Calling all home health and LTC CNA's, I need your input....

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hi all,

so i will be starting my bsn program in august and i am currently in a cna course at my community college. i will be finished aug 1st and will then sit for the certification exam. i was just called about an in home "caregiver/companion" job and have an interview on friday.

i was thinking this might be something good for me to start out doing since i know they hire cna's to work in home as well. below is the job "duties" that i might be doing. she told me i didn't need any experience and that they do a 3 day training before starting to work.

companion/caregiver

conversation & companionship * meal preparation * light housekeeping * errand services * grocery shopping * incidental transportation * laundry & linen washing * clothes shopping * recreational activities * grooming & dressing guidance * organize incoming mail

my questions are:

do you think this is a good start to lead into cna work?

what are the main differences between working as a cna "in a person's home" vs working in an ltc facility?? which one is better? how dangerous is it to be in a person's home alone or are the clients normally screened well??

i plan to work part time while i'm in school if i can, so any information is appreciated!!

thanks ! :redpinkhe

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hi all, so i will be starting my bsn program in august and i am currently in a cna course at my community college. i will be finished aug 1st and will then sit for the certification exam. i was just called about an in home "caregiver/companion" job and have an interview on friday. i was thinking this might be something good for me to start out doing since i know they hire cna's to work in home as well. below is the job "duties" that i might be doing. she told me i didn't need any experience and that they do a 3 day training before starting to work. companion/caregiver conversation & companionship * meal preparation * light housekeeping * errand services * grocery shopping * incidental transportation * laundry & linen washing * clothes shopping * recreational activities * grooming & dressing guidance * organize incoming mail my questions are: do you think this is a good start to lead into cna work? what are the main differences between working as a cna "in a person's home" vs working in an ltc facility?? which one is better? how dangerous is it to be in a person's home alone or are the clients normally screened well?? i plan to work part time while i'm in school if i can, so any information is appreciated!! thanks ! :redpinkhe
could be a nice situation for you. usually less physically and mentally demanding type of work. if you do well your agency may give you good hours around school. i work with 2 nursing students in home care and the clients and family love having them on board. best wishes with school and work!
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I'm in nursing school and have been in home health for nearly two years. I love home health! The only experience I have with LTC is via clinical. I'm finishing up my LPN in LTC and we do help do CNA work.

I will say that home health isn't as fast paced, nor is it mentally and physically demanding. I like the fact that I have one on one time with one person. My client has become my family! I enjoy my job and the company I work for has been very gracious with working with my schedule!l even after I get my LPN and move on to RN etc etc...I plan to do some type of home health on the side.

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Specializes in alzheimers, hospice, dialysis.

umm...home care and home health can be very physically and mentally demanding...you are working alone, no one else to help. if you get a person with dementia, it's way different than just your average joe.

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umm...home care and home health can be very physically and mentally demanding...you are working alone, no one else to help. if you get a person with dementia, it's way different than just your average joe.
That is what scares me....I plan to find out what type of clients I will be with at the interview. I just don't know if it's worth my time, I just figured it would be a good way to get a CNA job since most places ask for 1 yr experience. I've never watched an elderly person by myself so I feel nervous. This wk Wed and Thursday we are doing our CNA clinical at the LTC so at least ill be around them. Maybe I won't be as nervous by Friday. Thanks!
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Specializes in alzheimers, hospice, dialysis.

do you ever hang out with your grandparents? you'll be fine :) wasn't trying to scare you. just was trying to not have people think it's just some no brainer thing. usually when you work with an agency they will call you and tell you ALL about the client (or clients if it's a husband and wife) where they live, what time the schedule is, etc etc and you are GIVEN the CHOICE to take the shifts, or not. your clients can always request someone else, and you can ALSO always request to not be on the case anymore. at least for all the places i've worked for in the past 7 years. i mostly always do alzheimers and hospice, those are my niche and i love my clients. occasionally i will do rehab cases. you'll be fine!!!!!!! and yes it will be really good exp for you, and you may decide to go into home health, home care, or hospice nursing someday. the LTC clients will most likely be bedridden, and usually require 2 people to transfer. the main thing about home care is, always have your gait belt. but honestly, i love it, i feel i am able to give the clients EXCEPTIONAL one on one care. i am NEVER bored. if you are bored, you are not doing your job right. i know some girls just clean the house all day, but that's not me. i bring my clients to the park, do projects with them, i really engage their minds, and i take my job seriously. i really get to know my clients. you will most likely be their only social outlet. good luck!!!!!

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By the looks of the job description, very little, if anything, you will be doing are things that require CNA training and certification. Does the job even require you be a CNA? I know someone who is a "home care aide". They arent a CNA and basically just help around the house with laundry and cleaning and cooking.

That doesnt mean its a bad job to have, but I wouldnt expect much in the way of Nursing related experience. There are home health CNAs who do basically the same thing a LTC aide does, only at a clients home, but this doesnt really look to be one of those jobs.

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One major reason I would be for LTC rather than HH is the experience you would gain working with a larger client/resident base. At a facility you will learn a lot more than HH and depending on the facility they may even let you do advanced duties base on your schooling. For instance at my facility if you are a year through the nursing program they will let you be a nurse tech which gets to pass pills and other minor duties but the pay is around 17 per hour so not bad.

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one major reason i would be for ltc rather than hh is the experience you would gain working with a larger client/resident base. at a facility you will learn a lot more than hh and depending on the facility they may even let you do advanced duties base on your schooling. for instance at my facility if you are a year through the nursing program they will let you be a nurse tech which gets to pass pills and other minor duties but the pay is around 17 per hour so not bad.

thank you, that is a good reason. today was my 2nd day of clinicals at long term care and i just found out that they hire new graduates so i will probably try to apply there part time if i can. i feel torn but i probably won't go to the interview tomorrow. as another person said, i won't really be doing any "skilled" tasks so it may not help me much in terms of cna worthy experience on my resume.

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That is what scares me....I plan to find out what type of clients I will be with at the interview. I just don't know if it's worth my time, I just figured it would be a good way to get a CNA job since most places ask for 1 yr experience. I've never watched an elderly person by myself so I feel nervous. This wk Wed and Thursday we are doing our CNA clinical at the LTC so at least ill be around them. Maybe I won't be as nervous by Friday. Thanks!

Less mental and physical as in you are only having to deal with one person during your working hours - all of your attention and focus is on one person not 15+. I've had clients from ESRD, stokes, CHF, dementia, mental handicaps, deformities...the list goes on. I personally feel like I deliver better care being one on one. While I'm doing my LPN clinical in LTC I see how much the CNAs have to go through - not saying they deliver poor patient Care, but it's hard to feed when you have 20 or more people to feed and only 2 cnas to do it. You're allowed to take your time in home health and not be rushed to get to the next patient.

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