Hopefully, I will pass my exams to become a CNA in 2016-2017. I graduate from high school in 2017, so I will be a CNA for some months (I think 4+?) before I finish high school. Is there a way I can go from CNA to PCT? I can't just stop the CNA courses and say I want to be a PCT instead, because we don't earn certifications other than our license in my technical program WITHIN my high school. My school does not offer PCT, only CNA.
I KNOW CNA COURSES TO NOT TAKE YEARS TO COMPLETE. I AM IN A BASIC MEDICAL COURSE FOR 2014-2015 2015-2016, WE THEN TAKE THE CNA COURSE OUR SENIOR YEAR 2016-2017.
[COLOR=#000000]The PCT training is designed to train students to a level in patient care technology that prepares them for certification and employment as a PCT. The course often offers students training in anatomy and basic science, CPR, First Aid, Phlebotomy, EKG, and patient care technology. Certificates that may be available in these courses may include: Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Electrocardiography Technician.
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What state are you in? I have tons of PCT listings.[/COLOR]
The main difference between a CNA and a PCT is that you don't need a license to be a PCT. CNAs are usually only called that in nursing homes where they make between 8-10 dollars an hour. PCTS where I work make 14.
Nurse Techs are completely different in that they do assessments and can put in IVs and Foleys because they are someone who is in nursing school. They make 18/hr.
Im always somewhat confused over the term Nurse tech. My hospital doesn't have them. A lot of the PCTs I work with are Nursing students and they have the same scope as any other tech, and quite frankly don't seem to know anything more than the techs who aren't nursing students, at least about anything related to being a tech. A lot of Nursing students go through Nursing school without ever having started an IV or inserted a foley, so I cant imagine being a Nursing student would make someone proficient in either. They are things RNs typically learn on the job if its something their job requires.
I have seen Graduate Nurses get hired where I work, and they do have a broader scope than PCTs, but they have graduated from Nursing school, is that the same as Nurse techs?
Im always somewhat confused over the term Nurse tech. My hospital doesn't have them. A lot of the PCTs I work with are Nursing students and they have the same scope as any other tech, and quite frankly don't seem to know anything more than the techs who aren't nursing students, at least about anything related to being a tech. A lot of Nursing students go through Nursing school without ever having started an IV or inserted a foley, so I cant imagine being a Nursing student would make someone proficient in either. They are things RNs typically learn on the job if its something their job requires.
I have seen Graduate Nurses get hired where I work, and they do have a broader scope than PCTs, but they have graduated from Nursing school, is that the same as Nurse techs?
A nurse tech is a student nurse who has completed med surg 1. They make 18 an hour. The nurse techs role is different from that of a PCT in a few ways. The nurse tech gets 6 patients in which they are in charge of doing admission assessments, admission histories, ongoing assessments, starting IV, putting in foleys, and anything else a nurse may ask them to do such as insert an NG or complete wound care. Along with these nursing tasks they are also expected to do vitals and basic patient care.
And as you said you know many people that haven't done these skills so therefore aren't proficient, well that is the reason for this position. The workplace is the perfect place to get hands on experience don't you think?
A graduate nurse is different from a nurse tech because a graduate nurse would be going through orientation for an RN position while making the RN Wage.
Neinna, There is a difference in CNA, and a PCT. Both hold the title as CNA but a person with a PCT certificate has additional training skills required then what's offered for a CNA. We draw patients blood, do EKG's, we cannot start a IV but we can remove them. We can insert or remove foley's ,and we do glucose checks. At the hospital I work at they will not hire a CNA unless they have PCT Certificate also. Some hospitals may train you to do those duties and give you title as PCT but that does not guarantee that any other future employer will hire you as a PCT if you never received a PCT certificate and they require it even if you have had pct position before but never had PCT Certificate. Also if you don't have PCT certificate but are hired and trained as PCT your starting pay could be lower then those that have the certificate.
4cnas
7 Posts
[COLOR=#000000]The PCT training is designed to train students to a level in patient care technology that prepares them for certification and employment as a PCT. The course often offers students training in anatomy and basic science, CPR, First Aid, Phlebotomy, EKG, and patient care technology. Certificates that may be available in these courses may include: Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, and Electrocardiography Technician.
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What state are you in? I have tons of PCT listings.[/COLOR]