caregiving and cna

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 21, 2017

A caregiver is typically unlicensed.

verene, MSN · Nov 28, 2017

Caregivers are typically unlicensed family or friends. Some agencies may also refer to certified home health aids or certified nursing assistants as caregivers.

Not sure what you mean by CNAs being advanced care giving as it is unclear what you mean by "care giving/caregivers." I personally found being a CNA substantially less stressful than being a unpaid family caregiver, because I had set shifts with time off and because I wasn't caring for a loved-one with all the psychosocial emotional dynamics that entails.

I had no interest in the medical field or nursing when I started taking care of an ill family member. That experience however lead me to becoming a CNA and eventually RN.

Wether or not a job is "worth it" depends on what you hope to get out of it. For many going into health professions the experience of being a CNA is valuable, for others less so. I also know several people who have worked as CNAs with no intention of going further in health care, or who ultimately decided they didn't want to work in healthcare after the experience.

For me becoming a CNA was a quick and affordable way to transition career fields, earn some money, and learn if I really liked working in health care or not.

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2017

I don't think one is less stressful than the other. I watched two of my MIL's caregivers burn out because of the stress. She was a handful. My MIL's caregivers spent 8 to 12 hours (depending on how they were scheduled) keeping my MIL occupied, trying to convince her she couldn't drive, prevent her from wandering (she still manage to slip away from them) and avoiding her wrath. It was far from a stress free job. (And my MIL's caregivers were phenomenal)

I don't think you could say that CNA is an advanced version of caregiving. It's a different job description.