CNA vs MA

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Specializes in ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC.

Currently I'm waiting to go to nursing school in January but I'm looking for a new job for the fall so I can stay on my toes with everything and gain more experience that will help me in nursing school. So I'm just wondering what are some pros and cons to both job choices? I know pay varies by state so ill have to look that up separately. I know most cnas work in nursing homes and I really don't want to do that.

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It is a misconception most CNA's work in nursing homes. I got a job right out of CNA class in a hospital with no prior experience. If you are going for nursing, it is a better fit than MA since you will work directly with nurses. It gives you a great idea of what nursing will be like. Good luck!

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Specializes in ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC.
It is a misconception most CNA's work in nursing homes. I got a job right out of CNA class in a hospital with no prior experience. If you are going for nursing it is a better fit than MA since you will work directly with nurses. It gives you a great idea of what nursing will be like. Good luck![/quote']

Thanks for the heads up! I've been volunteering at a local military hospital so hopefully I've shown my face enough where they will let me come on in.

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It is a misconception most CNA's work in nursing homes. !

Totally agree There are other places that CNA's work that you just might be intressted in. There is Home Care which I am a CNA for and love it!. There is Rehab, Hospice, Retirment homes which have a little bit of a different feel then ltc.

Your voluntering at the Hospital is a great way to maybe be able to get that hospital job. But from what I hear the hospital jobs in general are hard to get. You either have to be lucky, or know someone that would help you get that job. The CNA hospital jobs are pretty coveted jobs that everyone and their brother apply for. But if you try for the hospital and don't get it these other avenues are also great, and you will see that they might be a lot easier to get a job with.

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Specializes in ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC.

Totally agree There are other places that CNA's work that you just might be intressted in. There is Home Care which I am a CNA for and love it!. There is Rehab, Hospice, Retirment homes which have a little bit of a different feel then ltc.

Your voluntering at the Hospital is a great way to maybe be able to get that hospital job. But from what I hear the hospital jobs in general are hard to get. You either have to be lucky, or know someone that would help you get that job. The CNA hospital jobs are pretty coveted jobs that everyone and their brother apply for. But if you try for the hospital and don't get it these other avenues are also great, and you will see that they might be a lot easier to get a job with.

My only other concern is how flexible my hours would be once I actually start nursing school because I want to be 100% focused on my studies but I also have bills to pay lol.

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I can tell you with Home Care there is nothing like it if you need to set your own schedule. We are allowed to ask for what shift works best for us, how many hours you want to work. It can all be up to you. At my company we have to fill out a monthly calandar of what hours and days I am avalable. If I need a certain day off because I have a wedding, or it is my kids birthday no problem I just cross that day off and they will not schedule me for that day. I never have to miss a birthday, or a school concert because I have to work. I decide what works best for me and my family and work adapts to what I need. It is wonderful!

There are weekend requirments and of course I have to work some holidays but you have that with any job in the health care feild

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Specializes in ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC.
I can tell you with Home Care there is nothing like it if you need to set your own schedule. We are allowed to ask for what shift works best for us, how many hours you want to work. It can all be up to you. At my company we have to fill out a monthly calandar of what hours and days I am avalable. If I need a certain day off because I have a wedding, or it is my kids birthday no problem I just cross that day off and they will not schedule me for that day. I never have to miss a birthday, or a school concert because I have to work. I decide what works best for me and my family and work adapts to what I need. It is wonderful!

There are weekend requirments and of course I have to work some holidays but you have that with any job in the health care feild

I'll have to look into that! Thanks for the advice.

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Hi MVM2,

I saw your reply to the OP and I wanted to pick your brain more about Home Care. Currently I am in the midst of a career change and applying to nursing schools also. I plan on taking a CNA class this summer hope to secure a position that will sustain me as I attend nursing school.

My questions about Home Care are:

1. With Home Health Care is it better to work for an agency or for a direct company?

2. What if you have an emergency or have an unexpected event and need the day off (which isn't prescheduled) how does that work out for you?

3. In your experiences/based on what you know- do agencies pay more?

4. If you are a CNA with more certifications/skills such as med tech, PCT certification is it better to just apply for a hospital position?

5. What is your day like - how many hours do you typically work, how many clients do you typically see per day?

Any and all feedback is welcomed

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I'm a CMA. I work in a jail on weekends and go to school during the week. I didn't go the cna route because I love giving shots and as a ma I can do pretty much anything a cna can! Either way will be good. Cna is usually shorter and that's basically the first term of my lvn program! Good luck in whatever you decide.

It's a beautiful day to save lives.

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1. With Home Health Care is it better to work for an agency or for a direct company?

You know I really don't know the difference between the two. So I am not sure which one it is that I work for. If you can explain the difference it might help me better to answer this question for you

2. What if you have an emergency or have an unexpected event and need the day off (which isn't prescheduled) how does that work out for you?

Of course things happen in our lives. My company wants you to call them as soon as possible. Then they call the other people that are care takers for that person and see if they can fill the shift. In home care you also should be flexible in taking those extra shifts when they call you as well. So yes at any moment I might get a phone call that someone can not make their shift and if I will take it. I always take as much as i can because by doing this when it is my turn to call in then they are much nicer about calling in. It is not an easy job for the schedulers, but it is an important part of making home care work

3. In your experiences/based on what you know- do agencies pay more?

um I guess it all depends. My company pays decent, but I would say it is possible that they are not the highest. For instance I might be able to get a dollar more an hour at some nursing home, or rehab facility. But you have to compare the jobs a bit. For instance I make 10.00 an hour to take care of one person. While maybe there is someone working in a ltc that is making 11.00 an hour, but she is taking care of 12 or even more residence in that hour. I find it is worth that dollar less for the not so crazy work enviroment. Plus it might take me longer to get to top rate, but my company does pay as high as 12.00 which is very decent for CNA, it just might take me an extra year or two to get it.

4. If you are a CNA with more certifications/skills such as med tech, PCT certification is it better to just apply for a hospital position?

It all depends on where you want to go. If it is a goal that you want to work in a hospital you might as well just try to get that job right away. But in home care they have their rules at what you can do in your scope, and extra things like being able to pass meds won't come into play to much. Though in Home Care we do give our clients their meds. BUT the important thing is that a family member or a nurse has to fill those weekly pill trays, and we are allowed to only give them those meds that are in those trays when it is required they need them.

5. What is your day like - how many hours do you typically work, how many clients do you typically see per day?

Every person is going to be unique in what clients they have and what hours they work. Like I said before the company will taylor your schedule to what shifts you want to work, and how many hours. If you want a really heavy schedule they might make sure you have clients that are 8 or even 12 hour shifts. I have a family with small children, so I am not trying to work an overly heavy work schedule. My clients are 2 to 3 hour long shifts. Each client is very different in what needs they have and what I do for them. I am typically working about 20 hours give or take a few hours in a two week pay period. I have seen as many as three clients in a day, but it was not bad because I'd start work at 8:00 and be done by 3:00. Otherwise typically I am only working one or maybe two clients in one day. Also if you are working with someone for 8 hours I am sure they will be your only client for that day. My days depends on the client, but i do bathing, helping with transfers, changing depends, light house cleaning. cleaning bathrooms, kitchen, vaccum, dust, laundry, preparing light meals. You don't have to worry about having to prepare a 5 course meal. :) Just a few of the things we as home care providers do.

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Hi MVM2,

Thanks for answering my questions. For my 1st question I guess I should have phrased it differently; however, I think that I can pretty much figure out the answer to the question based on your responses. Again, I am in the midst of a career change and appying to nursing schools. I plan to take the CNA training course this summer, pass the exam, and can hopefully secure a decent position. I have a 6 yr old son with special needs as well as take care of my mother whom is disabled so I really need something that is flexible.

Thank you.

~UB~

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I have been a CNA for 10 years and I was also cross trained as a medical assistant. You get more patient experience from CNA. If you are planning on doing school I don't think you should do MA, they are day hours. CNA you can get evening and night hours. Good luck.

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