PLEASE help!!! I want to make the right decision..

[Holdsteady11]

Hi!

I am going to be starting Nursing school at in January of 2013, and I got my CNA license this summer, and began applying for jobs. My goal is to become a Patient Care Tech while in Nursing school.

After applying to over 300 jobs, I have received two jobs offers, and I don't know which one will be more desired by hospital recruiters. There are different things I would like about both..

The first one is a CNA in an Allergist office. I would be trained to give injections, TB tests, and allergy tests. I will see a lot of patients in a day, and the job seems similar to what a Medical Assistant would be doing. I would work with adults and children. I would be evaluating patients on my own, but of course this is not in a facility were I would have experience in bedside nursing.

The second one is a CNA in a nursing home and rehab center. In this role I would be doing CNA duties rotating on rehab, long term, and memory support. Basic CNA stuff.

Being a CNA in a Nursing home is hard work, and I'm willing to do it. Do hospitals recognize that in considering potential PCT's? What is the perception when working in a doctor's office? Would that be considered "easy"? If they can train me to give shots, then would a hospital be okay doing the same or is it considered an asset to have these skills? Who would you hire if both candidates have the same attitudes, educational experience, and the only different was the office experience vs. the nursing home experience? I really want to make the best decision here, and a paramedic has told me me definitely the office CNA role, while an ED RN has told me definitely the nursing home position. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated - this will be my first CNA position!

Thank you in advance!!!

[k_girl153]

If I were in your shoes I would go with the snf position. You'll get exposure to different types of medical problems and patients will generally be more acute.

I actually just took a much lower paying job in order to gain experience taking care of higher acuity patients. Of course, I understand that monetary compensation plays a big part of some people's decisions. I'm fortunate to not have to worry about salary so was able to choose a job based on other factors.

Either way I think any experience is good experience. Pick the position that fits you! Good luck!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

The state of IL recently disciplined a physician that was allowing CNAs to give allergy shots.

[shannag1881]

The state of IL recently disciplined a physician that was allowing CNAs to give allergy shots.

I'm not surprised to hear this. In my CNA program, it was drilled into us that CNAs in the State of IL CANNOT give injections of any types - they are medications and considered out of our scope of practice. We were told not to even hand a patient any type of medication - even on units where patients are given meds to take PRN (like Tylenol or ibuprofen on a post partum unit).

I personally would not take a job that could jeopardize my nursing career down the road so I'd go with the nursing home.

[Holdsteady11]

Thank you for the feedback. I accepted the position at the nursing home and start on Tuesday. I had forgotten that this was a legal issue.. When hospitals train CNA's to be PCT's they can do phlebotomy and start IV's, but then they cannot give medications as well?

[kellybbb]

Do you have any details for the practice in IL that was disciplined for having a CNA do allergy shots? I am wondering if there is a specific scope of practice that has in writing that it is or is not allowed. I appreciate any details or any references to official websites that explain if this is acceptable. Thanks much.