How differet working at Hostpial or Nursing Home as CNA??

rancelumsden · Jul 18, 2008

Very different, in my experience. In LTC, I spent most of the day with personal care. Toileting, diaper changing, showers, transferring (from bed to chair, chair to bed, etc.), cleaning people, feeding, and of course, changing bed linen.

Hospital was totally different. There was a much smaller time involved in one-on-one care with people. Only a small percentage of people needed changing, bed bath. I spent 10% plus of a shift just taking vitals, measuring urine output, taking EKG's, and entering into computer. I was always getting equipment (IV's, SCD's, drainage kits, test tubes for various types of tests such as fecal and urine samples, getting blood). In the stepdown unit, I had to often unhook people from monitors, ambulate them, and rehook (very time consuming).

There are many 'technical' tasks you will learn in a hospital, along with the computer systems. You will learn how to handle machinery and set it up. I won't continue to fill up this forum with examples. And yes, we made beds too.

A very large difference, aside from 'technical' is this. In LTC, you get to know people. You work with the same residents day in and out (maybe changing hallways), but after a few months, you get to know names, histories, habits, families, etc. In hospital, you see people very often for only 1-3 days (of course, depends on unit). I was in a med-surg/oncology unit. A lot of post-op people would come in and you would see them 'transformed' in a few days, but then they were gone. Other people might come in for a day to get chemo, and be gone. You didn't have the 'relationships' with patients as you might in LTC. We definitely had some people (such as chemo patients), that came in regularly and you might get to know them a bit.

And yes, I did post-mortem care which I believe is not done by CNA's in LTC (I never did it, anyway).

ecmb · Jul 18, 2008

In Ohio, nursing assistants can do post mortem care in LTC - at least that's what we were told in our nursing assistant class.

Billsgirl, CNA · Jul 18, 2008

I knew from my CNA clinicals that a nursing home wasn't for me. I wanted to be in a hospital environment because I knew I would be exposed to much more as far as learning opportunities and all. I am very lucky and recently transfered to a hospital close to home where the nurses are WONDERFUL teachers and we all help one another and work as a team! In the Nursing Home I noticed that all of the aides were on their own, and there wasn't much team work or support from the rest of the nursing staff.

I think a hospital provides a better learning enviornment for future nurses, and the place I work also has tuition assistance.

Best of luck with your experiences!!:redpinkhe

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jul 18, 2008

I worked in LTC before I got my job working in a ER.

LTC- you generally work with the same clients, performing ADL's you get to know the routine of the clients and families. You may get a couple of sets of vitials each shift. Ususally there is 1 nurse to very 3 CNA's

ER- the average turn around time for a pt is 3 hours,so you dont get to know the pts, you do get to assist on many different things that you just wouln't see at a LTC. I have seen LP, chest tubes, central lines. I have been in doing CPR on many codes and have seen how everyone works as a team. I am able to put on splints and do EKGs. Learned the computer system and am able to work as a the unit seceretary. There are about 4 nurses to every 1 CNA in the hospital

To me the jobs don't compare they are very very different, you need to decide what is best for you. When I worked in LTC, there where CNA who really trully loved what they did, and probbley would be miserable in the hospital setting. I like the pace of the hospital job, I like the experience that I am getting.

ecmb · Jul 19, 2008

In the Nursing Home I noticed that all of the aides were on their own, and there wasn't much team work or support from the rest of the nursing staff.
:redpinkhe

During my NA training, the students were given four patients for a full day to care for. We were given no personal info about the patients. We had to find this out on our own by checking records. It was a little too much to throw on a bunch of newbies. We all felt inadequate. But we probably learned more than anyone could have taught us simply by talking it through. We saw how it was really done. As difficult as it was, I think it was the best part of our training. And I'll never regret doing it. Now if I can only find a job. :yawn:

Marie