2nd Semester Student Looking for PCT

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2014

I don't know what up with Fl hospital but they respond the same way to everyone unless you know someone. I would advice you to challenge the CNA, just so you can be officially "licensed". I was sending out applications with no positive response. I challenged the CNA and passed. I recently had an interview with another hospital and will be starting as a PCT soon. I do know someone in the hospital I got the job at but she did not say they spoke to her or anything. Its not with FL hospital - I think they have there own people they prefer to hire or you gotta know someone there. Get permission for references from at least 2 nursing instructors and possibly your current boss - provided they know your plans to get into nursing. Why not just stay with the medical assistant thing? PCT is not necessarily a foot in the door to a job as a nurse. Look out for "Nurse Tech" positions that they post from time to time. Volunteer with them if you got the time so you could try to network and know people in there.

Stacilator · Apr 14, 2014

Thanks for the tip about references. I have one of my clinical instructors, and two recent employers that are great references. My current employment definitely knows my plans about nursing-and I actually intend to keep this job as well. It's per diem, and I can do my homework, so it's great to have. I'm not assuming a PCT job would be a foot in the door as a nurse, but I would like to get more experience with bedside, partial and total care that PCTs in hospitals and nursing homes usually provide. I feel like it's a lot more "hard" work then a MA.

Though I am keeping my feelers out for the medical assistant positions available, typically medical assistants are hired to work in a doctors office, and that's usually a 9-5 type schedule, which doesn't work with my nursing school schedule at all.

Congratulations though, on finding your job!

cdsavannah59, CNA · Apr 15, 2014

It took me 4 months to get my PCT job once I started applying after getting my PCT certificate. . I finally got noticed after I redid my resume. I was told Human Resource runs resumes through a computerized system that searches for keywords pertaining to posted job requirements. Hospitals get lots of resumes and its time consuming if staff had to search through them themselves. I'm not sure if all hospitals use this method of computerized keywords but I'm betting they probably do. The more matched the better chances your résumé gets pulled for further review. I have worked medical for several years so I had included keywords in my first résumé, but after I read somewhere that resumes are pulled for further review by keywords, I figured I needed to reword or add more keywords, I'm not sure if this is what helped me finally get noticed, but I can say I got my first two hospital interviews (two different units) after I redid my résumé. Some examples of keywords I used were, hoyer lift, bathing/ bed baths, ambulation , transfers feeding, etc. Good luck and if you decide to redo your résumé, let us know if you finally get that interview.

funtimes · Apr 15, 2014

You might be hurt by the fact your a Nursing student, because HR departments and unit managers want people who will work a lot of hours and aren't going to ask for time off, and the reality is that students don't want to work a lot of hours and want a lot of time off, and typically don't want to work during the middle of the week when they have class. I was told by a HR person who submitted resumes for a large hospital to mention that I have college classes under my belt and a good GPA, but leave it off my resume that I'm currently attending school. What they wanted more than anything was acute care experience and availability.

Other hospitals may differ so take that for what its worth.

cdsavannah59, CNA · Apr 15, 2014

I had no PCT experience when I started my PCT job, although I have worked different aspects of healthcare for 15 years, such as CNA home Health, Opthalmic Technician, special needs instructional aide, medical front office. After my first week of being a PCT I could actually understand why they don't hire as often with no experience. I had trained for these duties in class and clinicals but once I started my PCT job and training I was on my own in this new occupation where you have to be a fast paced multi tasker, able to handle all kinds of duties being given by several different nurses within minutes of each other . and you need to be able to do the job safely and quickly. Some units just don't have the time to train new inexperienced help, but hopefully you get lucky like I did and get the PCT job without PCT experience other then clinicals's because there are units willing to train. On another note most hospitals require PCTs to do 12 hour shifts, your whole day is spent walking around doing your duties with usually no desk to sit at like the nurses have, so at shifts end you are exhausted.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2014

Funtimes did have a good point about tweaking resumes. I had mine proof read and critiqued by one of my instructors who is also an ARNP and has experience hiring people. I had to cross out a lot of stuff and changed the format of my resume a lot. Make sure to use key words within your resume that fit the job description or else they will just be pre-screened by the computer and never be seen.

Being a nursing student may help or hurt. In one case I was told by a friend at the hospital was saw my resume at her boss's desk, they said they did not want to hire me because I would be graduating with my BSN, so they were looking for a long term PCT. On the other hand my current boss is hoping that working as a PCT will help me learn the basics of the floor and once I pass my nclex if a RN position opens I'd already know the general workings of unit. I know its no guarantee but I hope this converts into a RN job waiting for me upon graduation. So I guess it depends on who is doing the hiring. My bet is if a boss hires a nursing student they are already thinking way ahead and hoping the student will stay on as an RN because they already know the unit. In the long run it's probably cheaper for them that way.

funtimes · Apr 19, 2014

You've already got some patient care experience, so the benefits of wiping butts and picking up meal trays as a PCT are going to be minimal. Some hospitals run their PCTs ragged. Its not uncommon to see PCTs running around all shift while RNs text or look up shoes on the internet. Its a very overworked and stressful job and probably not worth the time or effort if you are in school in my opinion. Most RNs have never been techs so its hardly a prerequisite. Aside from increasing your stress tolerance and multi tasking ability, I just don't see PCT as being valuable experience.

vw74vw · Apr 19, 2014

Speaking from experience, if you want to increase your chances of getting an acute RN position after school, work in a hospital as a Tech while in school. I've been working for almost a year as a PCA and it has helped me land a RN position on my same floor, even before I graduate from nursing school. It is a tough job to say the least, but it will help you leaps and bounds to become a well adjusted nurse. Most of the students in my class that worked as Techs while in school have jobs lined up before graduation. Its not a guarantee by any means but it does increase your chances of getting a job 100 fold. Get a job while in school it will pay off in the end.

ArrowRN, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2014

You've already got some patient care experience, so the benefits of wiping butts and picking up meal trays as a PCT are going to be minimal. Some hospitals run their PCTs ragged. Its not uncommon to see PCTs running around all shift while RNs text or look up shoes on the internet. Its a very overworked and stressful job and probably not worth the time or effort if you are in school in my opinion. Most RNs have never been techs so its hardly a prerequisite. Aside from increasing your stress tolerance and multi tasking ability, I just don't see PCT as being valuable experience.

Well only based on your last sentence, I think being a PCT is very valuable. It's not "nursing tasks" but the majority of nursing students leave school handling no more than 1 patient at a time well except for preceptorship. PCT brings multiple patients into reality. If you can do the basic care with your eyes closed then the job as a nurse becomes easier. The other reason is when we do become RN's we will be in charge of PCT's. It will be so much better knowing exactly what their roles are by working as one and we will learn how to NOT be running them ragged while some nurses sit at the desk doing nothing. We will learn what we really need the PCT to do STAT and what can wait or maybe decide we can do it ourselves if they got like 20 set of vitals to do. With knowing all this I think the whole team will benefit and patient care will be enhanced.

hegster · Apr 30, 2014

It took me four months of applying everywhere I could think of to get a job as a PCT. While I do have my CNA, I'm fresh out of school and I had no medical experience, and my applications kept getting rejected in favor of someone more qualified. I know the job market is tough these days, but it was really disheartening.

I tried tweaking my cover letter and changing up my resume to highlight my clinical experience during my CNA program, which may have helped. But I finally got a lead on a position by going to a local nursing career fair. I dressed professionally, brought copies of my resume, put on my best smile and most exuberant attitude, and went to every booth I was remotely interested in. I met a recruiter for one of the local hospitals at their booth, and credit the recruiter with really getting my foot in the door. Without them going to the departments that were hiring with my resume and saying, "Hey, look at this candidate!", I don't think I would have gotten the job. In fact, I know I wouldn't have--because I had previously applied for a position at the hospital and had been summarily rejected.

So my advice would be to go to the next nursing career fair you can find and really sell yourself. Dress well, be friendly, and try to make a connection. Really sell your job experience as a medical receptionist--it may not be medical experience per se, but it is customer service and experience with medical terminology. It's possible that will mean more than someone with a boatload of medical experience minus the winning attitude.

Good luck!

Stacilator · Apr 30, 2014

Hey! Thanks for the tip- I always see nursing career fairs and never thought of going there for a PCT job. Thank you!