What job duties are involved in being a CNA in a hospital rather than a nursing home?

I am currently working in a nursing home as a CNA. I have the opportunity of switching to work in the hospital as a CNA. I am wondering what differences there will be, will it be any more difficult and what are the job duties in the hospital day to day?|||Personally, I would switch so fast!





As for the differences, that depends on where you work, what departments and what hours. I worked as a CNA while going to nursing school. I worked in a lot of different departments in the hospital. That is a large part of what I loved.





In the hospital you do a lot more taking of vital signs- most departments do them q 4 hours. In the nursery you spend most of your time feeding babies. You will spend a lot more time running errands, doing paperwork, etc. But, in many, if not most, hospital settings you will do a lot less of one thing, personal care (i.e., baths, bed changes, bedpans, etc.) A lot of it will just depend on which department you are working in. Also, in a lot of hospitals you will need to be flexible. They will need to be able to %26quot;float%26quot; you to other departments as needed, so you get some variety.





At my hospital, they get 50-75 times as many applicants as they have openings for CNAs. And about the turnover is quite low. I work with one lady who has been there for over 25 years!





The single largest reason CNAs leave - they become nurses!|||The pay and benefits are usually better in the hospital. The nurses are generally more appreciative of your help. The workload is lighter (depending on the unit and the census) and its rewarding to see patients discharged when their condition improves.


Plus, if you are at all interested in the medical field as a career and getting more education, there is tuition reimbursement or scholarships available.





You will do a lot of the same things that you do now, however, the patients are chronically ill and waiting to die. Yes, you will change the incontinent patient, give bedbaths, empty foleys, take vital signs, fill waters, serve meals and change beds. The atmosphere is different. I am sure you will like it better.