CNA/ PCA whats the difference?

CNAMichelle · Mar 1, 2009

CNA -PCA-PCT etc.....basically the same thing,hospitals usually use the terms pca(patient care associate) pct(patient care technician)

mochabean · Mar 2, 2009

Where I work at NA's and PCT's do the same work except that PCT's are also able to draw blood. That's the only difference.

Girl Scout · Mar 9, 2009

The training program I'm going in to says that they teach PCA's how to draw blood, remove IV's and catheters, that sort of thing. I am guessing that the PCA training just allows you to work with bodily fluids.

Zalan · Mar 9, 2009

It really depends on your state laws to be honest. I live in the state of Indiana. Presently, I work as a PCA. Being a PCA in Indiana doesen`t require any license. Were being a CNA doese. However, presently I can Cath people. Were a CNA can`t. However, I`m not allowed to draw blood, except for checking Blood Sugar.

Right now my job duties are Turning patents, Caths, undoing Caths, checking blood sugar or 1- touches, vitals, rounds, wiping butts, baths, passing waters, treating Blood Sugars with food under RN supervision, charting, bedpans( & other bathroom things), emptying caths, emptying Hemovacs, emptying or changing Colostomy bags, undoying some Iv`s,EKG`s, Bladder Scan, Enemas, & notify RN of any major changes in behavior or vitals.

In the next 2 years we will probable loose are ability to Cath people. A PCA doese alot less butt wiping. & I can have a Patient load from 6 Patients to 13 in a day.

CNA have a license were a PCA doesen`t. Job duties will vary from State to. In Indiana I can Cath people. if I were in Kentucky I could not.

Girl Scout · Mar 9, 2009

This is the college I'm probably going to go to, to get my CNA/PCA. There, they call it PCA+... I haven't quite figured out what the + is about yet, but I'm thinking it's the advanced part of the program, taught in Phase II.

http://www.nwacc.edu/corporateLearning/PCA.php

If you click on the left, Phase I & II, it tells you some of the course studies, which includes the catheter setup and other things like advanced wound care and dressing, and EKG leads. At this college, the CNA side is 8 weeks and the PCA is 8 weeks, and it's all done in 1 semester in NURS 1013 and 1023. In the summer, each section lasts 5 weeks but the days are longer (presently, the 8 week ones are 5 hours a day, twice a week). The only thing you have to have to get into the PCA+ side training is either CNA certification previously, or completion of the CNA training and that you're working on the state certification part.

CNAMichelle · Mar 9, 2009

here in Fl.(and GA.)the hospitals call you pct's/pca's,what I have learned is that they hire cna's and then they will teach you themselves phlebotomy and ekg's,so thats the reason I went the cna classes (7weeks) instead of the 6mth pct course at the college.less time,less money. but I guess it depends onthe state you live in.

roses246 · Mar 11, 2009

I used to work as CNA in a LTC facility. I wanted to work in the hospital setting. So I went back to school, where I took EKG/Phlebotomy combine total of 600 hrs of classroom and clinicals. I am now certified as a Phlebotomist, EKG Tech and can work as a Monitor Tech. I chose not to work as a Monitor Tech because I cannot sit for 12 hrs per shift. :yawn: