Advice to current and future techs

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I work on a busy medsurg floor. I went into this job with the idea knowing that I would gain valuable experience and I have! I'm glad to have this job for the "experience" as well as the "in" in my current hospital. And I need the money to "pay" bills. However when I applied to be a tech I never thought about the negative aspects of the job. For some reason, those aspects never crossed my mind, I just wanted a tech/hospital job since everyone kept telling me how valuable it is in so many ways. What I mean is not the care itself does not bother me, I don't mind that at all. It's the heavy lifting and lack of support from staff. Some of the nurses just want to pass meds. Sometimes all of them come at you telling you to do 4 different things. We get confused patients here and there and they can be difficult to work with. They yell and scream at times and even try to get out of bed and although rare they can get violent as well. I went into this job with the wrong mindset that it would be a glorious job, I don't know why but I just had that mindset. Not to mention I'm dealing with people that may have HIV, Hep c, and other dangerous bloodborne pathogens, among other things so it is also somewhat a risky job as well since you as the tech have the most patient contact. I talked to my nursing friends about my feelings. Some opted out of being a tech to do something else. 1 girl i know works as a pt access rep. at the same hospital. I found out she even gets paid about 2 bucks more than i do (angry face). I'm happy for her, its just that i do wayy more work and im on my feet all day and her job is more administrative. Another girl I know works as a unit clerk at the same hospital, she gets paid slightly less than i do, about 20 cents less. My advice to all of you would be to go in this job with realistic expectations. And try to find a unit you'd like to work in, esp. as a nurse. I'd love to work in nicu or pediatrics. My hospital never has openings b/c the people that work there never leave lol. But I am determined to transition away from medsurg. I'll keep an eye out on openings. Goodluck fellow techs, student techs, nursing students. I have about 9-10 months until graduation with my bsn. The unit clerk and pt. access rep are also nursing students. There experience i dont think is as valuable as mine but they also seem to be more happier than i am.

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First I want to say that just because you have "more contact" with patients does not mean you are at higher risk of getting HIV, Hep C, etc. They are blood borne pathogens, you cannot get them by just touching someone. Nurses are at much higher risk because of IV sticks, lab draws, etc. If you do those things then that's why you would be at risk, not just by touching people.

If you want to be a nurse, being a patient care tech puts you head and shoulders above your competitors who work in other non patient related fields. It's hard work no matter where you are. Some units utilize PCTs differently than others but mainly it's a physical job and that's the entire purpose of the position. You won't escape that. Seems to me money is more important. If that's the case work at a different facility that pays more money. Otherwise you're gong to have to wait it out for an opening somewhere else.

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First I want to say that just because you have "more contact" with patients does not mean you are at higher risk of getting HIV, Hep C, etc. They are blood borne pathogens, you cannot get them by just touching someone. Nurses are at much higher risk because of IV sticks, lab draws, etc. If you do those things then that's why you would be at risk, not just by touching people.

If you want to be a nurse, being a patient care tech puts you head and shoulders above your competitors who work in other non patient related fields. It's hard work no matter where you are. Some units utilize PCTs differently than others but mainly it's a physical job and that's the entire purpose of the position. You won't escape that. Seems to me money is more important. If that's the case work at a different facility that pays more money. Otherwise you're gong to have to wait it out for an opening somewhere else.

Money is also an issue. haha, school is pretty expensive. I guess a 3rd piece of advice would be to plan out your finances and see how many days you can work while in school. Personally i think i could only put in 1 day per week. Just enough to pay for gas/food/parking (essentials), and some change for savings. I don't want to job hop from facility to facility. It hasn't been a yr yet at my current job. I really do think being a tech gives you a huge advantage, I just don't like how non-patient care jobs get paid more than the tech, i mean we do so much more work!. And yes, the job is very physical, not good for the back. Sometimes I just get cramps from standing all day in my back. Not a good feeling. I'll just keep an eye out for openings at my current facility and hope for the best!

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I understand the back pain issue!!! If you feel that it's going to truly hurt your back for real I would try to find a non physical job so you can save your body for when you become a nurse. It does suck you don't get paid as much as the secretaries but what can you do. My years as a tech while I was in nursing school really paid off once I started my clinicals. Everyone else felt awkward moving their patients and having physical contact with them but not me.

I think the amount of time you work during school will depend on how many classes you have and your course workload. I only worked 20 hours a week and then during my last semester when I had my practicum I cut it down to one day a week. I wish you the best of luck at work and with school!

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I have been a Nurse Tech in the Emergency Department now for about 6 months. As a previous EMT and current nursing student, I can honestly say I have learned more in the last 6 months than any other time. Clinicals and books can not prepare you for what happens here!! I find that my knowledge in school is also above where most of the other students are because the things I do 100X a day here they have never done. Although the pay is terrible, the hours are long, and sometimes you just feel in the way...when you have your nurses look at you and personally thank you for your help, there is no other feeling. This position has made me question my choice to become a nurse, but I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Emergency room is where I thrive. If you are in it for the money, know that eventually it will come. This job with make me a better nurse and asset to any company that I work for.

I hope this helps put some things in perspective for the tech that feels overwhelmed and underappreciated. You ARE appreciated in more ways than you will ever know, especially by those patients that see you more than most other people in the hospital. We are here for them.

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I think it is wise to be a PCT or CNA before/during school. You are taught to do hands on care for patients. Many nurses lack this when they get into clinicals and the real world. Some Nurses do not understand that this is something you actually do for patients as a nurse. It is not easy, but not only do you have your foot in the door somewhere your are gaining skills some of your classmates are not.

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