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Will I enjoy being a CNA in a nursing home or in a hospital better?

I work in a nursing home and was wondering if it is better in a hospital. #Nurse

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Suzanne’s Answer

Hello Chloye,

This is Sue and I am a retired oncology nurse. I have worked in both settings and the role of CNA can be a bit different in both due to the pace and differences in types of illnesses seen in the acute care setting.

To help you understand any differences in functions, I went to the job opportunities offered for CNA's in your state through the Unity Point website. Here is what I found:

UnityPoint Health - Fort Dodge

CNA (Patient Care Technician) - Acute Care

FTE: .90 (Full-time, 72 hours per pay period)
Shift: Monday - Friday 7pm-7am; occasional weekends

Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Completes care for adult and geriatric patients as assigned by the registered nurse.
Assists the registered nurse with the admission assessment by obtaining temperature, respiration, height, weight, pulse and blood pressure. Orients patient to room and unit.
Attends to patient's daily hygiene, including oral care, hair care, baths, peri care, application of glasses, dentures and hearing aids.
Assists patients with meals when indicated.
Assists with passing meals, nourishments, water and assists patients as need indicates.
Records intake and output accurately.
Acknowledges and meets patients' needs regarding movement and elimination.
Assists patients with activities in a safe manner as directed by the nurse.
Functions in day-to-day and emergency situations in accordance with nursing standards and as assigned by the nurse.
Communicates with other members of the healthcare team in order to ensure continuity of care and coordination of services.
Participates in unit operations demonstrating professional behaviors to include supporting goals of nursing unit and maintaining awareness of resource utilization.
Participates in non-direct patient care activities including educational activities, performance improvement activities, and other related activities as directed.
Completes environmental tasks as assigned.
Performs clerical duties as assigned.
Maintains orderly storage of supplies and assists in accounting for chargeable items.
Documents temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, weights and diet consumption in Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
Documents ADL’s in computer.
Performs Glucose Point of Care.
Demonstrates positive customer relation skills. (Adheres to the Character Counts Pillars Standards of Behavior)
Must complete and pass BCLS.
Adheres to departmental and hospital policies and procedures.
Telemetry Unit:
Performs EKG’s
Applies telemetry equipment to patients using proper lead placement and discontinues equipment use.

Do you see any differences from your current position? If you are interested in working in a faster pace with patients having different diagnosis, then you may well enjoy the acute care setting.

I hope this helps to answer your question!

Best,
Sue
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Hailey’s Answer

Hello Chloye! While the duties of both of these types of facilities may be relatively the same, the types of patients that you care for may be slightly different. Working in a nursing home is caring for more long term residents, while working in a hospital is more acutely ill patients. I worked as a CNA in a hospital on a floor and in an emergency department while I was in nursing school and learned a lot from both. You will gain great experience and knowledge doing both. The nurses that I worked with taught me so much!

I hope this helps.

Hailey
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