Hosptial, LTC or Agency...

yousoldtheworld · Apr 5, 2011

I work in an LTC, but not geriatrics - a children's home for the developmentally disabled. I am happy.

I worked in a hospital before and hated it. It wasn't for me.

My pay, however, is unfortunately very low.

winniecooper · Apr 5, 2011

I'm doing agency and still completing my clinicals at LTC. If you get a good agency, you'll always have plenty of work assignments. Live-in is in high demand, so if that works with your situation I highly suggest it. You can do just two or three days a week live-in and make as much as you would at an LTC. I like LTC but I do not like the 5 day schedule for FT. I would prefer 3x12s like many hospitals. LTCs can vary A LOT. Public aid facilities like the one I'm doing clinicals can be a headache. Half of our beds have hand cranks!!! Supplies can be hard to come by too. They'll run out of certain sizes of diapers and then you have to improvise and they don't even have waterproof pads, instead you use layers of sheets. In addition to the headache, the pay is lower too. And two Hoyer lifts for the whole place! The residents are all so sweet and I have thought about working there despite the frustrations. Hospital is short-term IMHO. Your patient load is so huge and the patient turnover is so fast that I just can't see myself doing that for very long as a CNA/PCT. As a nurse I would probably like it since you're more involved in the admission and discharge. Pay and benefits will be best at a hospital if you can secure a FT position.

Sally Lou · Apr 6, 2011

Agency.

LOVE it! It's much more flexible then LTC. You develop more of a closer bond with your clients.

12.50/hr . I'm asking for mileage this wk. I figured my mileage for back and forth several times a wk (sometimes several times a day) and it's ALOT!

juliaann · Apr 6, 2011

I started as a CNA in a hospital and am now switching to agency. In addition to making about $5.00/hour more than I did at the hospital, the agency is MUCH more flexible and will work well with my school schedule.

This agency staffs hospitals almost exclusively, including the one where I currently work (which is great for me because I'm most comfortable in a hospital environment and have never worked in LCT/assisted living/nursing home).

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Apr 6, 2011

I work in LTC. The job is a real pain in the ass sometimes (lol) but I love geriatrics and have no interest in working at a hospital.

The pay is not that great compared to other LTCs in my area, but in general, CNAs in my state get paid more decently than other parts of the country. I definitely make more than I would flipping burgers or something.

Baubo516, RN · Apr 6, 2011

What kind of agencies hire CNA's? I am currently in a training course and did not know this was an option for CNA's. I was thinking that LTC or hospitals were my two choices.

yousoldtheworld · Apr 6, 2011

Agency.
You develop more of a closer bond with your clients.

I disagree - when I gave agency a try I was sent all over the place to different facilities, different halls and units within facilities. In LTC, I care for the same kids every day. I don't understand how you would get a closer bond with agency.

winniecooper · Apr 6, 2011

I think we're talking about different agencies. Some people are talking about home health agencies and others are talking about hospital and LTC staffing agencies. I didn't know there were CNA staffing agencies either. Guess I'll have to look into this. :)

juliaann · Apr 6, 2011

Yes yes yes I'm talking about a staffing agency. My staffing agency mainly staffs nurses but also has a few CNAs, and provides staff to the 5 major local hospitals on a daily basis when they have employees call in sick or just don't have enough staff to cover the current census. I will be at a different location on different floors pretty much every time I work.

To work for my agency a CNA needs at least 1 year of hospital CNA experience.

pgray1229 · Apr 6, 2011

I would check out favoritehealthcarestaffing.com. Here in Indiana, the highest pay a CNA gets is $18 an hour. From their job listings, it looks like they only place you in Hospitals.

My friend, who's an RN suggested this site to me.. They are all across the US.. Some states don't have an agency, but here in Indiana, they do! You need one year experience, I've got 8, but I haven't been an aid for about 9 years. They want one year experience.

Sally Lou · Apr 7, 2011

I disagree - when I gave agency a try I was sent all over the place to different facilities, different halls and units within facilities. In LTC, I care for the same kids every day. I don't understand how you would get a closer bond with agency.

I'm doing home health with them. They aren't established enough (new franchise-8 months) to get people into hospitals/LTC yet.