Pct?

[KaraBear1121]

I was looking at local hospital jobs without any experience.. I'm a 'pre-nursing' student (hoping to start in the fall) and I heard alot of people that are techs in hospitals during nursing school.. So I started looking into the jobs available at hospitals around where I live and saw one advertised for a PCT and there was no experience needed (or that's what was listed).. I guess the question I have is (well first--forgive me for sounding dumb) but a PCT is a patient care tech correct? Second, what type of things do they do?

Thanks so much!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Patient Care Techs, do basic care such as baths, toileting, intake and output, assist with feeding, intake and outputs and walking. Depending on where you are the jobs vary and could also include discontinuing IV's, inserting and discontinuing urinary catheters, EKG's, simple dressing changes.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I also had to do phlebotomy, monitor tech, unit clerk duties, finger sticks, bleeding times, PT/OT, ambulation of surgical pts, and other assorted duties. It completely prepared me for nursing school. I totally recommend it to all pre-nursing students. My first tech job trained me on the job, so you don't always need experience. There were very few new skills that I learned in nursing school. And those that I hadn't done I had seen a thousand times, so I was familiar with the proper technique. Good Luck!

[JaxiaKiley]

I going to try to do this, too. But, what is a good way to get my foot in the door? My resume doesn't look so hot for a job like this.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

In all the hospitals where I've worked that had Patient Care Techs, the only requirement was that they be nursing students and have their fundamentals of nursing class completed even if they had no other job experience. Sometimes they took on CNAs with some years of experience. The hospitals taught them the rest of what they wanted them to know for the job. Each hospital defines the scope of what their PCTs can do.

[RN and Mommy]

I am working a CNA (same thing) and my job description includes feeding, toileting, turning, transferring, hygiene, waitressing , taking vitals signs, I & O collections, putting CPM's on (I work in Ortho), making sure the patients are performing their positioning exercises (total knee replacements), incentive spirometry (not teaching, just encouraging), and assisting the RN any other way I can! I really enjoy the job and the interaction with the patients. You really are able to learn a lot as a CNA because even though you can't do the RN tasks, you are able to observe them. For example, before I even attempted a catheter insertion I had assisted (held a flashligh and legs) with them many many times. It was helpful and I was able to see the process over and over (even though some of what the RN's on the floor did was not "correct by the book") I was able to get a feel for it before I even attempted it! I wish you the best of luck with your search for a job!!!!