Seeking good advices for working as a PCT at the hospital

Nursing Students Technicians

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Hi there, I recently got a job at a hospital working as a PCT. This is my first hospital job. I'm doing this for my RN program as in the coming semester I'll have to be exposed to med/surge, labor and delivery, and pediatric classes. Want to get more experiences and see more before jumping into the classes.

I was excited about working at the hospital but now I'm really anxious and nervous about it! Any good advice I can get from all of you good hard working PCTs or nurses? How to deal with difficult people/patients? How to survive??? Thanks!

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Congrats on getting your first hospital job! When I was in nursing school I worked as a CNA at a nursing home then got into the recovery room in a hospital. Time management is key. I always made a list of my assignment (who needs to be ready before breakfast, how they transfer, how they go the bathroom, etc.) this was more helpful in the nursing home. At the hospital I would go around and ask the nurses if they need anything (would ask if the patient coming from the OR is diabetic so I would have the glucometer ready, stuff like that). Don't be afraid to ask questions and do not do anything that you don't feel comfortable doing. It may be overwhelming at first but after your training it'll get easier. Good luck!!

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Specializes in PCT, RN.

Ah I'm in the same boat! I just interviewed this morning for my first hospital position (after 3 years of LTC). I also start nursing school this upcoming semester.

The unit I interviewed for had ortho/oncology/med-surg patients.

Do you have any prior experience as a CNA/PTC?

Good luck!

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Ah I'm in the same boat! I just interviewed this morning for my first hospital position (after 3 years of LTC). I also start nursing school this upcoming semester.

The unit I interviewed for had ortho/oncology/med-surg patients.

Do you have any prior experience as a CNA/PTC?

Good luck!

I'm a CNA/Med Tech in assisted livings for two years. But lack of experience in hospital job just freak me out now. Working in a hospital is way different than in the assisted livings. But good luck on your new job hunting adventure!!

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Congrats on getting your first hospital job! When I was in nursing school I worked as a CNA at a nursing home then got into the recovery room in a hospital. Time management is key. I always made a list of my assignment (who needs to be ready before breakfast, how they transfer, how they go the bathroom, etc.) this was more helpful in the nursing home. At the hospital I would go around and ask the nurses if they need anything (would ask if the patient coming from the OR is diabetic so I would have the glucometer ready, stuff like that). Don't be afraid to ask questions and do not do anything that you don't feel comfortable doing. It may be overwhelming at first but after your training it'll get easier. Good luck!!

Thank you for your reply! That really help to ease my mind. Hopefully things get better after all the orientations and trainings.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

Work every shift as if it's a job interview for when you graduate. Do your best, smile, and seek out new learning (unless it pulls you from Pt care). Also, once you get farther along in your program, don't overstep your clear boundaries/roles in Pt care or giving "suggestions" because you know a lot less than you will think you do! If I had a dollar :roflmao: You know what, I'll give you an example...one night a Pt's O2 was decreased during vital signs and the CNA didn't pass it on to me but instead "turned" up the Pt's oxygen AND charted she did so...twice! Yes I know I should have seen it earlier etc etc, we're all busy and while I'm responsible, communication is a must! I see the charting, check on the Pt, and find that their O2 tubing is not even attached to the wall, Pt's oxygen setting back to baseline...voila! Still had to have a crucial conversation and that CNA's charting is permanently in the Pt's chart...what if the Pt had coded that night over the CNA working outside of their scope? Just food for thought (PS: I worked as a CNA/HCT for 5+ years myself)

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Specializes in PCT, RN.
I'm a CNA/Med Tech in assisted livings for two years. But lack of experience in hospital job just freak me out now. Working in a hospital is way different than in the assisted livings. But good luck on your new job hunting adventure!!

I know, I'm worried that not having any hospital experience may be a hindrance. But I feel that I did really well in my interview this morning so I have high hopes I get in. It's just for PRN, too, which may help.

I'm hoping that working in a hospital environment will help me while I'm in school. The manager also told me they love hiring students because they're always super willing to learn new things (which is also true in my case lol).

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Specializes in tele, ICU, CVICU.

AJJKRN, at first I thought you were going to say the CNA upped the oxygen and it was a COPD patient, who lost drive to breathe and had to be intubated. (you only make that mistake once as I found out!)

When I was in nursing school, I worked PT as a home care aide, PT bank teller and FT nite shift psychiatric assistant. So, no real long term or hospital experience other than clinical and I was so uncomfortable and out of my element on the floor. Let me tell you what a huge advantage you will have in nursing school (primarily clinical) over folks who were like me.

It will be overwhelming at first, but stick it out because the time management skills you will acquire, the comfort you will gain with breaking out of your comfort zone (if that's an issue for you, as it was for me) and hands-on experience will be priceless. congrats to you both on your new jobs & you'll be great.

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Work every shift as if it's a job interview for when you graduate. Do your best, smile, and seek out new learning (unless it pulls you from Pt care). Also, once you get farther along in your program, don't overstep your clear boundaries/roles in Pt care or giving "suggestions" because you know a lot less than you will think you do! If I had a dollar :roflmao: You know what, I'll give you an example...one night a Pt's O2 was decreased during vital signs and the CNA didn't pass it on to me but instead "turned" up the Pt's oxygen AND charted she did so...twice! Yes I know I should have seen it earlier etc etc, we're all busy and while I'm responsible, communication is a must! I see the charting, check on the Pt, and find that their O2 tubing is not even attached to the wall, Pt's oxygen setting back to baseline...voila! Still had to have a crucial conversation and that CNA's charting is permanently in the Pt's chart...what if the Pt had coded that night over the CNA working outside of their scope? Just food for thought (PS: I worked as a CNA/HCT for 5+ years myself)

Valuable advice! Thanks!

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Not a PCT...However, worked as a Tech in the OR, Radiology, ER, and psych right now. I mean for me it makes me not want to be nurse, ha. In the other instance it makes me want to be a nurse. I want to provide more advanced care for the patient's working with. Have a greater input in the MDTP.

I am very limited what I can do with care plan's like to delve further. Than I ausclate for breathing recognize different sounds, but can only go that far like to see the next interventions to use. I can perform EKG pick up okay this is the rhythm going on, but what does it mean what is the next step.

There is a lot more I want to do and makes me passionate about being a nurse. You ask why part of it makes me not want to. Nurse's will truly eat the week. You will be thrown under the bus as a nurse. You are constantly understaffed. Your life is sucked out of you basically, ha. Education is constantly changing where I work the ASN is becoming a paper weight and now the push for the BSN. Many nurse's are not too happy about it.

Again the pro's out weigh the con's.

Best of luck.

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Not a PCT...However, worked as a Tech in the OR, Radiology, ER, and psych right now. I mean for me it makes me not want to be nurse, ha. In the other instance it makes me want to be a nurse. I want to provide more advanced care for the patient's working with. Have a greater input in the MDTP.

I am very limited what I can do with care plan's like to delve further. Than I ausclate for breathing recognize different sounds, but can only go that far like to see the next interventions to use. I can perform EKG pick up okay this is the rhythm going on, but what does it mean what is the next step.

There is a lot more I want to do and makes me passionate about being a nurse. You ask why part of it makes me not want to. Nurse's will truly eat the week. You will be thrown under the bus as a nurse. You are constantly understaffed. Your life is sucked out of you basically, ha. Education is constantly changing where I work the ASN is becoming a paper weight and now the push for the BSN. Many nurse's are not too happy about it.

Again the pro's out weigh the con's.

Best of luck.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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I work as a PCA on a super busy med-surg floor. I graduated high school with my cna certification and started working in a nursing home like a week after high school graduation. I only worked there for about 5 months before being hired at a hospital on the floor I'm on now. I've been here a year and a half and it's been the best experience I've ever had. I've learned so much and the nurses I work with are always willing to teach.

I was also kinda worried about starting on such a hard floor with no hospital experience, but it ended up not being a problem at all. We went through 3 weeks worth of training and then we were set free. Time management will definitely be a must because most nights I'm having to take care of 20+ patients, many of them total care.

But I agree with the person who stated earlier that this job and the experience you gain in a hospital setting will be so incredibly helpful once you start clinicals.

Anyways, if you have any questions feel free to ask them 😀

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