Help, difference between HHA,CNA and LPN?

caliotter3 · Aug 14, 2011

Home health aide, certified nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse. Home health aide course teaches some material specific to working in the home environment after one finishes the certified nursing assistant course. Certified nursing assistant course is basically preparing one to do entry level, basic resident care in a long term care facility. You are taught to assist a resident with the activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, toileting, eating meals, basic hygiene, etc., as well as basic nursing tasks such as taking vital signs. You assist the nurse. Licensed practical nurse supervises certified nursing assistants in a facility. They are licensed after completing a nursing curriculum and are responsible for basic nursing care, such as medication administration and doing specific treatments, as well as reporting changes in patient/resident conditions to the doctor, receiving, and acting on the doctor's orders. In some areas, CNAs are given special training to take over the med admin responsibilities from the nurse. CNA courses last a few weeks whereas an LPN course lasts 9 to 18 or 24 months. The LPN is paid more than a CNA or HHA. The RN position expands on the LPN position and they are paid the most. That is it in a nutshell. For many RN programs, you are required to get a CNA certificate, and/or work as a CNA as part of the application process. However, for many RN programs, this is not required, but can be helpful in getting you accepted to the nursing program. You won't get rich working as a CNA; most can not comfortably support themselves, much less a family on CNA pay. That is a factor in why so many progress from CNA to LPN and RN. HTH