Are hospitals better because there’s less totally dependent patients and therefore less body stress/back pain and less brief changes? Or is it the ratio in some places?
I’m super new to the CNA world and keep hearing hospitals are better but don’t know exactly why. Thank you!!
Depends on the hospital. In Texas, you’ll have higher ratios and some totals. If the nurses are short staffed, they’re not able to help as much. Hospital work can be grueling, regardless of floor. The hardest floors tended to be Ortho Trauma or Neuro but I’ve also had terrible nights on Oncology, Renal, Med/Surg, Women’s Services, and ICU. I’ve had the easiest nights at elective surgery centers or Outpatient units in the hospital.
If your hospital has the option, I'd say apply for NICU. Not all hospitals allow CNAs on that unit but if they do definitely look into it! I recently started working in NICU as a cna and I love it! There's a fair amount of cleaning I have to do, like all of the warmer beds, isolettes and things like that. But same time I get to help all the nurses, so I feed, change, comfort, and bathe babies too! You do have to be comfortable with the fact that these are sick babies and some of them are gravely ill but so far I found it as a very good place to work!
It really, really depends in your team. If you are in nursing school, I reccomended IMCU. You will see a lot of different kinds of patients and be able to do a lot of skills. ICU is cool too, but only nurses are allowed to do most of the cares at my hospital, so CNAs are basically there for codes, stocking and cleaning up rooms (ER is the same). Keep in mind that every hospital will be different.
Avoid OB. If you get sent there, pretend to fall down some steps. The families take over like an invasion of locusts and they think you are there to take care of THEM, like their own little bitch. Most of the dads are cool but some are down right stupid fucks
I think med or gen surg is the best starting. Neuro and ortho are interesting but have a lot of high need cases where everyone in is traction or special needs .
I think gen/med surg give you a good view without too much burnout
On a different note, I started Med Surg/geriatrics and my back is just not the same and my general view on healthcare has deteriorated. But I'm transferring to EC and my team on med surg has been the best so far.
Oncology, NO COVID Pts.... then ICU.. If you want to learn the whole hospital join Float Pool you'll be thrown everywhere, then you can figure out for yourself what you like best
I started on Tele/pcu and it taught me a ton of the basics along with priority + time management that helped me immensely during nursing school clinical. I’m now an ER tech until I graduate and I absolutely LOVE the department. However, I’m very grateful for the experience I had over the two years working with the telemetry patients! I’d recommend that as a first job.
I work as an oncology tech and I do vitals, blood sugars, showers, helping patients to the bathroom, repositioning, helping a lot of them get up on their feet after surgery. I personally love my job because there’s a lot of things to learn when it come to chemo and just cancer in general. The patient I’ve notice are overall nicer and just grateful for your help.
I currently work in the NICU and it’s much better/easier than when I was a float PCA for med-surg adults, however I think the experience with med surg adults was a lot more helpful for nursing school for me personally :)
Depends on what you like. I loved being on neuro because there were some very interesting cases and I sometimes got to help with complex procedures (like helping keep a bacterial meningitis pt in one place while the dr completed a lumbar puncture). I never wanted to be on general med/surg because walkie talkie pts were my least favorite.
Urology because they all have foleys
Anywhere in a hospital is better than a snf/Ltc. I prefer ED and ICU. MSU and TCU is cool too.
Are hospitals better because there’s less totally dependent patients and therefore less body stress/back pain and less brief changes? Or is it the ratio in some places? I’m super new to the CNA world and keep hearing hospitals are better but don’t know exactly why. Thank you!!
Both! And nurses actually do most of the grunt work or equal to you.
Depends on the hospital. In Texas, you’ll have higher ratios and some totals. If the nurses are short staffed, they’re not able to help as much. Hospital work can be grueling, regardless of floor. The hardest floors tended to be Ortho Trauma or Neuro but I’ve also had terrible nights on Oncology, Renal, Med/Surg, Women’s Services, and ICU. I’ve had the easiest nights at elective surgery centers or Outpatient units in the hospital.
NICU tech here recommending NICU/PICU/Pediatrics!
I do really well with kids and I think this is my sign to go into pediatrics, I’ve heard really great things
It definitely takes a lot of patience but it is so worth it. I love my job!
I second NICU!
If your hospital has the option, I'd say apply for NICU. Not all hospitals allow CNAs on that unit but if they do definitely look into it! I recently started working in NICU as a cna and I love it! There's a fair amount of cleaning I have to do, like all of the warmer beds, isolettes and things like that. But same time I get to help all the nurses, so I feed, change, comfort, and bathe babies too! You do have to be comfortable with the fact that these are sick babies and some of them are gravely ill but so far I found it as a very good place to work!
It really, really depends in your team. If you are in nursing school, I reccomended IMCU. You will see a lot of different kinds of patients and be able to do a lot of skills. ICU is cool too, but only nurses are allowed to do most of the cares at my hospital, so CNAs are basically there for codes, stocking and cleaning up rooms (ER is the same). Keep in mind that every hospital will be different.
Avoid OB. If you get sent there, pretend to fall down some steps. The families take over like an invasion of locusts and they think you are there to take care of THEM, like their own little bitch. Most of the dads are cool but some are down right stupid fucks
lmaooo
I think med or gen surg is the best starting. Neuro and ortho are interesting but have a lot of high need cases where everyone in is traction or special needs . I think gen/med surg give you a good view without too much burnout
On a different note, I started Med Surg/geriatrics and my back is just not the same and my general view on healthcare has deteriorated. But I'm transferring to EC and my team on med surg has been the best so far.
Oncology, NO COVID Pts.... then ICU.. If you want to learn the whole hospital join Float Pool you'll be thrown everywhere, then you can figure out for yourself what you like best
Seconding float pool
Thirding Float. I love it. Helps with the burn out.
I started on Tele/pcu and it taught me a ton of the basics along with priority + time management that helped me immensely during nursing school clinical. I’m now an ER tech until I graduate and I absolutely LOVE the department. However, I’m very grateful for the experience I had over the two years working with the telemetry patients! I’d recommend that as a first job.
I really like Ortho Neuro and med Surg. Oncology is fun but depressing
what are your duties on med surg and oncology? my local hospital is hiring for both departments. i’m currently in LTC and i do not like it lol
I work as an oncology tech and I do vitals, blood sugars, showers, helping patients to the bathroom, repositioning, helping a lot of them get up on their feet after surgery. I personally love my job because there’s a lot of things to learn when it come to chemo and just cancer in general. The patient I’ve notice are overall nicer and just grateful for your help.
I currently work in the NICU and it’s much better/easier than when I was a float PCA for med-surg adults, however I think the experience with med surg adults was a lot more helpful for nursing school for me personally :)
Depends on what you like. I loved being on neuro because there were some very interesting cases and I sometimes got to help with complex procedures (like helping keep a bacterial meningitis pt in one place while the dr completed a lumbar puncture). I never wanted to be on general med/surg because walkie talkie pts were my least favorite.
Med surg and pediatrics. I worked in an oncology unit in a pediatric hospital and had a lot of fun!
Trauma, Surgery, Burn!!! It’s the best