Nursing homes vs. Hospitals for CNAs?

SuperWes_CNA · Sep 16, 2010

For me, I really don't mind working either setting. Yes, the nursing home setting can be a little harder work wise and the hospital setting is a bit more easier on the back but, both settings give out the same feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day knowing that I was able to give someone my time, dedication and selflessness. :)

NiquiCNA · Sep 17, 2010

HOSPITAL!!!!. LTC is more apt to have worse CNAs.. and in the hospital, you may be required to care for more patients.. but they usually require less help. Its also really nice to see so many people get healthy and then leave the hospital, verses long slow deaths in nursing homes. In LTC I felt like I was beating my head against a wall trying to get people basic care by other lazy Cnas and management did not care. And that was at EVERY facility I worked at in 10 years.. not just one.

gymnut · Sep 17, 2010

It stinks because I hear so many horror stories about LTC care and that makes me not want to go into it but, getting a job at one of the local hospitals is almost impossible. I NEVER see them advertise for any CNA jobs.

However I'm wondering if the people who hate LTC worked for the more corporate ones (Manorcare, Genesis, Maxim) rather than the ones that were privately owned. I would assume that the corporate ones are just about getting the bucks and not about patient care at all and this would be crappy to work at.

yousoldtheworld · Sep 17, 2010

I have worked both and both have their advantages for me. In the end, I left the hospital because the hours you get are too dependent on the census, and at slow times, it's hard to make a living.

As for the comments about not wanting to work LTC because there are lots of crappy aides, there - well, if you give it a shot, you could be taking the place of someone who would be a crappy aide. The only way change is going to happen is if good people and good workers come in and stay, and not be scared away by other workers. :)

NiquiCNA · Sep 20, 2010

I would almost agree about the census dictating hospital hours.. except I actually worked in a LTC care facility that overcheduled CNAS.. and made them all come in to work (even if 10 were scheduled and only 5 were needed) and then had to argue about who would go home... after people started going home, they received letters that they were going to lose their helath benefits for not working enough hours. BRILLIANT!

Hospital jobs are not always titled CNAs.. usually our hospital posts them as patient assistants. sometimes techs..some hospitals use CNAS as unit secretaries too.

nikkole318 · Sep 22, 2010

It stinks because I hear so many horror stories about LTC care and that makes me not want to go into it but, getting a job at one of the local hospitals is almost impossible. I NEVER see them advertise for any CNA jobs.
However I'm wondering if the people who hate LTC worked for the more corporate ones (Manorcare, Genesis, Maxim) rather than the ones that were privately owned. I would assume that the corporate ones are just about getting the bucks and not about patient care at all and this would be crappy to work at.

Hello Gymnut!

I am a CNA at a LTC facility and love it! The company is great, treats its employees well, and most importantly, our residents are well taken care of. I think the most important thing when getting a job as a CNA in a LTC facility is making sure you work at a reputable one. LTCs with bad reputations are likely to pay poorly, hire people with criminal backgrounds, and overwork their employees. Go to the following website and search for the "best" in your state: http://health.usnews.com/senior-housing. I would highly recommend working at one of the "best" facilities. Believe me, there is a HUGE difference. You can also search rankings on the Medicare site: http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/ProximitySearch1.asp

NiquiCNA · Sep 27, 2010

HMm.. those Nursing home lists by Medicare are not in any way accurate. I have been to several in my state, and its amazing hoe DHEC can pass a facility without looking based on the environment. One year when I worked, we had 0 deficiencies, the next they were fined and had multiple deficiencies. And it was the "best in the areas." I have yet to see a LTC care facility NOT overwork their staff.. or at least overwork their "decent" staff.

nikkole318 · Sep 27, 2010

Hi NiquiCNA!

I didn't realize the DHEC would pass bad facilities and not pass good ones. That is a shame.

Maybe instead of looking at the medicare website when looking, check out the other site I posted, the usnews website. That one may be a little more reputable. Or try to find out who has the best reputation locally.

Good luck!

ctmed · Sep 27, 2010

I have found that you tend to get treated a bit better at hospitals, for the most part.

However, in my career with agency, I worked at one hospital that was horrible while most were great.

Also - one nursing home I really loved while most of them I would rather had flipped burgers than work at.

gymnut · Sep 28, 2010

I think it unfortunately comes down to 'You don't know until you work there".

My friend who still is a CNA worked at a nursing home and scooted out of there withing a few months do to the horrible work conditions. She was then at a hospital for 3 years but left because she would laid off a lot during low census and she had really crazy hours. She would work 11-11 or 11-7 or 7-3. Then she finally found a sweet job that was 12 hours but only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

So it seems that you have to job hop a bit in order to find your niche and be happy.

NiquiCNA · Sep 28, 2010

Sadly enough.. DHEC is after money now too.. the more fines, the more money they make. And DHEC surveys.. its amazing that people come out of the woodwork to help that would never help otherwise.. I know who has the best reputation locally,... and I wouldn't trust them to take care of a dog!! But I work in the best local hospital too.. so I got lucky, got out of LTC.