Home Health Aide vs. CNA: Which One Is Right For You?
Oct 02, 2024
The roles of a Home Health Aide and a CNA are similar in that they help patients by delivering quality care. The difference is where this care occurs. With home health nursing, the care takes place within the convenience of the patient's home.
For certified nursing aide roles, you're likely to see them in a variety of healthcare facilities, from rehabilitation centers to senior care establishments.
Which one best suits you? Depending on your personal ambitions, along with more practical outlooks such as location and pay, this guide will compare both professions.
Understanding the distinctions between these roles is crucial when deciding your career path, especially if you're researching how to become a home health aide or a certified nursing assistant.
What is an HHA?
A Home Health Aide is a healthcare professional that works with patients in their homes and alleviates some of the efforts that go into basic home and living activities. It's a fairly intimate role as it naturally involves the aide spending a long amount of time with the client, building companionship with them.
Home Health Aide responsibilities
A home health aide's responsibilities are to help lighten the load of the patient living in their home. Typical living and home life activities include:
- Transportation
- Grocery shopping
- Housekeeping
- Preparing meals
- Laundry
General support around the home is something that helps these patients greatly and as such, HHAs are appreciated for their services.
What is a CNA?
A Certified Nursing Assistant or CNA is a healthcare professional who provides basic patient care under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses. CNAs play a crucial role in the healthcare team, providing essential support and ensuring the comfort and well-being of patients.
Where can a CNA work? CNAs are able to work in clients' homes but they also work in a number of other healthcare facilities.
When comparing home health aides vs cna, they do offer similar duties but they have much more training under their belt. They can also administer medications and provider other medical care to their clients.
As CNAs are working in different environments, they are likely to see multiple patients a day. In comparison to home health aides vs cna, HHAs will likely only spend their time with one patient per day.
CNA responsibilities
The responsibilities of a certified nursing assistant are similar to HHAs, but CNAs can also conduct a variety of medical tasks too. These include:
- Mobility assistance
- Monitoring vital signs
- Reporting to doctors or nurses
- Hygiene
- At-home household care
While HHAs offer the basic care required, a CNA is a step up in duties for those who may need more advanced medical care.
What are their work environments and job opportunities?
Home Health Aide (HHA)
Work environment: The work setting for an HHA is primarily the client's home. Since clients typically do not require 24/7 monitoring or assisted living facilities, HHAs provide care within the comfort of the patient's own residence.
Job opportunities: While there are limited advancement options for HHAs due to the lack of clinical training, they can pursue further education and training programs to gain medical qualifications. This can open doors to other healthcare roles and certifications.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Work environment: CNAs have a more varied work environment that could involve significant movement between different settings. They may work in clients' homes, but also in retirement homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, hospice care centers, and other healthcare facilities.
Job opportunities: CNAs have several career advancement opportunities. With additional education and experience, they can progress to roles such as licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), or move into administrative positions within healthcare. Preparing for career advancement may involve understanding interview questions for nursing assistants to better equip themselves for higher roles.
What are the main differences between an HHA and a CNA?
These careers have noticeable differences, including variations between home health aides vs. CNAs' salaries. It's important to consider your experience and qualifications when determining which role may be more suitable for you.
Home Health Aide
A Home Health Aide (HHA) is a healthcare professional who provides essential care to patients in their residences. This role requires strong communication, organization, adaptability, time management, and physical stamina to assist individuals with daily activities and healthcare needs effectively.
To become a Home Health Aide, individuals must complete a state-approved training program that includes at least 75 hours of combined classroom instruction and supervised practical training. Certification is typically required, ensuring that HHAs are equipped with the necessary skills to provide quality care.
Home Health Aides are responsible for assisting patients with healthcare services in their homes, helping with domestic and household tasks, providing transportation, running errands like grocery shopping, and reminding clients to take their medications. Their primary work environment is in the client’s home, where they offer personalized support tailored to each individual’s needs.
The average salary for a Home Health Aide is $22,000 per year, making it an accessible entry-level position in the healthcare field for those passionate about patient care and support.
Certified Nursing Assistant
A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides essential patient care in hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, and private homes. This role requires strong communication, multitasking, medical knowledge, stamina, and physical strength.
To become a CNA, candidates must complete 120+ hours of state-approved training, obtain a high school diploma or GED, and pass a state competency exam.
Responsibilities include assisting with personal care, transportation, answering patient calls, monitoring vital signs, and reporting observations. CNAs earn an average salary of $27,000 to $35,000 and play a vital role in patient comfort and healthcare support.
What are some recommended Home Health Aide and Certified Nursing Assistant programs?
There are plenty of recommended HHA and CNA programs worth exploring. At the FHCA, you'll find a wealth of Home Health Aide classes to kickstart your career. Learn basic principles and strengthen your knowledge further with our Home Health Aide program.
For those looking to branch off into the CNA role, you'll find plenty of programs to suit your needs, like this Nursing Assistant program. The more qualifications you can get under your belt, the better.
The time to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) can vary depending on the individual and the program they choose. Typically, CNA training programs last anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks. Our Nursing Assistant Program typically takes 6 weeks for classes held from Monday through Thursday, with class hours from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
