What are the duties of a CNA in a hospital setting?

[Buckeyefan47]

Hello everyone! I just started a 6 week CNA class this past Monday at a LTC facility. I have already filled out the application for the LTC facility since they gave them to us on the second day of class, lol.

The problem is, I am still unsure if a LTC facility is where I want to be. I am an athletic trainer, and have worked in PT clinics and at high schools for 10 years now, and I am nervous about switching to such a completely different patient population in geriatrics.

I was in the hospital with my son on Thurs/Fri while he had his tonsils out, and got to talking to one of his recovery nurses. She mentioned that a few floors in that hospital hired CNAs, and one of those floors was orthopedics- right up my alley, so to speak! I didn't think to ask any more questions at the time, but now I am curious- what sort of differences would I expect from working on an ortho floor in a hospital?? I would assume it is very different from ltc, but in what ways?

If anyone has any experience with this, I would love to hear about- the good, the bad, or the ugly, lol! Thanks a bunch!!

[CandAmommy]

You should do a search for this topic, it has been addressed so many times with a bunch of different threads that you are sure to find the info you are looking for!

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

If you are interested in a specific hospital call them and ask for an informational interview.

[NamasteNurse, BSN, RN]

Usually hospitals call their CNAs, "PCT's" they do about the same as in a nursing home; serve water, help with bathing, peri care, bed changes, empty foleys, transportation, bed pans, ambulate to bathroom, vitals. The difference to me, IMHO is that in a hospital the work is a bit easier because the people are somewhat sometimes, younger and need less care. Especially orthopedics, you'll do a lot of bed baths, bed pans etc, but unlike will you run into dementia.

[JessieC777]

I work on a surgical/orthopedic floor from 7pm-7am. My duties include vital signs, emptying of various drains, checking blood sugars, putting pts who have total knee replacements in their CPM machines, helping pts walk, use the restroom ect... providing lots of encouragement. We also put some paper work in charts.

Like New said people are still able to do a lot for themselves. It's amazing how some people think that just because they had surgery, they no longer are able to hold a straw up to their mouth We actually do have our fair share of pts with dementia....they fall and break a hip, or shoulder ect...

On occasion I also have to "float" to other floors....and I can say I really like the dynamics on my floor. It's amazing how quickly the ortho pts are in and out of the hospital. If you have any more questions I'd be happy to answer them

[PhoenixTech, LPN]

usually hospitals call their cnas, "pct's" they do about the same as in a nursing home; serve water, help with bathing, peri care, bed changes, empty foleys, transportation, bed pans, ambulate to bathroom, vitals. the difference to me, imho is that in a hospital the work is a bit easier because the people are somewhat sometimes, younger and need less care. especially orthopedics, you'll do a lot of bed baths, bed pans etc, but unlike will you run into dementia.

not at all new. of course it depends on what hospital and what floor, also what area but my first day on the unit, in the first 10mins, i was involved w/ restraining a dementia patient who spat and spread her feces all over the bed, her person and the floor. it still boggles my mind how she got feces on the floor in restraints.

i work on a telemetry/cardiac step down floor and have cared for @ least 3 dementia pts but that's not really the issue. as a tech in a hospital, we are also trained to do ekg's, phlebotomy, accuchecks, wound care, and we do alot of running to the pharmacy, blood bank, and lab. the variety of pts that come through my unit is all inclusive, although mostly obese. after having open heart surgeries, these pts might as well be newborns. i practice alot of body mechanics on an hourly basis and would by no means catagorize my work as easier. especially after having to inhale a stage 3 decubitus ulcer for 1hr while assiting in packing the wound, and then cleaning this same pt who weighs triple my weight.

please explain to me what you think about hospital work, is easier than long term care work. we have the same pts you have and quite honestly have come across multiple pts from ltc who are hospitalized with septicemia because of improper care of their decubitus ulcers. providing am care for these pts is heartbreaking and i constantly find myself saying i'm sorry at every cry, grunt, shout or wince from these poor souls. they look broken and it's all i can do not to burst into tears myself.

having said that, since i've never worked in ltc, i can't say for sure who's work is easier but i suspect that it's mostly just different. i often find myself begining my shift w/ my am care going well, i'm knocking out my completes and then here comes stat abg's, stat pharmacy pick ups, and stat ekg's and before i know it, it's 1 hr before clock out time and i still have 6 pts left. nothing easy about that.