Becoming a CNA/PCT Before Nursing School

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Hey all,

I need some advice. I've wanted to be a nurse all my life and it appears as if I will get my chance - and my mom's blessing as she was the reason why I didn't go into nursing the first time around. She was a nurse and she HATED what it had become and didn't want that for her daughter. Well, I did what anyone in my position would do, I got my bachelor's in speech-language pathology. :p

Although it was interesting, it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life.

Fast forward a few years. I'm married now and I have a chance to do things over, in a way. BTW, my mom gave me her blessing about going to nursing school, and she does regret not letting me do this earlier.

Here's my question: I'm already a volunteer doula working closely with the nurses in our hospital, but it doesn't pay much... oh, wait, I did mention volunteer. ;) I know the work that nurses do and I WANT to do this so badly. Anyhow, I'm wondering if I should work as a CNA or PCT before going to nursing school. I would like to have the money for nursing school beforehand so I don't have to take out any loans.

I know that CNA's and PCT's are paid very little and the work is, well, "crappy." But I know it would also be good experience. Along with the volunteer work, would it look good on an application to NS? I'm going to be up against A LOT of competition to get into NS and I need the best edge that I can. If working as a CNA or PCT is going to help, I'll do it.

Along with that, what's the best way to go? Should I become a CNA or go the PCT route? Is there a difference in pay between the two?

If anyone has answers or comments, I surely appreciate them!

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I see that no one has touched this because it's been brought up in so many other places. :o

Anyhow, after talking with a few temp agencies I've found out that they will hire PCT's. So... I think that I will go the PCT route because 1) it's a requirement at one of the schools I will apply 2) I'll have some of the return demonstrations out of the way (I'm taking it at the college offering the RN degree and 3) I believe I will feel more challenged in the PCT program.

I believe that I will go with that route for now, unless some new information comes to light. Thanks!

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Specializes in LTAC.
I see that no one has touched this because it's been brought up in so many other places. :o

Anyhow, after talking with a few temp agencies I've found out that they will hire PCT's. So... I think that I will go the PCT route because 1) it's a requirement at one of the schools I will apply 2) I'll have some of the return demonstrations out of the way (I'm taking it at the college offering the RN degree and 3) I believe I will feel more challenged in the PCT program.

I believe that I will go with that route for now, unless some new information comes to light. Thanks!

You may want to check your local hospitals for tuition assistance with nursing school. Many are short on RNs and will pay quite a bit and some even pay for all of your schooling. I'm finishing pre-nursing next spring and should start nursing school next fall. I hired into a Nurse Assistant program at a local hospital where they provide a 200 hour course with clinicals and skills validation. There is no state certification for it, but you do a lot of nursing skills on the floor like catheters, enemas, IV removal, O2 administration and so on...lots of charting. One school allows PCTs or NAs to test out of Intro to Nursing or better known as "bed, bath and beyond" if they have at least 6 months experience.

I found the Community College is $66 per hour. The tuition assistance offered by my hospital will cover nearly all of it.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Hey all,

I need some advice. I've wanted to be a nurse all my life and it appears as if I will get my chance - and my mom's blessing as she was the reason why I didn't go into nursing the first time around. She was a nurse and she HATED what it had become and didn't want that for her daughter. Well, I did what anyone in my position would do, I got my bachelor's in speech-language pathology. :p

Although it was interesting, it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life.

Fast forward a few years. I'm married now and I have a chance to do things over, in a way. BTW, my mom gave me her blessing about going to nursing school, and she does regret not letting me do this earlier.

Here's my question: I'm already a volunteer doula working closely with the nurses in our hospital, but it doesn't pay much... oh, wait, I did mention volunteer. ;) I know the work that nurses do and I WANT to do this so badly. Anyhow, I'm wondering if I should work as a CNA or PCT before going to nursing school. I would like to have the money for nursing school beforehand so I don't have to take out any loans.

I know that CNA's and PCT's are paid very little and the work is, well, "crappy." But I know it would also be good experience. Along with the volunteer work, would it look good on an application to NS? I'm going to be up against A LOT of competition to get into NS and I need the best edge that I can. If working as a CNA or PCT is going to help, I'll do it.

Along with that, what's the best way to go? Should I become a CNA or go the PCT route? Is there a difference in pay between the two?

If anyone has answers or comments, I surely appreciate them!

I am a PCT and I have found it invaluable to my nursing school experience. I honestly find nursing school to be quite easy because I have experienced a lot of what we cover in class or clinical. About the pay...shop around and look for a good place to work. I easily make several dollars and hour more than most of the other hospitals in my town. Oh, and I have 100% tuition reimbursement with no strings attached. I can quit the day after they give me the reimbursement check.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Hey all,

I need some advice. I've wanted to be a nurse all my life and it appears as if I will get my chance - and my mom's blessing as she was the reason why I didn't go into nursing the first time around. She was a nurse and she HATED what it had become and didn't want that for her daughter. Well, I did what anyone in my position would do, I got my bachelor's in speech-language pathology. :p

Although it was interesting, it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life.

Fast forward a few years. I'm married now and I have a chance to do things over, in a way. BTW, my mom gave me her blessing about going to nursing school, and she does regret not letting me do this earlier.

Here's my question: I'm already a volunteer doula working closely with the nurses in our hospital, but it doesn't pay much... oh, wait, I did mention volunteer. ;) I know the work that nurses do and I WANT to do this so badly. Anyhow, I'm wondering if I should work as a CNA or PCT before going to nursing school. I would like to have the money for nursing school beforehand so I don't have to take out any loans.

I know that CNA's and PCT's are paid very little and the work is, well, "crappy." But I know it would also be good experience. Along with the volunteer work, would it look good on an application to NS? I'm going to be up against A LOT of competition to get into NS and I need the best edge that I can. If working as a CNA or PCT is going to help, I'll do it.

Along with that, what's the best way to go? Should I become a CNA or go the PCT route? Is there a difference in pay between the two?

If anyone has answers or comments, I surely appreciate them!

That is great that you are going to pursue you dream :)

I am starting clinicals in January, have been a volunteer in the community for years, work, married etc too....but I want to do my CNA in August so that I can have it before starting clinicals. I haven't been able to do it because I am working on the ADN pre-req's and since I am almost done I finally have the time to squeeze it in and the money to pay for it. :p

I say go for it, you have nothing to lose aside from the cost of the course. I regret not being able to do it sooner but life happens and here we are now and that is all that matters. :)

I am currently working 2 jobs non-health related and would love to work as a CNA during nursing school, so ultimately that is my goal. I think it is a great idea and although you volunteer it might be better to do a few volunteer hours and work the rest as CNA :p

Best wishes to you.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I am working on getting my CNA training soon so I have it before I start nursing school. Whats a PCT anyways?

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I am working on getting my CNA training soon so I have it before I start nursing school. Whats a PCT anyways?

PCT= Patient Care Technician. Typically they are trained to do more than a usual CNA would do, such as taking care of Foleys, d/c-ing IV's, etc.

Thanks JessicaGmez for your well wishes... I hope that clinicals go well for you! :)

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
PCT= Patient Care Technician. Typically they are trained to do more than a usual CNA would do, such as taking care of Foleys, d/c-ing IV's, etc.

Thanks JessicaGmez for your well wishes... I hope that clinicals go well for you! :)

Thank you kindly. You do the same :lol2:

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