Starting PCT program in Spring 2011

Nursing Students Technicians

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Hey if you are starting a PCT program in the Spring comment below. Where are you going to school and what are your plans afterwards? What is your ultimate goal?

Personally I am a little nervous about it. I read on here that PCT/CNA is fairly easy and a bunch of common sense but I am still nervous. What if I get so nervous I don't remember how to do anything? I don't know. Hopefully I will relax by the time January gets here.

I am going to Anne Arundel Community College is MD. I plan to get a job as a PCT afterwards, work AT LEAST a year. Finish my last year of prerequistes then go to Nursing school. Then of course, upgrade to RN. Hopefully I can get there. I'd like to someday become a physician or psychologist or psychologist or something. If I don't get there though I am okay with that. My main goal is to become an RN.

What about you?

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I am also entering a PCT program in Jan. in North FL. After I plan on working on my pre reqs for RN. Lately I have been thinking that ultimately it would be great to be a nurse midwife or ob-gyn but that is getting WAY WAY ahead of myself. I'm a little nervous too but also very excited :)

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I am also entering a PCT program in Jan. in North FL. After I plan on working on my pre reqs for RN. Lately I have been thinking that ultimately it would be great to be a nurse midwife or ob-gyn but that is getting WAY WAY ahead of myself. I'm a little nervous too but also very excited :)

That's how I feel about going to med school. It's so far ahead that I shouldn't worry about it just yet. But I am excited and nervous about everything. PCT program, Nursing school, working, everything. Are you starting from the beginning in prereqs or do you already have some done?

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I have absolutely nothing done. I still need to do prep courses. I am just starting out. I just wish I would have done it sooner but better late than never.

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I have absolutely nothing done. I still need to do prep courses. I am just starting out. I just wish I would have done it sooner but better late than never.

For the longest time I stressed myself out over the past. There is nothing you can do to change that. Things happen for a reason. I am glad that I made all of those mistakes in the past because it has made me more focused. I've failed tons of classes, wasted lots of money and time. Don't worry about what you didn't do. Just know what you want for yourself and family now and go for it. It will take a while to get all of the prereqs done but just completing one class at a time feels great. It gets stressful but you have to work through. I have faith in you. You will be just fine.

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Thank you so much! I'm just gonna take it one step at a time. I'll get to where I want to be eventually and you will to :)

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I'm in nursing school and worked as a PCT for 8 months on a med surg floor and now work in an emergency department as a tech. I never took an actual PCT class, but it's really not difficult. Being a PCT is vital signs, bathing people, helping them to the bathroom, checking blood sugars (at some hospitals), hooking patients up to monitors, emptying foleys. It's not hard, and on a floor, being a tech is demanding and you're not paid enough. I'd get into nursing school as soon as possible, or try to find a job that's NOT on an adult floor. I worked with about 30 different PCTs and I don't think any of us liked our jobs.

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Wow really? I was thiniking about possibly keeping my day time job i have now and working part time as a PCT. I know they don't make that much money but I still have bills to pay and I pay for school out of pocket. I was thinking I could just save money for when I start Nursing school so I can quit my daytime job. I guess it really is about job satisfaction but I usually like what I do no matter what. Not all jobs are pies and cupcakes. Thanks for the insight. I really appreciate it.

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I am taking the PCT class starting January 2011. I had to take medical terminology (1 credit) and communications for the health care career (2 credits) in order to take the PCT class. I also had to take the CNA course and be certified in CPR/BLS in order to register for the class.

Right now, I am currently working as a CNA in a skilled nursing care facility. My goal is to get a job in a hospital. I hope that once I finish with the PCT class in May, I will have almost a year experience working as a CNA so I hope that will help me get a job at a hospital.

Our PCT courses reviews basic CNA skills as well as teaches about EKG's, catheters, blood draws, and IV's. I am SO excited!!!

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@KareBear wow. That's sounds awesome. I just had to be CPR certified. I got that last May. The PCT class I'm going to take I think will also qualify you to be a GNA. How is it working at a skilled nursing care facility? How many places did you apply to before you got a job as a CNA? I am hoping to also do my year then get a job at a hospital. I don't know yet. If it's not too bad I could just keep my regular job at whereever I get a job as a CNA...if that makes sense.

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What is a GNA?

It is not too bad working at a nursing home. I applied at a lot of places before I was finished with the class, but places want you to be certified. Once I had taken the test and got on the state registry, I was getting calls back. I really wanted to get in at a local nursing home a few minutes from my house.. it is a VERY nice facility and feels like a hotel. I knew it was hard to get in there because the work environment is pleasant and people don't quit often like most other CNA jobs. I got a job at a different facility .. that place was disgusting and awful to work at (12-15 residents per night, 2+ assists, understaffed, and no one to help with transfers). Once I had that job, I figured I would be able to put that on my resume which would look better when applying at the place that I wanted to work at. I finally got a call from them about a month ago and am now working there. I only have 6-8 residents per shift and none of them are two assist. I like working there and I love the residents. Working with dementia patients always put a smile on my face because they are hilarious!! Geriatrics is just not my calling though. I can see myself working the ICU because my dream job is to work as a flight trauma nurse..

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Sorry it took me so long to apply but a GNA is a geriatric nursing assistant. That's good that you got a position at the facility in which you wanted to work. When I start out I really don't care where I work because I don't know of any good or bad facilities. I'm looking forward to getting the experience so that I can someday work in a hospital. How long did it take after you became certified did you get a job? What kind of experience did you have before?

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