CNA hospital or nursing home?

CandAmommy · Sep 23, 2008

There is a thread just like this that is recent either on the first or second page, try searching for it. Good luck.

nursestudent11 · Sep 24, 2008

I have worked in a hospital and nursing home and I would definitely say that the hospital is a better learning experience if you are going to be an RN. In LTC, you pretty much just do bed bath/feeding/etc. In the hospital you learn so much more. I work on a med/surg floor and i have learned so much more in the few months that I have been there than I did in the LTC facility. I would try to get into a hospital. If not, get some experience in LTC, then try to get into the hospital.

Good luck! :) :up:

justus4 · Sep 24, 2008

I MUCH MUCH MUCH prefered being a CNA in a hospital....

In a long term care setting, you do learn a lot about basic patient cares like bathing, feeding, etc,

However.... in a hospital you learn so much more anatomy, testing/results, computer skill such as charting which will come in handy SO MUCH when you get into nursing school, and your client population changes so frequently that you are able to see so much more.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED long term care... it's like having 60+ grandparents... but in terms of education, I learned much more being a CNA in the hospital.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2008

I love the hospital more so than the SNF. Both have their perks.

rancelumsden · Sep 25, 2008

I posted some rather lengthy replies to this question and as another poster mentioned, go back two or three pages to find some answers.

Neither is 'better' in itself. Partially depends on how you like to work. You WILL learn more in hospital, but many people do not like the constantly changing priorities and new patients every day. There is no routine in hospital, but you can develop one in LTC.

Please search for the past postings done in the last month....

kes42006 · Sep 25, 2008

As most people said there are perks to both. I think it's a personal decision of where you want to be, however, I do think the experience you gain in the hospital setting definately has more educational value. Of course, this does depend on where you want to be when you are done. Personally I enjoy the hospital much more. However, I work in post partum and newborn care so I'm in a rather upbeat and "clean" environment compared to the nitty gritty of a nursing home which is VERY dirty at times and very depressing for me.

Good luck! It's a tough job but it'll really help you figure out if nursing is for you. There are some nurses who will take you under their wings and teach you, treating you as a peer and others who will walk all over you and treat you as a slave then ***** at you for not doing enough. Watch your back and do your job but always stand up for yourself. Not trying to scare you but I've learned that women can be VERY difficult to work with especially in the RN profession. Sad but true.