CNA VS. Caregiver – Pros & Cons

By admin
October 14, 2021
Home Care, home-health

The career of a CNA and a Caregiver may look similar at surface, but there are many significant differences if you dig deeper. Basically, CNAs are the Certified Nursing Assistants with complete educational qualification and certifications. The biggest benefit of being a CNA is that they enjoy better work opportunities and higher pay as compared to caregiver. But, on the other side, their jobs are more demanding and challenging too. In this blog, we will be discussing the difference between the CNAs and Caregiver in terms of Pros and Cons.

Advantages of Being a CNA

Being a Certified Nursing Assistant with all the qualifications and certification such as GED and High School Diploma along with the 75 to 100 hours training; you certainly get better job opportunities and hence this career choice provides sense of fulfillment. You may also take valid pride in being a certified welfare assistant to the community.
Becoming a CNA does not require you to spend enormous amount of money and time. Training period to become a CNA is only 4 to 6 weeks. And if you cannot afford fees for CNA training programs, you can easily find grants and scholarship options readily available.
In comparison to average growth rate of high. all other occupations, the growth prospects for CNAs are very high. In 2020, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded a rise of 18% in the demand of nursing aide. This increasing demand is mainly attributed to the aging and sickening population.
Demand of healthcare remained unaffected and the profession is considered to be recession-proof. Hence, it is a very safe career choice.
CNAs earn a handsome amount of money in terms of salary and perks including medical insurance, paid holidays, retirement benefits and overtime. On an average, annual salary of $26,000 to $33,207. This make an hourly income ranges between $9.30 to $12.21.
CNAs are not only restricted to work in hospitals and they can also get jobs in private clinics, day-care centers, retirement communities, long-term facilities, nursing homes, residential care facilities, hospice, retirement communities and rehabilitation centers etc.
CNAs have the liberty to decide their working hours too. Either they can work as a full-time or a part-time employee.

Disadvantages of Being a CNA

Jobs of CNAs are very demanding and challenging, as they are required to do diversified tasks ranging from a collecting urine and blood samples to cleaning room for the patient, shifting patient from the bed to wheelchair and vice versa etc. All these duties require physical strength and professional skills at the same time, which often result in complain of lower back ache, tiredness and exhaustion among CNAs.
Job position of CNAs or any nursing aide is considered as the ‘Entry-Level’ job within the healthcare industry. And hence, the pay is relatively lower as compared to other job options. For instance, the compensation package of CNAs is unappealing in comparison to Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses etc. But the salaries against the skills, qualification and amount of training CNAs possess is completely justified.
Being a CNA, one has to deal with different types of patients and it could also end up with physical and verbal abuse by the aggressive, annoyed or mentally challenged patients. The situation can be daunting and emotionally draining to anyone including nursing aides.
Sometimes CNAs may feel hopelessness for not being able to assist or help dying or terminally ill patients.
Career growth is limited in this profession. And if a CNA wants to move to higher job position, he/she must take up additional training and higher education.
CNAs have a very hectic work schedule, and these professional are bound to work long hours, repetitive shifts, weekends, emergencies and even on holidays.

Advantages of Being a Caregiver/Home Health Aide/Private Caregiver

Being a Private Caregiver or Home Health Aide, you only need to have GED or High Diploma and you can still take up the job without getting any formal training. However, there is still a short training of 10-hours is offered to those who want to advance in their job or career.
Becoming a CNA does not require you to spend enormous amount of money and time. Training period to become a CNA is only 4 to 6 weeks. And if you cannot afford fees for CNA training programs, you can easily find grants and scholarship options readily available.
Caregiver are not bound to perform any medical tasks and they are only hired to take care of patient who require limited assistance, mainly disabled and elderly clients in carrying out their routine and everyday tasks like housekeeping, driving, washing clothes, paying bills and cooking etc.
Just like CNAs the growth prospects for Caregivers are also very high. People are increasingly seeking nursing and health aides due to aging and sickening population.
As mentioned above, the demand of healthcare aide is persistent and it make a very steady career choice to be picked.
Caregiver/Home Health Aide/Private Caregiver also earns a decent amount of money in terms of salary and perks including medical insurance, paid holidays, retirement benefits and overtime. On an average, annual salary of $24,000. This make an hourly income ranges between $8.76 and $11.50.
Caregiver usually gets job to assist patients at home. They can either be hired privately or through homecare agencies. Caregiver may also get jobs in nursing homes and retirement communities.
Private Caregivers also have the liberty to decide their working hours just like CNAs; that either they want to work as a full-time or a part-time employee.

Disadvantages of Being a Caregiver

Sometimes CNAs may feel hopelessness for not being able to assist or help dying or terminally ill patients.
Jobs of caregivers are equally demanding and challenging and required to do varied jobs assisting patients in performing routine jobs.
Job position of caregivers or any nursing aide is considered a non-certified job within the healthcare industry. And hence, the pay is relatively lower as compared to other CNAs and other nursing job options. However, just like CNAs the salaries against the skills, qualification caregivers possess is completely justified.
A caregiver has to deal with different types of patients and it could also end up with physical and verbal abuse by the aggressive, annoyed or mentally challenged patients. And they may feel hopelessness for not being able to assist or help dying or terminally ill patients.
Career growth is limited in this profession. And if a caregiver wants to move to higher job position, he/she must take up additional training and higher education to become CNA or another profession.
Caregivers also have a very hectic work schedule, and these professional are bound to work long hours, repetitive shifts, weekends, emergencies and even on holidays.

    
 
 
        
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