Best place and shift time for new CNA

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Specializes in CNA.

I finish my program in a week and am going to start looking for jobs afterwards. I’m thinking of working in LTC or assisted living, which setting is best for a newbie?

Also, which shift is best? I was thinking 7-3 or 11-7. 3-11 only works for me two days out of the week due to another job I have. 
 

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

If you have NO experience, I'd suggest LTC versus AL.

In LTC/NH, you'll see how other CNAs go about doing their jobs and you'll learn the 'finer' details being a CNA. In LTC/NH, you're basically resp for pt personal care & ADLs.  Whereas in an AL, you'll be pretty much on your own to do personal hygiene care, and some domestic tasks as well.

Your pt load in AL will typically be signif greater than in LTC. The other major, and I say MAJOR thing is that AL residents are often WAY WAY SICKER thanr than they really should be for safe living in an AL environment. They freq need LOTS, LOTS of attn & assist.

You realize that as the shifts change, the pt to CNA ratio increases, as the number of staff decrease. So for a newbie, the better numbers are usually on the 7-3 shift.

My recommendation is to start LTC/NH. Pick a good NH - almost all NHs will hire anybody if they're not so reputable. So check out a few and pick your best choice.

Good luck to you. CNAs are the most under-recognized and under-appreciated staff in the industry. TY for your dedication in advance.

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Specializes in CNA.
20 hours ago, amoLucia said:

If you have NO experience, I'd suggest LTC versus AL.

In LTC/NH, you'll see how other CNAs go about doing their jobs and you'll learn the 'finer' details being a CNA. In LTC/NH, you're basically resp for pt personal care & ADLs.  Whereas in an AL, you'll be pretty much on your own to do personal hygiene care, and some domestic tasks as well.

Your pt load in AL will typically be signif greater than in LTC. The other major, and I say MAJOR thing is that AL residents are often WAY WAY SICKER thanr than they really should be for safe living in an AL environment. They freq need LOTS, LOTS of attn & assist.

You realize that as the shifts change, the pt to CNA ratio increases, as the number of staff decrease. So for a newbie, the better numbers are usually on the 7-3 shift.

My recommendation is to start LTC/NH. Pick a good NH - almost all NHs will hire anybody if they're not so reputable. So check out a few and pick your best choice.

Good luck to you. CNAs are the most under-recognized and under-appreciated staff in the industry. TY for your dedication in advance.

You’re welcome. 7-3 is the best option in terms of my schedule, so I’m happy to know it’ll be the best option for learning too. 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

Please also consider that almost everybody wants to work day shift, and sometimes earn it by seniority.

I started as a nursing asst on 3:30-midnight in a hospital. Advantages: all morning to run errands, get to work on time; only one meal to serve/feed, fewer admissions/discharges, not so many prescribers rounding and changing their plans of care, fewer pts traveling to X-ray, other testing, visitors go home around 8pm, and usually a quiet at the end of the shift for charting and cleanup. Disadvantages: sometimes the buses stopped running by the time I got out the door, weekends were considered Sunday and Saturday for all shifts so I NEVER got a Friday night off, and holiday dinners were something I never got to see.

Some people love nights, I was never one of them. But don’t rule out anything if the market looks tight for jobs in a good facility. 

Good luck in whatever you decide. 

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Hannah - the OP is a CNA. And new without experience.

But as a nurse, I agree, 3-11 was better. Altho today's practices seem to lean heavily  towards 3-11 admissions. Hospitals get a discharge order and 'out goes the pt', regardless of the time! Even 11-7 gets admits. Afterall, facilities ARE 24/7!!

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Specializes in LTC CNA.

I started out on 11-7 at a really well run nursing home and I believe that gave me a great foundation. I was able to learn without the craziness of meals, family members, ect during the day. Now I work 3-11 at an assisted living facility and I know I couldn’t have done this without experience. I have way more patients and they’re basically nursing home level of care. I have less nursing support (no RNs and less nurses in general) and I am running around like crazy from the minute I walk in until I leave. Don’t be fooled by “assisted living”, there are often some very sick people there that require heavy duty care

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