quick question....

[futureRN09]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question for anyone who can help me. My sister recently told me that she would like to become a CNA or PCA, and wants to know how she can go about doing that? What is the difference between the two and which one provides a better income?

Any info or input is greatly appreciated. :wink2:

[MamaKitty13214]

CNA is a Certified Nursing Aide. CNAs generally work in hospitals or nursing homes and do basic nursing care such as bathing, maintaining clean patient environment, assisting with feeding, etc. and work under the direction of LPN or RN. A good description of the CNA role is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_Nursing_Assistant

PCAs are Personal Care Aides and usually work in home care -- description of scope of practice can be found here: http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/policies/external/1992/LCMs/92-LCM-070%20Personal%20Care%20Aide%20Scope%20of%20Practice.pdf

And then there is the HHA -- Home Health Aide. This is the home care equivalent of the CNA. Role description here: http://www.health.state.ny.us/professionals/home_care/curriculum/docs/home_health_aide_scope_of_tasks.pdf

Employers will train qualified applicants for these positions for free. I trained as a home health aide and did that work while I was in nursing school. It was a two week training course which my employer paid (but I wasn't paid while taking the course -- I don't know if that is different these days) and when I passed the course, I got the certification which state issued, so could be used at any future employer.

All your sister needs to do is apply for a position and they will train her. The CNA probably pays better than PCA, but you need to work in a facility and you don't have much time to spend with any one patient. As a PCA or HHA, you are assigned to home care patients in minimum 2 hour blocks and get to do more 1 on 1 care. I think at this point in time the CNA/HHA pay is probably equivalent. The downside of the HHA work is that you need to travel to go to people's homes and that time has to be factored in to your schedule. Back when I was doing the work we weren't paid for our travel but that may be different now since there is such high demand for HHAs and PCAs.

Good luck to your sister!