how much do you make?

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Hi

I was wondering how much everyone was making as a cna. in the state of illinois(bloomington/normal area) i make $10.50 an hour(2nd & 3rd shift /$10 for 1st shift) and can increase yearly. how much are you making in your area along with the starting pay?

$25 a patient. (Home health care)

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I was making 11.70 at the last facility I worked at, a dementia unit in a retirement community.

I recently moved, though, and I'm now working at a home for severely developmentally disabled children, and I'm back to making less than $9. (I prefer the work, though...it's almost worth the pay cut. Also, we don't have call lights :D :D)

Hi, can you tell me specifically what duties you do there? I just applied today for a children's home in my area in cincinnati, OH and I hope I get called for an interview because I really would love to work with these children. Thanks

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Hi, can you tell me specifically what duties you do there? I just applied today for a children's home in my area in cincinnati, OH and I hope I get called for an interview because I really would love to work with these children. Thanks

The kids in these facilities are generally all total care. Many (most) are unable to speak or to articulate their needs, and they generally can not use call lights. Because of this, it's really important to check on all of your residents regularly!

Another difference between a children's home and a regular nursing home is that the kids usually have a lot more activities they go out for. Most of our kids go to school, and the ones who have graduated or who are older go to a workshop during the week. At workshop, they do one on one activities, etc. with the workshop aides. It's great for them.

I work 2nd shift. Here's a typical walkthrough of my day.

2:00 - 5:00: Arrive. Receive report. Go to each of my rooms and see who's home, who's at workshop or school, etc. I turn down my beds and get out my nightclothes. I then start my showers. Because of their disabilities, the majority of these kids are showered on a shower bed or a pedestal bath instead of a shower chair. (A few that are ambulatory do use the shower chair, though.) After my showers, I make sure everyone is ready for dinner.

At 5, we feed dinner. Most of the kids require being fed. You will likely have a lot of tube feeds. Of our 80 residents, we have about 40 tube feeds. The other 40-ish have to be fed (with the exception of three who are able to feed themselves).

After dinner, we finish any showers we didn't get done before and start putting them to bed. Being younger, and many having trachs or feed tubes, you want to make sure you wash them up before bed. They do tend to sweat a lot more than the elderly. If you have a lot of trachs (we have a whole wing of them), keep in mind that kids with respiratory problems tend to run hot, and usually do well with just a sheet or light blanket at night. Try to keep a fan in the room if possible.

One thing we watch closely for is seizures - a lot of these kids have them. You'll learn the signs as you get to know them and how to prevent them when possible. Being overheated is one of the big things that cause them. With the elderly, they tend to be cold all the time. It's kind of the opposite in peds.

In short, we do the same duties as any other CNA, but we just have to do them a little differently because of the needs and abilities of the kids. It's incredibly rewarding, though. It takes a lot of heart, but I think you'd love it.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a message. I love working with these kids and I'd be happy to talk to you about it!

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Hi, thanks so much for your insight:) I have seen a video of the home and while I was there today, I did not actually see any of the residents but did hear them when a door behind me was opened. They house 48 children and young adults, and also like your facility they will be attending school during the day or workshop. I had a young lady that I cared for in my clinicals that was tube fed and she had mental and physical disabillties and I believe she was 18, but she could understand perfectly what I was saying and she would nod her head yes or no or laugh with me or sometimes at me, as I was joking with her, she was such a sweetheart and I really believe I would love working with these kids. I hope I get a call back on my application. There were 3 other people there as well filling out applications as well, but I know they have other positions open as well. And I wondered how they would shower or bathe, thanks for that explanation. I will send you a message if I get an interview and hopefully get hired on thanks again for describing your day for me, it sounds like a position I would also find very rewarding:)

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Reading this thread, and a few similar ones in the recent past, a question has become a burning question, and I have to ask.

A couple of posters in this thread reported hourly pay rates of $7.55 (on the job almost 2 years) and $7.60.

How can nursing homes/LTC pay less than the federal minimum wage? Is there some exception for them? It's not like restaurants, where tips are assumed to get the wait staff up to minimum wage.

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Reading this thread, and a few similar ones in the recent past, a question has become a burning question, and I have to ask.

A couple of posters in this thread reported hourly pay rates of $7.55 (on the job almost 2 years) and $7.60.

How can nursing homes/LTC pay less than the federal minimum wage? Is there some exception for them? It's not like restaurants, where tips are assumed to get the wait staff up to minimum wage.

federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour. some states but not all have a higher minimum wage.

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$12.81 an hour day shift (12 hour shifts...hospital... my first CNA job). $14.81 an hour on weekend. I'm in Colorado

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$12.50 / hr

Central Mass

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Assisted Living

$14.75 on third shift

3 years experience

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I make 8.50 an hour but I am not a CNA, I'm just an NA. CNAs where I work make 10.40 an hour

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Specializes in Certified Nursing Assistant.

Noc Shift (10:30pm-7am) $13.00 hour...no previous experience...been there 3 months...California:)

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Specializes in public health.

Sart45, how did you get your first CNA job in a hospital? Did you know someone? I am in CO also, but it's just so hard to land a job at the hospital without any experience. I am just curious. :) The pay looks great BTW.

$12.81 an hour day shift (12 hour shifts...hospital... my first CNA job). $14.81 an hour on weekend. I'm in Colorado
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