Help! cant decide if I want to work hospital or home health

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Specializes in CNA med-surg.

I currently work as a home health aide, this is a good job with very flexible hours, but the pay kinda sucks its only 9.00 a hour :-/

I just got offered a job at a hospital, its per diem 3 nights a week for about 12 dollars an hour maybe more... only problem is its a night shift from 11pm-7am, and i have never worked in acute care

I am still in school and I take morning classes so this might mess up my sleeping schedule, I could still do it but i will be tired a lot, maybe thats just how being a nursing student is though haha.

so this comes down to, any CNAs out there who have worked home health or acute care and want to let me know what may be the better option? more pay but longs nights, or low pay but flexible hours?!Or should i try to work both and do home health on the side? i cant decide what to do im stressing! HELP!!!! :banghead: :bluecry1: :stone

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I'm still a cna student but given what hurricanes Gustav and Ike are already doing to the economy, one thing I would consider if I was job hunting right now: cost of gas. Where I'm at the biggest drawback to homehealth is the many miles traveled between jobs. But if you have to commute an extra even 10 miles to the hosp. the extra money may not be worth it. Good luck and let us know what you decide :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Mental health and a good night's sleep is worth more than $3.00 an hour. IMHO :nurse:

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Specializes in CNA med-surg.

Yeah, I think they may offer a 3pm-11pm shift though, that might not be too bad to do... I dont think I want those overnight type of shifts while im in school...its not worth it!

But maybe if i work 3pm-11pm that may be better and worth the extra 3 bucks but who knows...

Does anyone know what a CNAs duty in a hospital setting is? Mostly vitals and bedpans/bedbaths probably... :specs:

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Specializes in CNA.

If you look on other threads in the CNA forum, you'll find postings I and others have done about hospital work. You will not work harder in a hospital, but you will do 100 times the number of tasks. The learning opportunities in the hospital are so far beyond home health that it takes pages to describe. Home health, in my opinion, is not an option until you get a few years experience in an institution.

In hospital, you'll do a lot of vitals, may learn EKG's, heart monitors, SCD's, suctioning and o2 setup/breakdown, setting up/breaking down rooms for admits and discharges, diet plans and checking on them, working with the lab, assisting nurses in minor way for some procedures, etc. We also had to enter everything we did into the computer system and chart everything. You'll pick up info on diseases, treatment, general care, etc. just by being around the nurses and dealing with so many patients in different situations. But yes, you'll make beds, do some bed baths, do some feeding, pericare, basic skills as that.

It's not the money --- it's the invaluable experience a year or two in a hospital will give you. You're extremely limited in learning when you only work with a limited number of patients in a day. Yeah, it's easier and less stressful, but experience will help you greatly in the future.

Don't get me wrong. Home health is a good way to go for many people. It's also a trend in CNA work as it's less expensive for people to stay in their home rather than hospital. I'm simply REALLY big on getting experience --- both overall medical and the business. Then, you do home health with a wealth of knowledge you gain working in an institution. I've had multiple careers so my perspective has always been to go for the knowledge --- salary and opportunities follow.

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Specializes in CNA med-surg.

Hey that is really helpful! thank you, i really do want to work in the hospital, but i am also kind of scared too since im used to home health now...

also im just afraid that a hospital will make me tired and not do as well in school, but then again its only part time

but i agree the experience i would gain would help me a ton while im doing all this nursing school :)

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I currently work as a home health aide (CNA) 15yrs ago I worked in a nursing home, having those 2 experiences I can tell u that if you are offered a position in the hospital..TAKE IT!! not for the money, but for the experience!! Nursing home is much different than working at somones home.

As I monitor my patient through out my day, I fairly dont get to use all the training I learned in the CNA class..I really do not feel like I work in health care to be honest..I dont under mind my job, I take it very seriously, but wish that i can work in a hospital setting. I have been applying for 9 months now and keep getting rejected because they claim i have no hospital experience. I am currenlty in school, finished all pre-reqs for the nursing program, working on passing the NET test..and hoping everyday that I will receive a call from the hospital!!

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