Certified Nurse Assistant Vs. Certified Homemaker Home Health Aide

What is the difference between a CNA and a CHHA?

A CNA would refer to a certified nursing assistant while a CHHA is a certified home health aide. They are both similar, yet there are differences in both of these careers.






The Differences Between Them

CHHA's will find that they’ll need to do some basic around the house tasks like housekeeping, cooking for the patient, and bathing them. A CHHA’s duty is to make sure the person they’re taking care of remains safe and under their watchful care. CNA’s will find that they are involved in tasks such as vital sign checkups, stretching exercises for the patients, and change of dresses. CNA’s may also have to take up more technical tasks as well as having all of the responsibilities of the CHHA as well.

Similarities in Careers
Both of these jobs need you to directly interact with patients and provide them with basic care. If you choose either of these career paths, you’ll be spending a lot more time with patients than interacting with nurses and doctors. You’ll need a keen eye to note any subtle changes you may see in the conditions of your patients, both in health and emotion.

Education & Training
You won’t need a bachelor’s degree as both of these jobs are entry level positions. This is also why many people choose this job as a stepping stone to move ahead in their careers. Usually, you’ll find that healthcare professionals that are CNA's or CHHA's tend to become LPNs (licensed practical nurses) or RNs (registered nurses).

Training programs are available at various technical schools. The NJ Board of Nursing at the Division of Consumer Affairs licenses and regulates both of these professions. Similar training is offered for both, though, CHHA's will find that they will be trained to give prescribed medications to patients under their care.

The Work Environment
A CNA will usually work with many different patients in environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, care centers, and even the homes of some patients.

Moving around helps the patient to be free from bed sores and infections. CNA's will find that they cannot administer any medication to patients under their care while CHHA's can. In both cases, the CHHA or CNA will have to make the patient comfortable, turn them on the bed, and know how to turn them as well. Both jobs are essentially the same, though both have the ability further progress their careers if they so desire.