PCT while in NS at hospital...transition to RN

FriendlyGhostRN · Feb 20, 2008

Hey Jess! I saw that you are from the St. Louis, Missouri area as well. Where did you get the job at? I am looking in to a position at St. John's as a PCT...I'm interested to see what other posters say about this topic...so thanks for asking :) How's NS going so far??

Jess_Missouri_RN · Feb 20, 2008

Hey Jess! I saw that you are from the St. Louis, Missouri area as well. Where did you get the job at? I am looking in to a position at St. John's as a PCT...I'm interested to see what other posters say about this topic...so thanks for asking :) How's NS going so far??

Hey!

My unit clerk job is at Nazareth and the PCT job I would like is at St. Lukes :)

I'm doing good so far, still new and have tons of time in front of me, lol.

SarasotaRN2b · Feb 21, 2008

I'm currently a nursing student in my first semester, and working as a cardiac monitor tech/unit clerk in a hospital. It is my hope to cross train this summer as a PCA. From what I am hearing from the nurses I work with, becoming a PCA and actually working on the floor is a definite DO! It will definitely help because you will be a lot more familiar with the skills you will have to do and for those you can't do as a PCA, you'll still get a lot of exposure because the nurses (at least the ones I work with) will pull you into rooms so that you can see actual procedures and more often than just during clinicals. One of the nurses graduated last May did not become a PCA (she did what I did before getting her RN), and she seems to get a lot of grief for not being a PCA.

I'm just looking forward to doing it so I can get away from being behind the desk.

Kris

Jess_Missouri_RN · Feb 21, 2008

I'm currently a nursing student in my first semester, and working as a cardiac monitor tech/unit clerk in a hospital. It is my hope to cross train this summer as a PCA. From what I am hearing from the nurses I work with, becoming a PCA and actually working on the floor is a definite DO! It will definitely help because you will be a lot more familiar with the skills you will have to do and for those you can't do as a PCA, you'll still get a lot of exposure because the nurses (at least the ones I work with) will pull you into rooms so that you can see actual procedures and more often than just during clinicals. One of the nurses graduated last May did not become a PCA (she did what I did before getting her RN), and she seems to get a lot of grief for not being a PCA.
I'm just looking forward to doing it so I can get away from being behind the desk.
Kris

How do you like being a unit clerk? Today was my second day :rolleyes: Do you think it helps or will help with your RN paperwork in the end? This is what I am hoping for and why I'd like at least a year as a unit clerk before pursuing PCT. Plus it may help when I apply for PCT. All the paperwork is overwhelming though. I have 4 more orientation days and then I'm on my own!

My only concern is every single bit of experience I have is in LTC and zero in hospital, sigh. I know the two are night and day but I feel very confident in LTC setting and moving on to hospital scares me to death, which is why I was thinking of getting some PCT experience on the floor I'd like to RN on. But I dont want to stay in LTC and dont want to nurse in LTC (nothing against them but the whole reason for me going to school is for a hospital setting, even though I'm so scared of it).

SarasotaRN2b · Feb 21, 2008

How do you like being a unit clerk? Today was my second day Do you think it helps or will help with your RN paperwork in the end? This is what I am hoping for and why I'd like at least a year as a unit clerk before pursuing PCT. Plus it may help when I apply for PCT. All the paperwork is overwhelming though. I have 4 more orientation days and then I'm on my own!
My only concern is every single bit of experience I have is in LTC and zero in hospital, sigh. I know the two are night and day but I feel very confident in LTC setting and moving on to hospital scares me to death, which is why I was thinking of getting some PCT experience on the floor I'd like to RN on. But I dont want to stay in LTC and dont want to nurse in LTC (nothing against them but the whole reason for me going to school is for a hospital setting, even though I'm so scared of it).

I definitely got a lot out of it. Between learning to read rhythms on the monitors and working with the nurses, it has been a good experience. I just look forward to spreading my wings and working more with the patients. Because of the monitors, I pretty tied to my desk unless someone relieves me. When I worked on a different floor, if a patient asked for a blanket or such, I could actually feel like I am doing something...and I swear, the little things sometimes mean the most to patients.

I would definitely suggest that you try to get into the hospital...I definitely prefer it to the LTCs (although I have great respect for nurses working there), possibly because there is seems to be more of a vitality in a hospital and there is a sense of change with new experiences during every shift.

Kris

Jess_Missouri_RN · Feb 21, 2008

Thank you for your input, Kris. Glad knowing I'm not alone in wanting the PCT experience.

How long have you been working in a hospital?

SarasotaRN2b · Feb 21, 2008

Thank you for your input, Kris. Glad knowing I'm not alone in wanting the PCT experience.
How long have you been working in a hospital?

I've been working in my current department for over a year now. I'm pretty happy with the hospital although I do give thought of moving back up to NY one of these days (I live in FL now).

Kris

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2008

ok, so let me give you the 411 from a PCT/CNA. The position I was hired for was for a CNA who had complete the first semester of NS...the first 6 months were HARD. Learning P and P, how to transfer patients, help them move, learn how to deal with problem patients, know what I could do and what I had to get a nurse for.....tough. Some days are still very busy and take an entire 12 hour shift to get caught up on my work.

Is it rewarding? YES. Do I sometimes wish I did something else? YES. Do I feel the expierence will help me get a job? Yep. If I work in the hospital, I want my floor cause I know the nurses, the techs, the kind of patients we usually get. I want the best possible atmosphere for keeping my license during the first year.

Also, being a PCT is the best way to get to know other floors when you get pulled, and learning other things. You always have to be open to learning....

But, don't expect it to always be awesome.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Feb 21, 2008

I think ANY hospital job is helpful for a number of reasons. First, you get the exposure to the personnel, hospital politics, good/bad places to work, etc.

I am a PCT at a local hospital and it's been very helpful for getting comfortable and getting to know RNs and other departments and their personnel. This can come in very handy as one transitions to an RN.

On the other hand, my daughter is applying to NS and I have encouraged her to get a job as a unit secretary. Why? Because I think she needs to ease in to this whole health care scene. It'll be way different from anything she's done before and this will get her foot in the door while she's making some money. Should she chose, she can move on to a PCT position later on; in the meantime, she gets terminology, skills exposure, and knowledge from being in the hospital.

PCT/aid work is a tough job and one that I don't think everyone can do. However, I think for a nursing student, it's terrific experience from the standpoint that you realize that these are folks who work VERY hard for their money and they are not your slaves. The job on the floors is about teamwork, not spending a lot of time defining what's "your work / my work". There are some RNs who act like the aids/techs are their personal flunkies and in my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth. They should be treated as the RNs best friend and treated like nothing less than an equal. THAT'S where the experience of working as a secretary or PCT is invaluable.

Jess_Missouri_RN · Feb 21, 2008

So, for someone who has been an aide for LTC and a unit secretary/clerk would the transition to PCT and hospital be easier? I am very comfortable in LTC but I think that is because it's mainly the same everyday. Same patients - you get to know them, their routine, their medication, their family, so (in my case) me working as an aide in LTC is very comfortable. Most of those people have been and will be on your floor for years.

What scares me the most, I think, is the changing in hospitals, different patients, different routines, different everything. Constant change. I think it would be very interesting and rewarding and challenging but getting to know patients on a daily/weekly basis is what concerns me I guess.

I think I'm over analyzing everything, but I just want to make sure I know what I am getting into before getting into it. I think having the LTC experience will help but I dont count on it completely, I certainly dont think it would be a breeze for me, I would need to get use to all the changes that occur.

Thanks to those who posted. The info is wonderful.

intuition · Feb 22, 2008

I have actually done both Unit Clerk and PCT role in the ER that I work at for the last 9 years. I definitely think that it gives you a lot of experience while going to school. I learned a lot about medical terms/diagnosis, lab tests, radiology tests, and drugs from being a Unit Clerk. In the PCT role, I have learned the hands on aspect of nursing. I much prefer the PCT role, only because it is closer to the RN role. It does give you an in, if you work in the department where you might want to be a nurse. Since you know the management already and the staff that works the floor. I would highly recommend becoming a PCT, it will put you ahead of the game.