PCT Training HELP

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

Hey guys!

I'm fairly new to AZ, I've been here a little over a year and FINALLY transferred my CNA license over, now I'm looking into PCT training. There are a few schools that offer it near me (I'm in Mesa, closer to Tempe...pretty much right next to the Banner Hospital on Dobson and Southern) and I was wondering if anyone has any opinions on them? I read the google reviews on a few of them and they have mostly good reviews, but I'm always kinda skeptical if they were paid ones or not, but anyways here are the ones i'm considering:

Pima Medical Institute: Great reviews all around, but for PCT training it's $11,000 and an 8 month program, but the offer evening classes.

East Valley Medical College: Also great reviews, but mostly for their CNA program. $2,500 I think and it's 11 weeks. They only offer day classes though, which might not work for me.

Providence Training Institute: Has about 3 good reviews on Google, but I saw a couple on Yelp that said it was a bad school...that kinda made me worry...but it's one of the cheapest at $1,950 and they offer weekend classes which would be good for me. This one is also the shortest, I believe it's about 8 weeks long.

I also saw that Brookline College has the program but they haven't gotten back to me with prices or classes length etc. but I saw they have a lot of mixed reviews.

If anyone has any input on these or if there is another way to become a PCT please let me know! ALSO Class lengths...anyone know why it seems like all these are different? Does that matter? I've heard that once you ave your CNA you don't need much else to get your PCT, buuuut why is Pima 8 months long while the others are like 2-3 months. Any and all input/info/advice etc will be most helpful!!!

Did you get hired on as a CNA and they trained you to be a PCT?

Man, that sucks about them making it hard to get tuition reimbursement. You'd think that if there is a shortage of nurses they would want to help people already working there to pay fr school so they could have the nurses they need. My friend just graduated in Missouri with her RN and the hospital she works at helped her as much as they could with her schooling. Maybe because it's a smaller area, idk.

But anyways, any info you give will help...I appreciate it!

You will quickly learn that there is no nursing shortage here in AZ...

You will quickly learn that there is no nursing shortage here in AZ...

Really??? Does that mean it's hard to get hired as a nurse out here?

I just graduated from there program in July. I started school in August again for nursing so I really haven't had the chance to work with my license. I paid 50 dollars more I believe to be licensed instead of just certified. The teacher that I had was so good. She teaches exactly the way you need to, also for the state board tests you actually get to do it in the school which makes it super easy to pass it since you are familiar with everything.

Specializes in Hemodialysis/Chronic/Travel.

Hi, I'm a Hemodialysis Technician with 5 years experience, otherwise known as a PCT. I want to caution you that the for-profit schools may be fleecing people with these $15,000 training programs to become a PCT. You can get hired and trained as a PCT through companies like Fresenius Kidney Care. Paid training, no tuition, benefits included. No experience required, but a plus because positions can be competitive. Training lasts 3 months, with clinicals and a final exam that certifies you to work in the state of Arizona. After about 9 months of patient care you can take a national certifying test like the CCHT or BONENT and work just about anywhere in the country! There are dialysis facilities in every state and nearly every city. I was tempted to work as an educator in some of these for profit schools, but why would I want to mislead students who could get their education for free with some hard work? Check out Working at FRESENIUS No one is paying me for this btw- I feel like its the right thing to do!

Have you looked in to Gateway Community College. Its part of the Maricopa Community System and they offer a very affordable PCT program. As a bonus, whatever courses you take could transfer to other college programs as electives or possible medical field coursework

Hi, I am not sure what you ended up doing but I just found this thread. I currently am in the PCT program in Tucson. I dont plan on working at banner so a CNA doesnt matter to me because Im going into nursing school within the next year, this was just something to do in the mean time but if you want to work in a hospital setting with a PCT cert. Carondelet would be the way to go. I already got my externship approved here for the labor and delivery department. the cost for the program doesnt bother me know 15,000 is alot but I dont really care in the long run. And PCTs are actually above CNAs and do way more in the field. You can go to work at a nursing home for 5 weeks and get your CNA through them.

Hi, I am not sure what you ended up doing but I just found this thread. I currently am in the PCT program in Tucson. I dont plan on working at banner so a CNA doesnt matter to me because Im going into nursing school within the next year, this was just something to do in the mean time but if you want to work in a hospital setting with a PCT cert. Carondelet would be the way to go. I already got my externship approved here for the labor and delivery department. the cost for the program doesnt bother me know 15,000 is alot but I dont really care in the long run. And PCTs are actually above CNAs and do way more in the field. You can go to work at a nursing home for 5 weeks and get your CNA through them.

I would advise you to read the AZ BON advisory opinion on PCTs and their scope of practice. Also, what PCTs can do is very hospital specific, so to generalize and say PCTs can do more is not always accurate.

In Tucson at Carondelet hospitals pcts a are allowed to do alot more then usual. We can draw blood, insert Foley caths, ekgs, check vitals, do transfers, check glucose. It varies from hospital to hospital. But I don't really care because I'm going to nursing school right after I finish this program but I have already been doing blood draws and inserting caths and doing ekgs. This was just something to pass the time before going to nursing school middle of next year.

In Tucson at Carondelet hospitals pcts a are allowed to do alot more then usual. We can draw blood, insert Foley caths, ekgs, check vitals, do transfers, check glucose. It varies from hospital to hospital. But I don't really care because I'm going to nursing school right after I finish this program but I have already been doing blood draws and inserting caths and doing ekgs. This was just something to pass the time before going to nursing school middle of next year.

Congrats, I did all that (save for inserting foleys) as a PCA. While it's great that you had PCT experience, remember that the things PCTs do you will be responsible for as an RN as well. As an ICU RN, I frequently do all of those things nearly every shift. Good luck in nursing school, as it is a whole different animal.

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