
How Does Scheduling Work in the CNA field?
More Answers From Certified Nursing Assistants
Video Transcript
Host Question: How does scheduling typically work? And is it kinda competitive at different places for, you know, like, the best shifts, so to speak?
Guest Answer: Working in the hospital typically they’re twelve hour shifts.
So one rate you’ll work two days and the next week you work four to get your hours in. Most people wanna work seven AM to seven PM, because, like, I’ll get there in the morning, and then I can still go have dinner with my family. There’s a lot of people that don’t like the night shift, which is what I did, of seven PM to seven AM. So everyone always wants the morning shift, but it’s really hard to get that because that’s what everybody wants.
Working home health and hospice is pretty easy. You could be like, okay. On Mondays, I can work from twelve to five. Tuesday, I can work anytime, and then they’ll just schedule you in like a block schedule.
And then they just kinda fit patients in and give you, like, fifteen minutes between each patient for drive time. So you have a lot more flexibility for home health and hospice.
Guest Answer: Most people want day shift you know, no one worked once to work night shift.
When I was hired on at the hospital, I got very lucky.
A nurse I worked with, the nursing home gave my name to them, so I kinda got foot in the door. So most of the time you’re just starting out, you’ll probably have the potential to be kinda stuck on nights and then go to days. I know with nights, some places, there’s a shift differential. You get paid a little bit more. But day shifts usually, I know the hospital is twelve hours. So seven a seven b is, I think, pretty standard.

Laura Herman
CNA, Elder & Dementia Care
15 Years Experience

Courtney Fout
CNA, Home Health Care
9 Years Experience

Erika Smith
Certified Nurse Assistant
7 Years Experience