hospital vs home health vs LTC

gochicagobears · Nov 11, 2013

LTC is the hardest job you may ever have. Sweating, litteraly- dripping all day. Never getting everything done. Rudeeee aides who won't help you when you need it. 8 hours straight of changing briefs, showers, and call lights (most of the time means more brief changes). I went into it thinking that you were holding hands and bringing light, but honestly you don't have time. It's awful.

Home health is totally different. Of course you are still giving showers and occasionally changing briefs,

But think about it- these people are well enough to be at home so they aren't as bad as people in nursing homes. My agency isn't allowed to do any lifting either. And you are only caring for ONE PERSON at a time, not 15!!!! You get to do your hand holding and really learn about your client and be there. A lot of sitting and watching tv. Not always a bad thing

Hospital aide I can't speak for. I'm thinking you have the big amount of people you have in a ltcf but I don't think you would be showering and changing pooy bottoms all day.

gochicagobears · Nov 11, 2013

And also I was making $9.00 per hour in LTC (which is not fair for the amount of work you do) but in home health the aides start out at that or more, at least. Hospital start out around 10 I think depending on experience

gochicagobears · Nov 11, 2013

And also again, as far as schedules go, LTC is 5:30-1:30, 1:30-9:30, 9:30-5:30. Strict. But home health is more 7-5 (not straught!!) broken up. Of course there are overnight clients you may be offered. Just depends on your availability

RH_Fan · Nov 11, 2013

Is working as a CNA in home health (or can it be) a flexible option if you're in school?

juniperpearl · Nov 12, 2013

Home health is extremely flexible, you can basically make your own schedule as long as there are clients who need a CNA during the times you are available. Home health agencies are typically pretty understanding when it comes to flexible scheduling.

RH_Fan · Nov 12, 2013

Sounds like that would be my best opportunity. I'm taking the cna class now and will be taking the test at the beginning of Jan then I start the lpn program on jan 13. I know it's difficult to work but we really need another income and I really want to get the experience (I've never had a job either so I have no experience in anything.)

i_love_patient_care · Nov 13, 2013

gochicagobears pretty much nailed it. I've done all three. Hospital for me paid a lot more, but it can be just as hard as LTC, if not more. Right now, I'm working home health, and making about what I made at LTC and am only taking care of one person. It's nice to be able to spoil my client and spend quality time. I am not saying that people who work LTC would not love to do that, but staffing simply does not allow for that. Once in a while I was able to do that in LTC if I finished early enough. Home health also offers a lot more down time depending on the client. Some are more demanding than others, of course.

TurtleCat · Nov 13, 2013

I haven't tried hospital or home health yet but I've tried two different environments, a typical LTC and a group home. I loved the residents in LTC but the job itself was stressful, mainly due to the understaffing and rude, unhelpful co-workers. I love the group home however. It is a much more mellow atmosphere and I have more time to spend with the clients and give really quality care. So group homes are another option to look into as a CNA.

One of the things I love about being a CNA is that I feel there's so many job options out there. Nursing home work is probably the most common but there's also working in the hospital, home health, hospice, group homes, psychiatric facilities, etc etc.

havehope · Nov 13, 2013

I went from LTC to a hospital. Gochicagobears is absolutely right. I loved the residents at a LTC facility, but HATED staffing. You have no time to really care for your residents…it's rush, rush,rush. I love working at a hospital, it's a great learning experience especially since I am going to nursing school. A lot of the nurses know I am going to school, so when they are about to do something interesting they will call me to see if I want to watch. When we are done I let them know I greatly appreciated that they were willing to show me. I have about 8-10 patients and maybe 1 or 2 total care. You are still busy doing bloodsugars, vitals Q4 and Q8, vitals on surgery patients, etc. But, you have time to talk and enjoy your patients.

RH_Fan · Nov 13, 2013

I would love to work in hospital since I'm going to be in nursing school but I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to make it work with my schedule.

havehope · Nov 13, 2013

I would love to work in hospital since I'm going to be in nursing school but I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to make it work with my schedule.

I am working PRN so that way I can work when I need to. My hospital also works with their full time and part time employees when they know they are going to school. Most nursing students can only work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you decide to go work at a hospital and get an interview ask them will they be willing to work with your school schedule. 99.9% of the time they will say yes.