Nurse Extern vs PCT

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 16, 2016

I coordinate an extern program -- and my advice to you would be to keep your tech position unless the managers at your hospital tell you otherwise. The name of the game for you at this point in your career is "position yourself to get a good job after graduation" -- and either position should do that. If you are a good tech and get good recommendations from your current supervisor, that will count as much as an extern program. And the extra income will mean you can work fewer hours, leaving you more time to focus on your studies.

Frankly, when one of our techs applies to my extern program, I get a little irritated. Our hospital feels it has 2 programs for students -- a summer's only extern program -- and a year-round tech position. Both give students a chance to gain experience and give us a chance to evaluate them before making an RN hiring decision. We'd rather see 2 different students in those 2 positions, not 1 student taking 2 opportunities. For us, it's a "waste" of a good extern slot/preceptor because we feel the tech is already getting what is needed. You might want to look into that angle as well. Talk to the coordinator of the extern program and your manager and see what they think. At my hospital, I would beg you not to apply for the externship so that I wouldn't be put in the awkward position of turning you down as I don't like wasting a slot on someone we already know is OK to hire.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Mar 16, 2016

Are nursing jobs plentiful for new graduates in your area? If they are, I would be VERY hesitant to take a $5.50 pay cut and start a new job while still in school. Is the pay negotiable, at all?

selinacifelli · Mar 16, 2016

@llg Thank you so much, you're advice is greatly appreciated! I try very hard to be a good tech and get complimented all the time, I was just afraid that I would put myself in a hole if I didn't take the position. Also if I did take the extern and picked up shifts as a PCT I would be working overtime but not get paid overtime because I'm not working overtime in either department so I would be getting the short end of the stick either way.

And Pangea I believe so and I know a lot of people at the hospital I work at now so I don't think I will have a problem getting a job after graduation. When I was at the interview HR told me "you'll be getting paid the same that you do as a tech 12$" and I told her I made 17.50$ and she was surprised, and I explained to her that I have bills and things that need to be paid considering I already work two jobs while at school and she said I understand we all have obligations, but I would have assumed they would have offered me the same pay since I am already an employee.

tnicnat · Mar 16, 2016

An extern is a tech....your not getting any different exposure, your not doing a capstone where you work directly with a nurse, your not an intern where your being precepted for a floor, your not a grad nurse. Extern is basically there to work with your school schedule, your not required to work the hours as a tech. At the hospital I work for it's basically a filler position, when there aren't enough techs for the floor. Externs aren't there for nurse clinical experiences. I was going to take an extern position and my floor director told me not to, I'll go from tech to grad nurse to residency starting my last semester in school.

selinacifelli · Mar 17, 2016

Thank you for your input, it has really made an impact on the decision of keeping my tech job.

johsonmichelle · Mar 17, 2016

Definitely keep your tech job, I currently work as a nurse extern but actually function as a tech. The only benefit for me being a nurse extern is that I'm prn which allows me work flexibility. There are some nurse externs positions that actually allow you to provide nursing care under the guidance of an actual nurse. Based on the pay rate , the nurse extern position at your job is probably functioning a tech. I would advise you to keep your job, I think most employers look to see if you have direct care experience.