whats the difference?.............

love_being_an_aide · Apr 5, 2008

Hello! It really depends on where you work. Some places, like assisted living centers, call there aides Patient Care Associates. In these settings, PCA's can give oral meds, or medication reminders, set up the dining hall for meals, laundry....A CNA generally works in a nursing home setting, hospital, assisted living, etc. I'm not 100% sure if a CNA can give meds. in a nursing home setting, like assisted living. I've been told no. I think that is why some places hire you under the title of PCA. In the home-care setting, a PCA, at least here in NYS, is a step-below a home-health aide. I was a PCA before becoming a HHA. My jobs included keeping the patients house clean, light cooking, grocery shopping, medication reminders.... As a home-health aide I am able to do vital signs, oral meds, paperwork, and dry dressing changes. Again, I really think it depends on the facility. My friend told me that at an assisted living center, they won't hire you under the title CNA even if you are. You have to take a medication course to learn how to give oral meds, and you are then a Patient Care Associate. I think it's something lega. Hope this helps. For pay, a PCA in the home setting is paid a little less then a HHA. I think a CNA is paid the most, depending on the agency or facility.

adnama · Apr 6, 2008

Hey! I'm currently in nursing school but was a CNA for a year and a half before starting school. I was a Patient Care Tech when I was hired and then after taking courses, such as Phlebotomy, ECG, CPR, Telemetry, etc., my title changed to a Certified Nurses Assistant. You are NOT allowed to give meds as a CNA or a PCT. Your pay does increase about 3 dollars per hour after becoming a CNA. It took me about 6 weeks to have my title changed. I worked at MUSC in Charleston, SC on a Cardiac step-down unit so the requirements might be a little different for you, depending on where you are going to work.

love_being_an_aide · Apr 7, 2008

Hey! I am a home-health aide, so I am working directly in my patients homes. We have to be "certified" by NYS to do certain things, like give the oral meds and stuff like that. They call it "med certified." My friends who are CNA's said they can't give meds at the nursing homes. I didn't know your pay went up that much! I've been thinking of getting certified as a CNA, and working part-time while doing home-health care. Good luck in nursing school!

WorkofHeart8 · Apr 7, 2008

It depends on where you work. I've had 2 jobs and one place they were called PCAs and the other, CNAs. Same type of work.