New GNA-need some input

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Hello all,

I just starting working at a LTC and am trying to decide if it's the right fit for me. I got my LNA license in New Hampshire in August and moved to Maryland shortly after. I was offered a job about a week ago at a LTC care facility as a Geriatric Nursing Assistant. I start nursing school to get my BSN in Sep 2011 which I am excited for. I thought it would be a good idea to get some clinical type experience before I start nursing school. I really just did not get along well on my first day of training and it was overwhelming to me and not in a way that I can see myself getting over. I was offered another position at an assisted living facility and am thinking of resigning from the place I just started to go work at the assisted living. Any input? I only will be working about 7 months and then I head to nursing school so I think it will take me that long to get a routine anyways, so what is the point? Any input on LTC facilities vs. Assisted living would be much appreciated. I'm also nervous that if I can't hack it as a CNA how will I be as a Nurse? TIA.

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How many shifts have you done? It took me at LEAST 6 months to get comfortable.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

I'm a GNA in md too & honestly there isn't too much difference when it comes to alf vs. Ltc. Well ltc have hoyer lifts & the pay is a lot better. But the population in both of these facilities are pretty much the same. You could look @ private duty or hospice though..the pay is about the same as what you would get paid in an alf, but the work load is easier.

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Hi KatieP86,

I have only worked two shifts as an orient. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself, but I'm already dreading going to work and I feel somewhat down about it. The ALF that I was going to work at pays about 5 dollars less than the position I am in now, I had originally taken the position at the LTC facility because the pay was so good. I'm just so overwhelmed and am not sure what to do. I would be a resident assistant at the ALF, and the hours are 11pm-7am which is also going to screw up my sleep schedule. So I am going back and forth in my head about what to do, but I need to figure things out pretty quickly.

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Specializes in LTC.

Stay at the LTC. It's temporary. And it pays more. And I'm sure that given the similarities between LTCs and ALFs, AND the fact that the ALF would mess up your sleep schedule, that you would be just as unhappy, if not more, at the ALF.

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