CNA vs PCT vs Phlebotomy

[Lizzly]

I'm a student currently doing pre-core classes for the nursing program at a community class and wanted to become a Phlebotomy to gain experience in nursing and to earn more money. Our Technical College does a Phlebotomy class but Ill have to transfer to the school and miss up my classes at the community college, 2 yr college. I found a place 45 minutes from me that would allow me to take either Phlebotomy or Patient Care Technician, allows me to take classes without interferer with my college classes. They also have a CNA program. She said I'd be better off taking the PCT class than the Phlebotomy class with no medical program so I did some research... I found that CNA and PCT do the same job except PCT draw blood. Why do PCT class when I already took the CNA class? It seems like a repeat of the CNA class. I want to do just Phlebotomy and work at a hospital till I get into nursing. I'm calling this lady to ask more questions tomorrow and explain I already work as a Nurse's Aid. She's said that PCT are replacing LPN at the hospital, true or false? I'm not interested in doing the CNA stuff again. I don't understand why she prefer PCT over Phlebotomy. Does the hospital hire only patient Care Tech (PCT) now? The sad part is she said the 100.00 is nonrefundable so I lost my money which is silly since class doesn't start till Jan. I'll let you know what I find out tomorrow, Any advice would help me. thanks.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hang on - don't be in such a hurry. Unless you are dire financial straits, it would be better for you to focus on your classes & keeping a high GPA right now. After you complete your first clinical semester, you will probably be eligible for PCT jobs. In fact, most hospitals give special consideration to nursing students when it comes to these jobs, especially for students that do clinical rotations in their facility.

[Lizzly]

You do a clinical rotation after you're accepted into Nursing, right? I'm doing only Pre-core classes at the moment knows working in the medical field will good when they look on my application for nursing school. when I compared the CNA classes and PCT classes, +6

there are a bit differences in the description of each program. I'm sure it depends on where you work too, like PCT might do a lot of CNA stuff at the hospital. I'm sure that going through with this program will give me advance skills that I didn't get in the CNA. I'll find out when I get the books if I really want to do the program or not. Thanks for the help. Do you think they are really replacing LPN with other stuff like PCT. That's rumor has been going on forever. Even after going to class for 3 months, a PCT doesn't still have as much knowledge as a LPN so how can they replace them? At the Assistant living,CNA take a four class proxy care class is allowed to give medicine without assistant of a LPN. We chart the medicine and everything.

Thanks for the help.

[Theor23]

You sound like me...all over the place to make a decision! lol It's totally understandable. Hey, I just took a 2 week CNA class and what I want to let you know is yes, PCT make more $$$ but if your goal is nursing school then just become a cna IF its more affordable. Your main goal is: get a job as a CNA and get experience...it may help when applying to RN school too. Also, if you get a job make sure they will help pay for college! woo!