what is your favorite department to work in?

[sophie<3]

what is your favorite department to work in??

i am a nursing student, i will have my CNA certification by next May and want to work as a CNA full-time over the summer. where did you like to work the most? we have tons of positions availble in my area for anything from ICU to Newborn Nursery to Post-Op! tell me what you think

[escapebigd]

It is very hard to become a CNA in a hospital (even in my area there are hundreds of postings, but I don't have enough experience). I'd love to work in ER, but right now I work in a long term care facility and I work in the medicare unit. The residents are mostly independent except for the few hospice patients they stick up there who are total assist. I would try for a hospital right off the bat, but don't get your hopes up. If the hospital doesn't accept you just try again after 3, 6, 9... months of experience.

[ctmed]

It is very hard to become a CNA in a hospital (even in my area there are hundreds of postings, but I don't have enough experience). I'd love to work in ER, but right now I work in a long term care facility and I work in the medicare unit. The residents are mostly independent except for the few hospice patients they stick up there who are total assist. I would try for a hospital right off the bat, but don't get your hopes up. If the hospital doesn't accept you just try again after 3, 6, 9... months of experience.

ER prefers EMT-Basic and CNA in my area with EMT-Basic only taking preference over CNA only. ER is kinda cliquish too in alot of places, and usually someone "knows" someone to get in.

That said, each department has it's own plusses and minuses. These are the floors I have worked through agency and directly with some quick observations.

Telemetry - Lots of older patients who are incontinent. Lots of Q4 vitals. Lots of families. High turnover of RNs/LPNs. Fresh hired CNAs will most likely go here or Med-surg.

Pediatrics - Lots of family members to deal with. But, most families do thier own diaper changes, etc.

ICU/MICU - Less patients, but lots of baths with lots of tubes and wires to work around. Very uncommon to find job here as most places have the RN do it all. Low turnover for CNAs.

PACU/ Recovery - Vey laid back, but CNAs tend to stay in this area for long times. No baths, diaper changes, families are not allowed in. Very hard to get in here even for RNs. Most of your job is transport.

Med-surg - Lots of vitals. Census (at least in my area) varies greatly and you may get sent home a good bit or floated. Destination for most new CNA/LPN/RNs with lots of turnover.

Adult Psych- No ADL assists, but exposure to dangerous and violent patients.

Geri Psych- Lots of ADL assists, but better staff- PT. ratio than hospital floors.

LTAC - This is PCT work. You get to do cool things like Accuchecks, inserting foleys, tube feedings, and sometimes blood draws depending on facility and what in-services they give you. Large amount of PTs , though that are very sick.

LTC - Standard nursing home. Large amount of patients, ADLs, diaper changes. Poor culture at many.

Transport - Laid back. Lots of independence. Take PTs from one area to another. Most facilities prefer males.

Hospital work, IMO, is alot better than LTC. I always suggest going to an agency that has some hospitals they staff. Your mileage may vary depending on area.