Carolinas HealthCare System- NA I vs. Healthcare Technician

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Jan 26, 2015

I am a new CNA (NA I) in school working towards an ADN. I was hoping to try to land a PRN job for weekends or odd days here and there. I am applying in the Carolinas HealthCare System and am running into a little bit of a quandary.
Does anyone familiar with CHS/CMC know the difference between NA I and HealthCare Technician as far as duties, expectations, anything else? I'm so green I don't even really know what to ask, haha...
I'm very excited to put my learned skills to use and get some practical hands on experience in the hospital setting. Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

I work at CMC Main. An HCT (healthcare tech) is an NA who is also trained as unit secretary.

PlayaChickRN · Jan 28, 2015

Thank you! That is exactly what I wanted to know. If you don't mind me asking, are you a HCT or RN?

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Jan 28, 2015

Thank you! That is exactly what I wanted to know. If you don't mind me asking, are you a HCT or RN?

I've been an NA/HCT for the system since 2012 (throughout nursing school). I passed NCLEX a couple of weeks ago and will be changing my status to RN next month. :)

PlayaChickRN · Jan 29, 2015

Congrats!!! I hope to be where you are at in a couple years. :)

Do you feel like your NA/HCT experience was valuable towards acing nursing school? Was it manageable while in school? Honestly, I don't need to work but want the job so that I can gain experience in the healthcare field and gain confidence while working in direct patient care.

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Jan 29, 2015

Congrats!!! I hope to be where you are at in a couple years. :)
Do you feel like your NA/HCT experience was valuable towards acing nursing school? Was it manageable while in school? Honestly, I don't need to work but want the job so that I can gain experience in the healthcare field and gain confidence while working in direct patient care.

It's helpful from a networking perspective and being comfortable working with patients but it definitely doesn't help you ace nursing school. In fact, sometimes it's a hindrance because textbook nursing and real world nursing are very different!

CharlotteYogi · Jan 31, 2015

I graduated from CMC Nurse Aide program in December and have applied to their nursing school, and have been applying with no success to try and get a tech or NA job at CMC. Any advice on how to get your foot in the door there? Thanks.

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Jan 31, 2015

I graduated from CMC Nurse Aide program in December and have applied to their nursing school, and have been applying with no success to try and get a tech or NA job at CMC. Any advice on how to get your foot in the door there? Thanks.

It's difficult to get an NA/HCT job unless you know somebody. The school has an HR rep that visits every month; that's how I finally got 2 interviews and was offered a job on both floors. Since you just finished the NA program, call the school and talk to Nancy Watkins in the Success Center; she can let you know when the HR person is available.

CharlotteYogi · Jan 31, 2015

Thanks!

PlayaChickRN · Feb 14, 2015

It's helpful from a networking perspective and being comfortable working with patients but it definitely doesn't help you ace nursing school. In fact, sometimes it's a hindrance because textbook nursing and real world nursing are very different!

@RunnerRN2015, I just landed a HCT job! YAY! I'm super excited, but nervous about being able to have it work with my nursing school schedule. Do you have any tips on what worked for you? I'll be working PT Nights (20hrs/wk). I'm tempted to work weekends so that I can dedicate the week days to school. I'd really value any input as someone who's been there. :)

RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN · Feb 21, 2015

@RunnerRN2015, I just landed a HCT job! YAY! I'm super excited, but nervous about being able to have it work with my nursing school schedule. Do you have any tips on what worked for you? I'll be working PT Nights (20hrs/wk). I'm tempted to work weekends so that I can dedicate the week days to school. I'd really value any input as someone who's been there. :)

Congrats! I worked PRN during school so my hours were really flexible. Some weeks I didn't work at all, other weeks I'd work Friday after a test or one day during the weekend. I didn't do nights. Once I transferred to the ED it was really easy to pick up shifts since they often needed short shifts (4-8 hours) filled. I could pick up random shifts like 9a-1p, 3p-7p, 7p-1a, etc -- that way I was getting my hours in without having to give up a full 12 hours. Can you work any hours during the week? Having class during the week and then working nights on the weekends is doable but will leave little time for studying our fun stuff.

PlayaChickRN · Feb 22, 2015

Congrats! I worked PRN during school so my hours were really flexible. Some weeks I didn't work at all, other weeks I'd work Friday after a test or one day during the weekend. I didn't do nights. Once I transferred to the ED it was really easy to pick up shifts since they often needed short shifts (4-8 hours) filled. I could pick up random shifts like 9a-1p, 3p-7p, 7p-1a, etc -- that way I was getting my hours in without having to give up a full 12 hours. Can you work any hours during the week? Having class during the week and then working nights on the weekends is doable but will leave little time for studying our fun stuff.

Good tips.... They said I could go PRN once the fall semester hits, so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to pick up shifts like you mentioned, here and there. For now I can work whenever, I guess, I just prefer to do weekends and keep my weeks for schoolwork and family time ( I have two kids ). I'm still in the background check/drug test stage of HR. I'll get a better handle on things once I've worked a few weeks.

An unrelated question... did you use your own stethoscope as a HCT? I'm planning to buy one for nursing school and wasn't sure if I should get one sooner than later, if needed.

Thanks!!