Can I still work as a PCT in MA if I passed my boards?

Nurseismade RN · Jun 6, 2008

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As aides, we're all trained in basic life support, so if someone needs CPR, we are theoretically qualified to do it. If someone needs administration of medications, we are not at liberty to do that, license or not.
People need the ability to work. It may take someone months to get a job as a nurse.

afraid it goes beyond knowing CPR......as RN we are ultimately responsible for the patient in health maintenance, teaching, counseling etc and practicing in an unlicensed role as a tech puts not only you but also the hospital in liability...hope the info from BON helps to clarify this.......I wish it was not this way...as I mentioned in previous post, the major Boston hospital I worked for knew this and had to let me go..

This is from the BON in Mass.......

3.01: Definition - Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse is the designation given to an individual who is licensed to practice

professional nursing, holds ultimate responsibility for direct and indirect nursing care, is a graduate of an approved school for professional nursing, and is currently licensed as a Registered Nurse pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112. Included in such responsibility is providing nursing care, health maintenance, teaching*, counseling, planning and restoration for optimal functioning and comfort, of those they serve.

3.02: Responsibilities and Functions - Registered Nurse

A registered nurse shall bear full and ultimate responsibility for the quality of nursing care she/he provides to individuals and groups. Included in such responsibility is health maintenance, teaching, counseling, collaborative planning and restoration of optimal functioning and comfort or for the dignified death of those they serve. A registered nurse, within the parameters of his/her generic and continuing education and experience, may delegate nursing activities to the registered nurses and/or health care personnel, provided, that the delegating registered nurse shall bear full and ultimate responsibility for:

(1) making an appropriate assignment;

(2) properly and adequately teaching, directing and supervising the delegatee; and

(3) the outcomes of that delegation. A registered nurse shall act, within his/her generic and continuing education and experience to:

(a) systematically assess health status of individuals and groups and record the related

health data;

(b) analyze and interpret said recorded data; and make informed judgments therefrom as to the specific problems and elements of nursing care mandated by a particular situation;

nursing care, prescribed medical or other therapeutic regimens mandated by the particular

situation, scientific principles, recent advancements and current knowledge in the field;

(d) provide and coordinate health teaching required by individuals, families and groups so as to maintain the optimal possible level of health;

(e) evaluate outcomes of nursing intervention, and initiate change when appropriate;

(f) collaborate, communicate and cooperate as appropriate with other health care providers to ensure quality and continuity of care;

(g) serve as patient advocate, within the limits of the law.

3.05: Delegation and Supervision of Selected Nursing Activities by Licensed Nurses to Unlicensed Personnel

The qualified licensed nurse (Registered Nurse/Practical Nurse) within the scope of his/her practice is responsible for the nature and quality of all nursing care that a patient/client receives under his/her direction. Assessment/ identification of the nursing needs of a patient/client, the plan of nursing actions, implementation of the plan, and evaluation of the plan are essential components of nursing practice and are the functions of the qualified licensed nurse. The full utilization of the services of a qualified licensed nurse may permit him/her to delegate selected nursing activities to unlicensed personnel. Although unlicensed personnel may be used to complement the qualified licensed nurse in the performance of nursing functions, such personnel cannot be used as a substitute for the qualified licensed nurse. The following sections govern the licensed nurse in delegating and supervising nursing activities to unlicensed personnel.Delegation by Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses must fall within their respectivescope of practice as defined in M.G.L. c. 112, 80B, paragraphs 1 and 2. Said delegation must occur within the framework of the job description of the delegatee and organizational policies and procedures and also must be in compliance with 244 CMR 3.05(4) and (5).

justme1972 · Jun 6, 2008

Ugh so frustrating because I need to make money and MA does not let graduate Nurses work so what am I to do??? I don't want to push back my boards.. thanks for the heads up

Easy answer: Call the board of nursing and ask them. See if they have something in writing to take to the hospital.

This is how I see it: You are not licensed until you receive NOTIFICATION that you are licensed.

That means if you took your boards May 1st and didn't receive notification until June 2nd, then they can't treat you during that window as being licensed until they notify you.

Individual certifications such as advanced CPR, etc..must be completed to your highest level of training because you have already received the certificate, therefore, authorized to perform the task.

However, any type of medical practice license isn't the same thing.

Call your BON...I would bet money they have a clear-cut policy on it.

Bill E. Rubin · Jun 12, 2008

One more comment on this. Once you take your boards, it takes about a month before you get your license. Until that time, you are not officially licensed yet.

In any event, it seems like a "right to work" issue for me. If the institution is willing to let me work, I would go ahead and do so... It wouldn't hurt to get that inexpensive Liability Insurance once you are licensed and just stick within your scope of practice.