CNA vs. PCT

Nursing Students CNA/MA

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Specializes in Candy Striper in the 80's.

Cna hopeful(now a cna), just wants to know what the difference is between a cna and a pct? I am considering that verrrrrry low paying job at 7.50 an hour, just to get to working, and also, for the experience, until something better comes along. At this facility, they start the cna's out at $ 7.50 an hour and the pct's out at a dollar more. What is a pct? And what can they do that we can't? Are they state certified? Anyone know???:confused:

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pct is a patient care technition, the only place I have ever heard of them is at hospitals, they are CNA I or II's and are trained by the hospital to do additional procedures like ECG. but there isn't a state certification for PCT, and they can only practice these additional skills at the facility that trained them.

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7.50 an hour? For a CNA job? WOW, thats literally the same as working at a fast food joint. Really sounds like a place Id wanna send my grandma to.

This must be one of those "right to work" states.

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Around here PCTs and CNA are the exact same thing...some places just call them PCTs and some places call them CNAs.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I am a NCT same thing as a PCT. We are trained by the hospital to do additional skills that CNA's are not allowed to do under their certification. Where I am we can do glucose tests, draw blood, take out foley's, d/c IV's, EKG's, etc.

Some hospitals want you to be a CNA first, some don't care, but I think it helps for sure. I have no idea what CNA's make around here in the nursing homes, but I started at $11.47 plus shift differential for working evening/PM.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/home health care.
Cna hopeful(now a cna), just wants to know what the difference is between a cna and a pct? I am considering that verrrrrry low paying job at 7.50 an hour, just to get to working, and also, for the experience, until something better comes along. At this facility, they start the cna's out at $ 7.50 an hour and the pct's out at a dollar more. What is a pct? And what can they do that we can't? Are they state certified? Anyone know???:confused:

Holy crap, I am sorry. I would say accept it if it just something to get experience until you move up. Any experience is good experience. As for PCT, They basically are like CNAs with more experience and it's really more of a title used for hospital workers although it has a wide meaning base and is kind of a vague title. As far as I know, there is no special certification for PCT. I hope that everything works out and you find a better job!

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I got my CNA training this past summer, I was hired by a hospital but they are calling me a PCT and will be training me to do EKG/Phlebotomy, Scrub in for C-sections and other on job training. Pay if $11 starting with no experience I get an additional $1 for working 3-11pms

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