Home Health Aide, Nursing Assistant, PCA, and UPA – What’s with all the names?

Many people would want to become CNAs, but they get confused about the different titles that it comes with.  It is important that they take their time to learn what the titles entail so that they can choose the one that best fit with their goals.  Some of the names they will come across include home health aides, PCA or personal care assistant, nursing assistants and UPAs or unlicensed assistant personnel. These titles differ in different ways, because the individuals will need to carry out different duties and receive varied salaries. Regardless of these differences, all of them need to undergo proper CNA training so that they can legally work as one.

As a home health aide, the nurses will be responsible for taking care of patients in need of in home care. Their duties will include carry out light housekeeping duties in some cases, and also assisting the patients with their health needs, light therapy as well as mobility. The nurses are required to carry out these duties in the patient’s home.

With the title of a nursing assistant, the CNAs will take care of patients of all ages.  These assistants will work in a number of facilities ranging from hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and mental facilities, among others. Some of the duties they will be responsible for include taking vital signs, giving patients a bath and making their beds.

The duties of a PCA include helping the patients with bathing, dressing and taking their medicine.  They will be able to work in different facilities and even assist the patients in their residences. While those people holding the UPA title, it means that they do not have a license but have received on-job training. Most of them can work in hospitals and nursing homes, although they have not received the CNA training.  However, the title will not be available in the future because it is being phased out.

When it comes to education and training, all of the nurses require undergoing complete CNA training from an accredited technical center or school. They will need to complete a number of training hours and then complete the state certification exam. Apart from the initial training, they also need additional training every year so that they can stay at the top of their career.

The average salaries of CNAs that have completed their training is about $10 dollars per hour, but it will vary from one title to another. Home health aides will earn higher as they will be working with individual or families. The nurses will need to compare these options so that they know the pros and cons of each before they make a choice.  The best thing is that the demand for the CNAs is still on the rise, and will not decline. Those who are interested in providing the basic care to patients and becoming involved with the patients should consider becoming a CNA since it is one of the fulfilling careers in the medical field.