CNA jobs in places other than LTCFs

bethin · Jul 31, 2007

I only am certified by the first nurse aide course, so I know I can't do any MedSurg or anything, but I want to know what else is open to me.

I'm confused. If you're a CNA you can work med/surg or any other area.

You can do home health, med/surg, ICU, PACU, etc. L&D is hard to get into. I had 5 years med/surg and ICU experience with some L&D thrown in and couldn't get hired d/t lack of experience. Depending on the L&D you work in you can do more than change beds and answer lights. When I have floated there I have been in on deliveries, the nurse even let me give the baby his first bath!

IMO, L&D is a different game than LTC or med/surg. Babies are not little people. They are more complex and can go downhill fast. You have to have experience to recognize the signs. Of course the nurse is there but I am mostly the baby watcher and feeder when I work there. I found it very stressful but loved caring for the little ones.

Also, I'm not a mother so when a new mom had questions about breastfeeding I was clueless. So much to learn in L&D!!

I wish you luck and hope you achieve your dream!

amanda1229 · Jul 31, 2007

I'm confused. If you're a CNA you can work med/surg or any other area.
You can do home health, med/surg, ICU, PACU, etc. L&D is hard to get into. I had 5 years med/surg and ICU experience with some L&D thrown in and couldn't get hired d/t lack of experience. Depending on the L&D you work in you can do more than change beds and answer lights. When I have floated there I have been in on deliveries, the nurse even let me give the baby his first bath!
IMO, L&D is a different game than LTC or med/surg. Babies are not little people. They are more complex and can go downhill fast. You have to have experience to recognize the signs. Of course the nurse is there but I am mostly the baby watcher and feeder when I work there. I found it very stressful but loved caring for the little ones.
Also, I'm not a mother so when a new mom had questions about breastfeeding I was clueless. So much to learn in L&D!!
I wish you luck and hope you achieve your dream!

Around here, you have to be certified by two different nurse aide courses to work in MedSurg, and I've only done the first. Is it different where you live?

That was the one worry for me -- just not knowing that much about babies, when it comes to being a parent anyway. I know I could learn everything about the baby in it's hospital stay time, and answer those questions (with time), but yeah, I'm not a mother either and won't be for a while so that'd be hard.

When you said you'd float -- how did that work? Were you hired by the hospital as a CNA for a certain department, or just a CNA? Did you know on certain days what you'd be doing? Did you tell them at your interview that you'd be willing to float?

Still, just reading your experience as an L&D CNA makes me excited, and want it even more! I know some places might not be like that, but I'd still be in the environment, and I could still call it a bit of experience, you know? And, like I already said, down the road when I get my RN degree, I'll know the nursing management in the department by then. The part that worries me is when I get my LPN because I hear LPNs have no jobs in L&D. In fact, the only place I ever hear of LPNs working is LTCFs or clinics.

Thanks a lot for the info! :)

bethin · Aug 1, 2007

Around here, you have to be certified by two different nurse aide courses to work in MedSurg, and I've only done the first. Is it different where you live?
That was the one worry for me -- just not knowing that much about babies, when it comes to being a parent anyway. I know I could learn everything about the baby in it's hospital stay time, and answer those questions (with time), but yeah, I'm not a mother either and won't be for a while so that'd be hard.
When you said you'd float -- how did that work? Were you hired by the hospital as a CNA for a certain department, or just a CNA? Did you know on certain days what you'd be doing? Did you tell them at your interview that you'd be willing to float?
Still, just reading your experience as an L&D CNA makes me excited, and want it even more! I know some places might not be like that, but I'd still be in the environment, and I could still call it a bit of experience, you know? And, like I already said, down the road when I get my RN degree, I'll know the nursing management in the department by then. The part that worries me is when I get my LPN because I hear LPNs have no jobs in L&D. In fact, the only place I ever hear of LPNs working is LTCFs or clinics.
Thanks a lot for the info! :)

No, my state only requires one nurse aide course. Never heard of having to take two courses.

I took my CNA class at a LTCF and worked there for a few months. I applied to a hospital and got a med surg job. I've been there for almost 6 years. I was not hired in as a floater but was told in my interview that aides float to other areas as needed. I don't know what area I'll be in until I come to work as the supervisor will move people around as needed. But most of the time I know I'll be on med surg.

I work in a small community hospital where aides are not scheduled in ER, OB or ICU unless those units are busy. As I gained more experience in med surg I was asked to work ICU. I knew I had to prove myself if I wanted to float to other units. Luckily, the ICU nurses are nice and don't mind teaching. Now the nurses request me for ICU so working hard and be willing to learn are essential to get what you want.

Nothing against OB nurses but at my facility they are difficult to work with. They were not welcoming or helpful to me. I had wanted to be an OB nurse but I changed my mind after a few experiences there. Still love those babies though! But don't take my experience as meaning that every OB unit is like this.

I've worked with LPN's in OB and ER so they do work in those areas.

I've only done ER and OB a few times because those are areas where you need alot of experience with pt care.

If you have not already, get your CPR certification. That will be a bonus upon hiring.

amanda1229 · Aug 1, 2007

No, my state only requires one nurse aide course. Never heard of having to take two courses.
I took my CNA class at a LTCF and worked there for a few months. I applied to a hospital and got a med surg job. I've been there for almost 6 years. I was not hired in as a floater but was told in my interview that aides float to other areas as needed. I don't know what area I'll be in until I come to work as the supervisor will move people around as needed. But most of the time I know I'll be on med surg.
I work in a small community hospital where aides are not scheduled in ER, OB or ICU unless those units are busy. As I gained more experience in med surg I was asked to work ICU. I knew I had to prove myself if I wanted to float to other units. Luckily, the ICU nurses are nice and don't mind teaching. Now the nurses request me for ICU so working hard and be willing to learn are essential to get what you want.
Nothing against OB nurses but at my facility they are difficult to work with. They were not welcoming or helpful to me. I had wanted to be an OB nurse but I changed my mind after a few experiences there. Still love those babies though! But don't take my experience as meaning that every OB unit is like this.
I've worked with LPN's in OB and ER so they do work in those areas.
I've only done ER and OB a few times because those are areas where you need alot of experience with pt care.
If you have not already, get your CPR certification. That will be a bonus upon hiring.

I will definitely be getting my CPR certification! How sad, I hadn't even thought of that until you said it.

So what did LPNs do in OB and ER compared to RNs where you worked? And what was your work like in the MedSurg, ICU, and ER?

megykilo · Aug 2, 2007

that's interesting about the two nurses aide courses. i'm a CNA and was hired on as an OB Tech at the hospital after a year of experience in LTC. well they offered me the position but i ended up turning it down after some thought because i thought it could interfere with my school. but the position involved setting up, assisting with deliveries, weighing baby, fingerprints, footprints kind of stuff and as a surg tech for C-sections. along with alot of techy kind of stuff like organizing, restocking supplies and scheduling c-sections. really not my cup of tea. i like old people. little ones scare me. btw i was 18 when they hired me so i dont think you are at a disadvantage...just keep checking for openings. it really helps to know someone in the department you want to work in...maybe volunteer a little more?

bethin · Aug 2, 2007

I will definitely be getting my CPR certification! How sad, I hadn't even thought of that until you said it.
So what did LPNs do in OB and ER compared to RNs where you worked? And what was your work like in the MedSurg, ICU, and ER?

What LPN's can do varies from state to state. In Indiana they can do everything but hang blood. They do have to have a RN sign off on their admissions but that's the only difference. They can do the admit b ut a RN has to go back and look at their charting and sign that they reviewed the admission. No biggie. LPN's can assist in deliveries just as much as an RN and are just as respected as RN's. I worked with a LPN, who I thought was a RN in OB. Just goes to show it's how you present yourself that matters. You have to demand respect.

But, this varies state to state and hospital to hospital. I know that the big hospitals in Indy are not hiring LPN's.

Med surg I take care of all ages, infants to geriatrics. I do ADL's, vitals, help admit pt's, d/c foley's and IV's, apply telemetry, participate in codes. Doesn't seem like much but I keep very busy. ICU is the same thing. ER I can only take vitals, apply tele but I did mostly secretary work, answering phones, putting in dr's orders in the computer and things like that.

I will say this about working in a hospital: before I had this job I was shy and wouldn't say boo. Now I'm outspoken, independent and more self assured. Things can change quickly as pt's are not stable like most LTC residents are. You have to be think quickly and be prepared to make quick decisions.