PCA a good or Bad idea?

[AngelaChanel24]

I posted a question regarding what would be the best PCA position? I heard many great responses ones that answered a few deep lying questions is being a PCA really a waste. It sounds more like a slave to petty work, filling pitchers, bathing all the stuff nurses dont want or have time to do. PLUS 12 hr shifts? I have 2 kids and I want to learn about being a nurse not get burn out. What other jobs are there that are not so challenging?

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I was a PCT for two years prior to becoming a nurse and it absolutely helped me to become a better nurse. How? When I started nursing school I was a very shy, introverted girl. Now, as a new nurse I'm not afraid to be a pt advocate. I didn't gain this skill through school, it came through being a PCT. I also got more comfortable with my communication skills, reacting to emergencies, and saw a ton more diagnosis then I saw in just nursing school. Being a PCT, has helped me immensely transition into my role as a GN.

Personally, I would think that with being a parent, working 12 hr shifts would be easier, you only need childcare for 3 days instead of 5.

[sistasoul]

I worked as a CNA while in school and enjoyed it. It was stressful at times but I learned so much. I used a lot of communication skills and loved to talk to the patients. Communication is so important when people are sick. I will never forget the patient who had been admitted to the hospital with chest pain on the day of her husband's funeral. This poor woman was still in shock and fearful of what would happen to her. After my shift was over I went to this patient's room and she was so happy showing me pictures of her family and her husband and telling stories of her life with her husband. This woman needed this extra attention and I was honored that she chose to share her memories with me. It is these times that I can definitely say were the best "learning experiences" as an aide. I am glad I worked as an aide and do not see helping someone to the bathroom or changing an attends as menial work. It is all a part of nursing and helping the patient to feel better.

I would recommend to all nursing students to work as an aide. It gives you a picture of what a day in the life of an aide is like as we are the ones who will be supervising them.

I take the NCLEX on July 30th:yeah:- back to studying now.

H....

[SamHill]

I was a PCA/Tech for 2+ years on ortho/neuro and neuro-surg floors before I became a nurse. I beleive it absolutely helped make be a better nursing student and now a better nurse. Probably a third of my current job now consists of doing things I did as a tech: pt communication, vitals, assessment/observation, basic wound care etc... What I learned on the job as a tech made nursing school so much easier. Our whole first semester was basically learning to do what I did every day as a tech. I believe that being a tech also let me go into nursing with my eyes wide open. I knew it was hard work and not at all glamorous before I spent two years of my life in school. I wouldn't trade my experience as a PCA for anything.

[Versiongirl]

Many of you already said what I wanted to say......... It's just one thing I wanted to add is that in NY where I have worked as a CNA in nursing homes and a PCA in a hospital, I have never had to work 12 hr. shifts, only 8........ I wish I had that option but only nurses do, depending on the position.