Certified nursing assistants play a critical role in the healthcare industry. They clean rooms, distribute meals, deal with medical records, and assist their patients with activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
If you’re struggling to figure out which place of employment is best for you, here are some of the best places to work as a CNA.
Hospitals
Whether public or private, all hospitals depend heavily on CNAs. Competition is fierce, making it difficult to get your foot in the door, but once you secure your place, you’ll benefit from the higher salary and job security.
The greatest benefit of working in a hospital is the support system. You’re backed by highly trained individuals, including doctors, nurses, and other support staff.
Nursing Homes
CNAs are in high demand at nursing homes and other assisted living facilities. Their pay is on the lower end of the scale but finding and securing a job is easy. This makes nursing homes the perfect place to start your career.
The biggest benefit of working at these facilities are your patients. Most are relatively independent, which makes them easier to care for. The relationships you’ll form with your patients are unbeatable and should make working a fun, pleasant experience.
Struggling to choose between working at a nursing home or hospital? Learning the differences between being a CNA in a hospital and a nursing home can help solidify your decision.
Nursing Facilities
Nursing facilities are another fantastic place to start your career. Like nursing homes and other assisted living facilities, the demand at nursing facilities is high. You’ll have great job security and full-time employment, along with a mid-range salary.
Working at a nursing facility can be stressful due to the high patient-to-caregiver ratio, so if you go this route, be wary of burnout.
Home Health Aide Agencies
Home health aide agencies offer the same pay as nursing facilities but with an improved patient-to-caregiver ratio.
You’ll get a decent salary, gain invaluable skills, and have good job security, though it takes a while to have patients allotted to you, and there’s a huge risk of experiencing mental trauma. Most of your patients will die under your care, which can take a toll on you emotionally.
Government Facilities
Another one of the best places to work as a CNA is at a government-owned facility.
Landing a job at a governmental facility is difficult. The demand for these kinds of positions is low, and competition is intimidatingly high, but if you manage to secure a job, the pay is exceptional.
Working at government-owned facilities, like working at correctional facilities and military hospitals, has its benefits, but at the same time, it’s stressful. The patients you’re working with are likely to have deep-seated traumas, which can make it difficult to form relationships with them.
