Pca & Cna???

If you get a CNA certification, it will not stop you from doing any of your PCA duties.

After you are a CNA, any certification or training you earn adds up on top of it and would likely be considered an added bonus to future potential employers. If you get a new job, you might not be allowed to do the enemas there because that place considers them out of the scope of CNAs, but becoming certified can only help you at your current job.

I would definitely recommend you try to get certified - in my area, jobs in most fields are becoming few and far between, and while your hospital might not require a CNA for a PCT job, a very large number of hospitals and other facilities DO require it.

I would think that obtaining a CNA would not prevent you from performing PCA duties at a hospital. In my view the CNA is a backward (downward) step from PCA(PCT). At least it is in my area.

If I were in your shoes I wouldn't bother with the CNA. If you're already hired at the hospital which provides PCA(PCT) training this work experience will likely qualify you for a position at another hospital if you were to loose your current PCA(PCT) hospital job.

But if you want to be overly cautious you could check if CNA is required at other hospitals. In my area it seems that the CNA is only required for working in nursing homes. Been there, done that, never again.

If you're looking for additional employable skills check for courses in phlebotomy (blood draw). These courses are about the same or less length of time as CNA classes.

From what I've heard, most CNA's working in nursing homes would love to be able to get a hospital job. So I'd say you got lucky getting the hospital job!

I've been working as a PCA at a hospital for a few years. My CNA card expired many years ago after I decided to leave nursing home work and pursue a non health care career. I had no problem getting my current job without the CNA certification. I was hired based on my experience from many years ago and my current desire to pursue a nursing career. I guess I was also lucky to get the hospital job!

Within the last couple of months I've applied online for PCA and critical care tech positions at two other hospitals. I received calls backs and interview offers for all the applications I made.

So again, if I were you, I'd concentrate on studies and the current PCA job. I'd go back to waitressing or ANYTHING else before I'd consider CNA nursing home work. Sure, I learned some useful and common sense things from the CNA course. BUT the work was tiring, hard labor, and back breaking. Hats off to all you guys n gals that do that work and still have the energy for studies and classes!

First congrats on furthering your education
Second a CNA is not a stepdown from a PCT, they are the same thing, I worked a CNA in a nursing home, and with that same certificate worked as a PCT in a hospital, and the duties are the same.

Were I work now as a RN, a person who has there CNA can work the floor as PCT, but if you do not have your CNA, you either work in the EKG monitor room or as a unit clerk. I also know some area hospital where can you can work the floor without being certified but the pay is less.

If you have a secure job than I would say just continue to work there, but if you plan on working somewhere else while you are in school, I would suggest to get your CNA certificate, because again some places will not let you work as a PCT without being certified.

Hope this helps out