Just got CNA, going for LPN soon, which CNA job for best experience?

mindofmidwifery, ADN · May 26, 2015

Well there are home health aides that are just caregivers, not CNAs, so it doesn't sound difficult. However, I have no experience in anything except LTC so what do I know? ðŸ’ðŸ½ good luck with everything though!

sobersurfer · May 26, 2015

Thank you midwifery! How long have you been working in LTC? What is the average patient workload in LTC? Or rather, what SHOULD it be?

mindofmidwifery, ADN · May 26, 2015

Thank you midwifery! How long have you been working in LTC? What is the average patient workload in LTC? Or rather, what SHOULD it be?

I've been a CNA, and at the same facility, for 6 months now. On day and evening shifts I usually care for 6-10 residents by myself. There are days where I've had to take care of 16 by myself, and days where it's only been 5 residents. It depends on staffing and which hallway I'm assigned to. On night shift I'm assigned to two hallways, containing ~15 residents. I've found it best working on days and evenings where I'm caring for around 6-8 residents. I hate rushing and like to visit individually with my residents so I've found that to be the perfect balance. I'm honestly not sure what the CNA:resident ratio is supposed to be :s

mvm2 · May 27, 2015

I've worked in home care as an aide/CNA for three years now and personally love it. I am close to your age and even though sometimes there can be hard transfers I believe home care is easier on the body then LTC for the most part and for sure less busy and running around.

You do not have to have your CNA to work in home care but they do like it when you do have a CNA because they know you learned many of the skills that will help you in providing good care for their clients.

Also there are clients with special needs like quad cases that for sure requires skills and extra training. Do if you have your CNA your more of a candidate to get more cases that need more care and will help you get good skills talking care of a more acute case.

With home care there is also taking care of the house and household chores to do. If you are the type that does not want to do house work don't get into home care. One of my biggest pet peeves is a CNA that gets into home care and complains about the house work. Its a part of the job... I always say if you just want to focus on patient care alone LTC rehab. Hospitals. Retirement homes are going to be a better fit

The only thing you have to do for your certificate is a renewal process every two years. Each state had their own required hours you have to work to be able to apply. usually it is a very small number like 40 hours in the two years. Simply have your employer or even a past employer fill out paperwork that you worked your hours and mail them with you fees. Pretty simple but just make sure you get it in on time otherwise they won't except it and your certificate will be expired and the only thing you can do to get it back is take the class all over again.

Ddestiny, BSN, RN · May 27, 2015

In using the CNA as a stepping stone, you may find yourself learning more in a hospital or LTC than you do in Home Health. If you can work in a facility and work under a nurse that understands that you want to keep moving up the ladder then many are willing to answer questions and show you procedures. You are also exposed to more and different types of healthcare concerns. I've done home health at the CNA level and it's great to get the one on one rapport with a client but you just aren't exposed to as many different things and you don't have the same ability to collaborate with staff that have more knowledge than you. I rarely interacted with my higher ups unless I had a concern or when they were telling me about a possible new client.

There are so many different settings in which one can be a nurse but I think that nurses that start as CNAs in settings where they are first the one being delegated to, then later transition to being the one delegating the tasks, have a greater opportunity to learn about leadership as well. This is a concept that is pushed over and over at the different levels of school (I've been a CNA, a Med Aide, and an LPN. I currently have my ADN and am working on my BSN) but the actual experience is invaluable.

Good luck on your future endeavors.

Purple_roses · May 27, 2015

First of all, I'm genuinely happy that your background check cleared. You're paving out a rewarding path for yourself. Second of all, I would highly suggest home care as a job, simply because it's flexible for when you will be in school. It may not be easy on your back though. Just this week, my client lost her balance and I had to guide her to the floor. I pulled something in my back and it hurts to even breath. So make sure you are very clear with an employer about limitations.

Good luck to you!

funtimes · May 27, 2015

If you have serious back problems I would steer clear of Nursing homes for sure. Nothing is worse than a crippling back injury that leaves you unable to work, so I would check with a physician to make sure you aren't going to injure yourself further. This doesn't mean that you cant be an RN or LPN, only that CNA is probably not the best idea unless you know you aren't going to be put in a position where you have to do a lot of heavy lifting(which is probably 80% of all CNA jobs.

You could also try medical assistant, which is more training than CNA but not nearly as physically demanding.

mirandaaa · May 27, 2015

To be honest, you may be stuck doing LTC or Home Health for a while until you have some experience under your belt. Most hospitals are hesitant to hire CNAs with no prior experience.

LTC is extremely hard. It's very, very physically demanding and oftentimes LTC facilities are understaffed. I won't completely bash LTC because it's not all bad. It's a very mentally rewarding place to work, knowing that your presence and help makes a huge difference to the residents who need it the most.

But I suggest trying out home health to start, especially if you have back issues. Generally home health clients are somewhat able to still live at home and require much less hard labor (not always the case, but generally). Home health is usually less about the medical aspect and more as a homemaker so you'd provide cooking and cleaning services as well as activities, showers, toileting, wound care, and medication administering.

truthteller · May 27, 2015

I believe rehab/long term care is hard work but you'll learn a lot. It's the nitty gritty of nursing. These facilities are always looking for CNAs for all shifts, both full time and per diem. They also seem to be accommodating to CNA's who are students. Give it a shot. You can always resign and find something else. Just remember, the patients will rapidly grow to rely on you and will be happy to see a familiar face giving them care.

amoLucia · May 28, 2015

There's also a 'med tech' title, but I don't know if Florida permits them. I believe med techs are CNAs who've taken some extra courses re med administration. And that's all they're supposed to do - pass meds. Usually they work in nursing homes & ALFs.

Some nurses love them, other do not.

WCSU1987 · May 31, 2015

Psych is one of the best on the back I think for CNAs wanting to avoid back issue's. Probably have to restrain patient's and bit of lifting.

I worked on a floor of 28 to 30. Wasn't my job, but if couldn't get a CNA I volunteered for the slack. Basically lifting patient's, giving them showers, cleaning them up after the bathroom, helping them eat, help them ambulate, used different lifting equipments, document food supplement intake, do roundings, vitals, and so forth. Draw blood and ekgs at my new hospital patients are mostly younger than previous population so not much ADLS work.

Did have to set up IVs, assist in medical cides, security codes.

Lifting is not bad mostly lifts work or have help.

I am strong could lift a 200 pound person, but after awhile that be exhausting risk injury to self or the patient.