Newbie here! question about nursing assistant terms

Altra, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

Hello NurseHopeful ... welcome.

The terms you listed are, for the most part, interchangeable. CNA/STNA are certification terms ... PCA/nurse aid/nursing assistant are more frequently used by individual facilities as job titles. In other words, as a state-certified STNA, you may be employed in a job description that lists you as a nurse aid/nursing assistant/STNA/PCA/whatever. Actual responsibilities will vary from job to job.

Nursing assistants are employed by hospitals as well as nursing homes. Yes, you will clean up poo, but that is patient contact. You'll be learning assessment, interpersonal, technical & time management skills along the way. The experience will be very valuable as long as the work hours don't conflict with your school schedule. Good luck to you. :)

supermo · Mar 14, 2006

Sorry y'all I'm new & I dont know where to post this. I'm sorry if this sounds stupid. I'm a nursing student and about to recieve my nurse aid certification this summer. I'm not yet in the offical nursing program (waiting list booo!) and I don't know hardly anything yet! I was thinking about working as a aid to gain experience in a hospital and maybe get an idea of where I want to work. BUT I am terribly confused as to the difference in terms used here are the common ones I here:
NA
CNA
STNA
PCA
PCNA (i may have made that one up)
nurse aid
nursing assistant
could someone please explain the differences?
I will be technically a state tested nurses aid is that the only term I should search for when looking for a job?
and also what is it like working as an aid? Will i have to work in a nursing home only? Is it really all cleaning up poo all day and no actual patient contact or fun stuff? Do you think this will be beneficial to me as I go through school? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance!

I am a Care Giver add that one to your list!!

I am a CNA and I do work in LTC. There are a lot of opportunities in this area for CNAs in LTC and at the hospitals.

Poo? Yep, I see it pretty regularly. I kinda felt like you when I walked into this but it has changed. The wiping of hineys and scrubbing of backs are just things I happen to do while I'm taking care of my residents. I also talk to them and learn about their lives. I try to be their care giver and bring joy into their life. It is really hard to impress what it's like to you because I didn't get it when I was in your shoes.

Even if you add up all the yucky things, it comes no where near the positive things.

Lucky for me our CNA clicicals were in LTC and I got to experience it firsthand before I jumped into a job somewhere.

Good luck and I wish you the best of luck!!

supermo

purplemania, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2006

Let's talk about poo - in many ICU areas highly skilled RN's are the only ones allowed to do direct patient care because the patient is so fragile. They take care of everything, including poo. So never believe this task is beneath you. It involves skin assessment as well as other things. If you can keep your patient clean and comfortable you have accomplished a lot (speaking as former patient). Good luck in your nursing career.

NurseHopefulInOH · Mar 15, 2006

Oh, cleaning up poo is not beneath me by any means. If it was i wouldn't have chosen nursing for a profession lol. I was just wondering if that's all I would be doing, basically i was wondering what the job entails. I've volunteered at a center for handicapped children for 4 years now and while it's yucky sometimes it's definetly worth it to spend time with them. So if I am a STNA it would be OK to apply for a CNA job or any of these terms? I just didn't want to look uneducated when applying. Thanks for all the advice!