LTC vs HH vs Hospitals for LPN Student (CNA)

[ducking_goose]

I posted this question in the CNA section, but it may be more likely that LPNs who were once CNAs are best equipped to answer.

I'm not quite a CNA but my evaluations thus far have been very encouraging. As long as I don't screw up too bad tomorrow and Friday, I should get the certificate from the training program (that is over 48 hours ... we'll see).

It will be about two weeks before I can take the state test. I will be entering an LPN program as soon as I can find an opening. I want to get an idea as to which types of employment are best. It seems like the three main categories are home health, hospitals, and long term care facilities.

My clinical instructor told me that LTCs (she said nursing homes - the same right?) are great because they teach you to do a lot of things and provide a great deal of experience. She's in her early 30's, and is an LPN who is in RN school now, so I think her information is pretty current, and she definitely knows her stuff (as opposed to just knowing more than the students).

At this point, I really don't care too much about what I get paid. I just want to work in an environment where I will be able to see more and be trained to do more. In a nutshell the environment that will help me the most in LPN and eventually RN programs. I may have the opportunity to work at the facility where clinicals are conducted. Um .... yeah - no (at least not for more than a few months so that something can go on my resume).

Is LTC the best option for this? Will I get more training in LTC settings vs. hospitals? Which will I see more in? Is home health definitely not what I am looking for?

Also I am 1) new to this forum; and 2) very lazy. So if this topic has been discussed previously, I would love to see the thread.

Thanks much!

Preston

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think that if you are able to obtain a position in a hospital, you would get to see more and also get experience in the pace that hospitals set themselves on. Most hospitals in my area hire CNAs that are also trained in phlebotomy as Patient Care Associate/Technicians. Not only are they experienced in the basic CNA portion of training, they also do dressings, draw blood, assist in exams and do clerical work. They can be compared to Medical Assistants. In addition, some hospitals may sponsor your education to nursing school provided that you have had a satisfactory evaluation and worked with them for at least a year.

This doesn't mean that working in nursing homes is something to sneeze at. You'll gain a wealth of experience there as well. I worked as a CNA in a nursing home about 15 years ago. I don't know if it changed, but I found that most of the time, it was strict bedside care, while the hospital utilized their CNAs a bit more. CNAs are worth their weight in gold, and I wish that administration acknowledged the good ones more.