Any MST multi-skilled technicians out there?

[bnb0627]

:yeah:I am about to start a multi-skilled technician program next month. My plan is to take the course, get a job at a hospital, finish up a couple pre-reqs while applying for rn school in nj. Just wondering if anyone can let me know the difference between a cna and an mst, besides pay? I know mst's can do ekg's and blood draws but what else? Also, what other names would I find a job under? Is the patient care technician and patient care associate a cna or mst?

Thanks in advance for responses!!

[juliaann]

What you're describing as MST (I've never heard that job title before) sounds like what we call Patient Care Technicians at my hospital. Ours also sit for the state's Advanced Unlicensed Assistant exam, and are sometimes called AUAs, or PCT-AUAs. While many work as a CNA first, a PCT is not a CNA. It requires additional lecture and clinical hours (in things like EKG, phlebotomy, foley caths), usually a semester-long program.

Our PCTs don't do much more than CNAs...we have CV techs (like me!) that do all EKGs, and we have lab techs 24/7 that tend to be faster so PCTs don't really get to use their phleb skills either. But our PCTs are often first pick for working the "fun" departments: ICU, ER, NICU, Peds, GI in case those additional skills are needed. Our PCTs and CNAs are both generally referred to as "techs," and do about the same sort of work day-to-day.

I'm sure all of this varies greatly from facility to facility. Good luck with your class and getting a job you enjoy!!