Seeking Advice

Mudwoman · Dec 12, 2006

I can only speak of hospital work. CNA's on day shift had to do all the food trays and calculate more Intake and they gave baths. Night shift CNA's did diabetic finger sticks, blood draws, pre-surg prep and weights. Day shift had 10 patients and night shift had 15 patients each. The hospital I worked at paid for tuition to continue your nursing career after you were there 6 months.

blackberry4eva · Dec 12, 2006

are you already enrolled in nursing school because i think that is going to make a big difference. in my situation, i quit working once i got accepted into the nursing program. i have just completed my first semester of clinical where you learn a lot of the skills needed. i have just accepted a job as a nurse tech on the weekends in icu. i think this route works better for me so that i can build on the skills i have already learned.i will be working night shift, and i have not started yet so i don't know if shift makes a difference. i am not saying that it is impossible, but i hear that it is very difficult to work fulltime while in school but on the other hand, alot of students do well in clinical who work as cna's. also i am not sure how your school does it, but at my school those who major as lpn's have to exit out for a year and come back in to get their rn. i went the rn route.

dragonflyRN · Dec 12, 2006

I worked as a CNA at both long term care and a hospital while going to school. Both were great experiences but I learned more at the hospital. The hospitals in my area have phased out LPN's, so I went to school for the associates degree RN. Planning to go back for the bachelors when the little ones get a bit older. Good luck to you in your career path.

gitterbug · Dec 13, 2006

If possible take a job at a hospital. The learning experiences will be greater and many hospitals help staff to obtain higher levels of education. Good luck.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2006

I would have to say that you are going to get more varied experience in a hospital. Hospitals will also probably give you better benefits as well as better tuition reimbursement. In nursing homes, you will always get work. I worked as an aide in a nursing home while in RN school. They were very accommodating to my school schedule. However, as an LPN in a nursing home your only job choice will be as a charge nurse although you may be able to choose your shift. They may not be able to give you the kind of tuition reimbursement the hospitals will, or the pay. There is something to be said about a stable, routine job when you are attempting classes. The stress of being in school and constantly being exposed to learning situations on a job can be very stressful.

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Dec 13, 2006

Well, where do you want to ultimately work? If you see yourself in LTC for the duration, work there throughout.

If you don't yet know where you will end up, I can assure you that you will be exposed to more in the acute care setting.

Good luck!

bshaw96 · Dec 13, 2006

Hi there. Well, I have not worked in a hospital as a CNA, so cannot vouch for them. But I did work as a CNA in a nursing home for 2 years while getting my ADN. My 2 cents is this. Yes, you will get a more diverse patient population in a hospital. I think that will help you a lot when you get into the nursing part of it. But the other thing I would consider is the work load in nursing homes. When I was a CNA, I worked the 3-11 shift. It was nothing for me to have 25 patients every shift. I was so exhausted! Physically and emotionally. I know that was 12 years ago, but I still work in LTC with a staffing agency from time to time, and it's not a lot better. Nursing school is a lot of hard work. With that and a family, the less you have to exhaust yourself at work in my opinion the better. Please understand I'm not saying hospital CNA's don't work. They do! Very hard and I wouldn't want to work without them. But the patient/CNA ratios in LTC are unreal. With everything else on your plate, I'd go the hospital route. Plus, when you get ready to change into your nursing role, or even doing clinicals, you'll be much more comfortable having worked at the hospital. I have a friend who worked as a CNA at a hospital before getting her LPN, and it helped her tremendously adapt to her new role. Good luck!!!!

checkmate · Dec 15, 2006

Thanks to all who responded to my query,and may you have a Merry Christmas!

Janlynn · Dec 15, 2006

Hi--you seem to be taking the same path I took. Although right now I am still an LPN (will be going back next spring). I'm working in the ER now and do *almost* everything the RN does there. There's only a few IV push drugs I cannot do. As far as the CNA position we have CNA's/Tech's in our ER, it's something you may want to look into if you're looking for experience. Our Tech's do alot--alot of blood draws, foley's, dressings, trauma's, etc. Just a thought especially if you're looking for diversity. Good luck to you!

nurseangel47 · Dec 16, 2006

Hospital, hands down. More of a variety of experiences to witness and participate in...good luck