Certified Nursing Assistant vs Home Health Aid

Nurses General Nursing

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I will be a nursing student come the fall of 09. Could you please tell me what job as a Certified Nursing Assistant or a Home Health Aid would give me the best clinical experience?

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no, because I can receive my degree from any institution.

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:cry:I am a nursing student what job would give me more experience certified nusing assistant or a home health aid?

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certified nusing assistant

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Certified Nursing Assistant in a nursing home (I use nursing home liberally) environment would give you the best patient care experience.

If you work as a tech/CNA in a hospital you may get exposure to other skills (inserting foleys/IV's, ekg's and others depending on the hospital) but less patient care skills.

If you work as a home health aide you won't necessarily get any skills. You could. I've done cases with a quad on a vent (he had a nurse their 24/7 as well) and decubs and such though it wasn't much experience. I've had other cases where I was more like a sitter.

Avoid assisted living and independent living. You'll get minimal skill experience in those places.

I'd personally go for CNA and work at an acute/sub acute or rehab facility. Good experience all around!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

What he said. I've done all three (LTC, in home care, acute care) as a CNA, and they all have their pros and cons. Just starting out, I would recommend a nursing home/rehab facility as well.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

CNA will get you further in experience. And, (at least in my area), a CNA can sign for a home health care agency and get one or two days training to earn their HHA certification for that agency because they were trained to do more.

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The CNA certficate will allow you to work in many clinical environments, LTC facilities, acute care hospitals, home health to name a few, whereas HHA confines you to the home setting. So CNA has more job opportunities. Where I am, one becomes a CNA before getting the HHA training. If you get a HHA certificate, you will be in a better position to work at a home health agency, although they will place CNAs in the home.

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Thanks!

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Specializes in Home Health/Geriatrics.

I am a CNA but I work at a HHA agency...less stressful for the most part, but you'll find that you serve more as a maid than as really any medical help...that varries from case to case...

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Thanks!

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I'm a CNA, and I worked in a few nursing homes. It wasn't really my thing. had too many issues with catty colleagues who would do me in everytime.

I prefer HH. Less drama and I keep my job much longer. Yeah, you do serve as a maid sometimes, but at least you won't be stressed out and overworked.

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