Nurse Tech vs. PCT

[N-Nads, BSN, RN]

Hello everyone :-)

I'm a Michigan Nursing Student and recenlty I've been applying to several positions online.

I've been in contact with a few nurse recruiters and applied for a "PCT position" which requires me to float among their 5 different locations to get the experience necessary. The rate of pay start at 16/hrly, which is wonderful. I would not be held down to one specific unit but actually be able to see it all.

But now I am in a tough spot. Today, I just received another interview/position for a Pediatric unit as a "Nurse Tech" which is where I believe I belong after I take my boards and become an RN (knock on wood). The rate of pay is 13.40/hrly. but I would belong to one unit and get the experience I need as well. I'm torn between the two but I'm leaning more towards this position. I've been reading several forums and I don't quite understand the difference between a PCT vs. Nurse Tech.

Is the Nurse Tech able to work more under the nurse and provide more hands on experience?

I'm not looking so much at the rate of pay although the PCT position would be wonderful to see by the end of the week. I really just want to get the ultimate experience.

Help please.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Congratulations on having both options to consider!

Job titles are purely the work of each facility... they can call them whatever they want to. So the only way to find out what duties are associated with each job is to ask for the job description.

FYI, although state boards may differ somewhat - both of these jobs are essentially CNA jobs. When you are a student, you are working under your instructor's license... but when you're getting paid it's another story. Legally, you would not be able to do any function that cannot be delegated by an RN to an unlicensed person. Working is very different from being a student.

In these tough times, it may be better to try for the broader exposure & networking associated with the "PCT" position. You have no guarantee that a job would be open for you in the single unit that you would be working in as the "nurse tech".