CNA, EKG, and PHLEBOTOMY Certification

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Specializes in CNA, Aspiring CRNA.

hello,

i just started a cna course and i'm loving it! i just discovered the pct forum and was very excited at the thought of providing patient care, drawing blood, handling specimens, and monitoring heart activity. however, the director of my cna school says that cna's don't do all of this, and that pct is another name for cna and they do the same thing, at her hospital.

my aunt, who is a respiratory therapist says the same thing.

i've registered for an ekg course and plan to do phlebotomy as soon as registration opens up for the next course.

can the pcts here just sign on and let me know what you do, and in what state . . . just looking for a bit of support and justification for continuing with my plans . . . i don't want to certify and then not be able to use my skills.

by the way i've been reading job postings as well to get a feel for what "techs" can do.

all posts are greatly appreciated.:nurse:

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Specializes in CNA, Aspiring CRNA.

by the way . . . i found this description of a pct course offered in dallas, tx.:nurse:

"clinical job duties of the patient care assistant may include: discontinuation of iv’s, clean and irrigate lacerations set up rapid infusor, heptafiler setup. answer phones locate equipment and transport non critical patients and assist with critical patients. foley catheters dressing changes and feed patients assist with comfort measures / safety measures. attend to the psyche patients and escort patients to treatment areas, clean rooms, collect specimens, chest tube setups relieve mr’s, clinitech documentation and collection change sharp boxes and o2. decontamination procedures ekg’s, assist with o2 delivery clean instruments and post-mortem care. copy charts for admissions splint assistance, suction, crutch walking instructions and adjustments take vital signs and assist with pelvic exams perform phlebotomy.

the pct provides basic nursing care on assigned patients as delegated by the rn ,lvn or lpn and completes other duties as required."

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I am a patient care tech, as well as a CNA. I work in the emergency department. All of my duties are exactly what you listed above. Except Im also on the trauma team. So when a code comes in, Im running. Anyway, here a CNA can't do the same thing a PCT can. It was 2 different certifications.

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I've been a CNA since 2005 in Missouri. Just recently graduated RN BSN program and moved to DC. Applied to PCT position in Virginia. They were going to hire me until they found out I would soon be testing for my RN license...which was today actually , fingers crossed hope I passed. I guess that is a liability issue incase something goes wrong and in an emergency I don't act in the scope of an RN b/c I'm a patient care tech...or something like that. Anyway basically I got my CNA endorsed from MO CNA to now a Virginia CNA and obviously they hire you as a PCT here. And there is no difference b/c the don't hire CNAs just PCTs so here a CNA and PCT is the same thing.....so you don't need phleb, EKG training unless you just want to be able to do that.

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Specializes in CNA, Aspiring CRNA.

congratulations!!!:nurse:

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Hey guys,

I've been looking for a cna+ekg+ phlebotomy program/school in dallas. Do you guys know of any around in the area? I've tried to find some along with CNA programs in nursing homes (i heard some offer it free? ) but have had not luck.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

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I wouldn't mind taking a class like that also. I am in north carolina. I don't know if we have anything like that.

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I wouldn't mind taking a class like that also. I am in north carolina. I don't know if we have anything like that.

Try to contact local community colleges near you. They may have programs you aren't familiar with or could possibly tell you about other schools they're affiliated with that could have better options. Worked for me.

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Specializes in none.
I wouldn't mind taking a class like that also. I am in north carolina. I don't know if we have anything like that.

I'm in North Carolina too and I worked as a PCT at CMC-Northeast in Concord, NC. They hired me as a regular CNA and gave me on the job training for EKG and phlebotomy. Great oppurtunity to add more skills under your belt as a CNA. We also insert foley cathethers, etc.

Some community colleges offer EKG and Phlebotomy programs too but these programs are costly :eek:

Hope that helps!

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In my school you need to have your CNA license before starting school for PCT. PCT involves EKG, Phlebotomy, Colostomy care, Wound care, Catherization ect

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Specializes in Corrections.

Hey Everyone,

Yeah, I run into this problem as well. I've lived in 3 states and it changes. LOL. :banghead:I was a CNA in 2000, then got my Medical Assistant cert in 2002 and that is a more advanced cert. So basically, when I was in Texas I worked in the ER as a trauma tech. Doing all those things that some posted earlier about PCT job descriptions. It was bedside care, assisting with traumas and running, catheters, transporting, blood draws, EKG's. It was an amazing experience.

However, I'm in MO now, and I am going to LPN school and trying to apply back in the ER as a tech, and I"m being told I am no longer a CNA I can't work as a tech?!?:uhoh3:. They are stating I need to be a CNA to be a tech. :anbd:

I'm hoping with luck, I'll run into a hospital where they will accept all my experience as the hospital in Texas did. I was the only MA hired in the ER, everyone else was nursing students, or EMT's. But I had been an MA in urgent care and worked as CNA before, they felt I was qualified. I was worked 2 years in that ER, advanced to Lead Tech position and was responsible for training and so forth, and was assigned trauma rooms most of the time. (we had tech assignments like the nurses did) But here in MO, they are playing stupid for some reason. It is frustrating. I have never had a problem applying for a job, never, now all of a sudden being an MA is like someone who doesn't know bedside care :angthts:, even though I've been in the medical field since I was 18. This is just horrible.

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I've been a CNA since 2005 in Missouri. Just recently graduated RN BSN program and moved to DC. Applied to PCT position in Virginia. They were going to hire me until they found out I would soon be testing for my RN license...which was today actually , fingers crossed hope I passed. I guess that is a liability issue incase something goes wrong and in an emergency I don't act in the scope of an RN b/c I'm a patient care tech...or something like that. Anyway basically I got my CNA endorsed from MO CNA to now a Virginia CNA and obviously they hire you as a PCT here. And there is no difference b/c the don't hire CNAs just PCTs so here a CNA and PCT is the same thing.....so you don't need phleb, EKG training unless you just want to be able to do that.

So what your saying is that since I am currently working as a PCA but am an RN (still havent found me a job as an RN yet) if there is ever something that happen and is in my scope of practice as RN and if i dont act on it i can loose my RN? I would think that because i am not cover under my hospital as an RN i should not act as one if there is ever a code. I should take the responsibility of an PCA. Maybe I should do some reading.

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