ADN is another word for registered nurse which you will make a lot more money. My suggestion is if you want to become a nurse and make good money then ADN is the way to go.

[Pbelle]

Originally Posted by TheCommuter

Many LPNs have earned associate degrees in practical nursing. Not all LPNs "receive" diplomas.

Every school is different. I know at the school I went to for my LPN, we didn't get a degree (Associates, Bachelors, etc.), but a diploma from the school that we passed the courses necessary to graduate from the PN program.