CNA/PCT vs ER tech while awaiting LPN school

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Jun 8, 2008

Not for anything, but I don't think ANY opportunity to learn something you didn't previously know is wasted! I really don't. Maybe you don't get the constant running around and the thinking as you run and flying by the seat of your pants...etc, but cardiac nursing, to me, is very interesting. I'm going into my last year of school, and I just applied to the cardiac and med-surg floors as a tech. I was offered the ER!

To bottom line it; take advantage of any opportunity to see, do and learn somethig different. It can never hurt you. Before you know it, you'll be out of school and into the workforce with even more opportunities ahead of you. You'll get your chance. I promise!

Atheos · Jun 8, 2008

Hello all,
I applied/interviewed for a ER tech position at a local hospital, wound up not getting it but was offered a PCT/CNA position on the Cardiac care floor. I'm really not happy on the Cardiac care floor as I'm really not learning much, I'd rather be hands on in the ER. There is a 6 month time frame before able to apply to another department within the hospital, but by then I'll be attending LPN school (Sept 08).
I'd rather work in the ER, I'd be more doing more hands on patient care (foley, splints, etc). Should I reapply at the ER or apply at a another facility or just hang out here for a while longer on the Cardiac Care floor (been here a little over a month now).
I was a Nursing asst over 20 years ago, EMT 16 years ago and retired from the military a little over a year ago. I'd rather see more action than less, know what I mean?
Tony

If you are going into LPN school I would suggest working as a CNA in a LTC facility. Not sure how it is by you but where I am the LPNS that are in the hospital are really just doing CNA work. Most LPNs I have seen are either in a doctor's office or running LTC. Working at a hospital and being an aide 20 years ago will not give you any insight into floor nursing. Do you have LPNs at your hospital? If you do, try seeing if they will put you in proximity to them.

Having worked with LPNs for a long time as a CNA you start to see and understand what and why they do it. You see their time management. If you pay attention and ask questions you even start to understand what they are thinking about and how it applies to the patients and you. While nursing school is not 'super easy' I am noticing that the people that work with nurses for a time before going to school are having less trouble understanding certain things being taught to us.

Almost forgot about this:

The only thing we are really supposed to learn as a CNA/PCT is Patient Care. That is our main focus. Learn that and it will be one thing down when you do start school. I 'tried' to learn nursing stuff as I went along but it didn't really stick. Leave the nursing learning for school. Take this time to brush up your bedside manner, care skills, time management skills and other ancillary skills that nurses and CNAs both use.

A 6 month old CNA is still new. Like I imagine a nurse is always learning things CNAs are too. After 8 years I still learn new things.

Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP · Jun 8, 2008

If you are going into LPN school I would suggest working as a CNA in a LTC facility. Not sure how it is by you but where I am the LPNS that are in the hospital are really just doing CNA work. Most LPNs I have seen are either in a doctor's office or running LTC. Working at a hospital and being an aide 20 years ago will not give you any insight into floor nursing. Do you have LPNs at your hospital? If you do, try seeing if they will put you in proximity to them.
Having worked with LPNs for a long time as a CNA you start to see and understand what and why they do it. You see their time management. If you pay attention and ask questions you even start to understand what they are thinking about and how it applies to the patients and you. While nursing school is not 'super easy' I am noticing that the people that work with nurses for a time before going to school are having less trouble understanding certain things being taught to us.
Almost forgot about this:
The only thing we are really supposed to learn as a CNA/PCT is Patient Care. That is our main focus. Learn that and it will be one thing down when you do start school. I 'tried' to learn nursing stuff as I went along but it didn't really stick. Leave the nursing learning for school. Take this time to brush up your bedside manner, care skills, time management skills and other ancillary skills that nurses and CNAs both use.
A 6 month old CNA is still new. Like I imagine a nurse is always learning things CNAs are too. After 8 years I still learn new things.

Worked as an aide in LTC 20 years ago, not much different than working as an CNA on the Caridac Care floor now, ambulate, bathe, feed, document I/O, Vitals, help nurses, etc. The LPN's on my floor do the same work as the RN's, while they all help with patient care, their main focus should be meds, patient assessments, etc.

Working in the ER as a tech I'd be doing splints, foley's, direct patient care, more challenging work than just doing CNA tasks. Really bathing, etc while important for patient care is not that much fun or exciting or very interesting....important yes....exciting No.

Tony

WorkinTheStreets · Jul 12, 2008

Tony,

look at a spot in a PACU or get back on the street. ER Tech is not going to give you much hands on. You'll be boxed out during a good trauma. Most ER tech's I know do nothing more the triaging the walking wounded, making beds and taking vitals. I work in a busy ems system and generally move 11-14 patients in 12 hours. Last shift had 2 MVA's, a shooting and a few patients in labor. No medics, no nurse, plenty of hands on. Not sure how far you are from Nashville, but that city seems to have a busy enough system for you to get some good hands on while you are in school. Oh yea...thanks for your service in the military, you're a great American!

B

FlyMurse, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

Tony,
look at a spot in a PACU or get back on the street. ER Tech is not going to give you much hands on. You'll be boxed out during a good trauma. Most ER tech's I know do nothing more the triaging the walking wounded, making beds and taking vitals. I work in a busy ems system and generally move 11-14 patients in 12 hours. Last shift had 2 MVA's, a shooting and a few patients in labor. No medics, no nurse, plenty of hands on. Not sure how far you are from Nashville, but that city seems to have a busy enough system for you to get some good hands on while you are in school. Oh yea...thanks for your service in the military, you're a great American!
B

Not sure where you're from but that is definitely not the case around here. I did an overnight at a local ER for my EMT clinicals and got in on a code. The techs are the ones in charge of compressions and/or bagging. It was an amazing experience because I was in the middle of it (literally) as I observed all of the procedures/drugs that were pushed.

Now about the "walking around taking vitals". Yes, that is somewhat true, but the techs here also insert foley's, do blood draws, assist physicians with procedures (I got to see a chest tube inserted into a woman while she was awake, then we took the stuff she coughed up to the lab), prepare pt's for discharge including care instructions, final bandaging of wounds, etc.

So I think it definitely depends on the area that you live in. I'm in the same boat as the OP. Stuck in food service waiting for that ER tech job to open (I have my EMT, as I mentioned).

good luck!

Jeremy