CV Tech or Pt Tech......help!

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Specializes in Aspiring to become something great!.

Okay so I got a dilemma, I start nursing school Jan 2011 and want to get my foot in the door and get some hospital experience. The hospital I'm interested in, is hiring Pt Techs and a CV tech. For the Pt Tech, you need CNA license and for CV tech, you need EKG certification. Since I'm in school, I don't have the time to get the CNA license, but I do have time to get the EKG cert (its a weekend class). Which one should I shoot for? I want to have more knowledge before I start school and clinicals in Jan (ABSN), so I'm trying to figure out if obtaining the EKG cert & applying for CV Tech would really help me or should I make a way and get the CNA license and be a Pt Tech?

I'm wrecking my brain and need some help from people who are already in the hospital.

Any help would be great!

Thanks in advance!

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Most hospitals train their CNA's in EGK and Phlebotomy after they hire them.

You should get your CNA, if you want to get some hands on experience before you start nursing school. Most of the universities and colleges in Illinois require you to have your CNA before you apply for nursing school.

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Specializes in Aspiring to become something great!.

Oh wow! They don't require that here in Indy. Currently I work in home care, so I get to be around pt, but I need hospital experience. Thanks for the advice!

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Oh wow! They don't require that here in Indy. Currently I work in home care, so I get to be around pt, but I need hospital experience. Thanks for the advice!

Most hospitals want you to have at least 6 months of experience, but I'm sure you won't have a problem getting a job because you already have experience with patients.

Get your CNA because it will open more doors for you later on. Working at a hospital has it perks like getting tuition reimbursement after working 6 months at the hospital.

I had a classmate in my CNA who did home care and got her CNA. She got paid more after she got her CNA.

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Specializes in ICU.

As someone who is a CNA currently working as a CV Tech - I'm all about the CV Tech. Now, I defintiely do not regret for a minute my CNA experience - it was invaluable and a fantastic learning experience. But after about a year on the (med/tele) floor it was very repetitive, physically and emotionally exhausting, and I didn't feel intellectually challenged at all.

I am SO glad I transfered to my CV position. I had already passed a dysrhythmia class (I took it while working as a floor CNA because I was so bored with being a CNA and wanted to learn something new), and had done EKGs as a CNA when floated to ER. It's a pretty easy job, but at my hospital it's very laid back, I work directly with the cardiologists and fellows and know most of the intensivists and residents, I spend a lot of time assisting in the cath lab and stress lab, and it's a very autonomous job. I get to arrange my work how I'd like most of the time, and I can ask questions, spend "free time" in ICU observing, AND I am on the rapid response & code blue teams. I go to every RR and code, and I've gotten great experience getting to do CPR, watching the decision-making process hundreds of times, helping where needed, running for supplies, cleaning up bodies, etc.

CV Tech is the job I will keep through nursing school. I love love love it! I've never had a job like this where I was excited to go to work every day, because of the possibilities of what I'll see and learn.

CNA is great experience, CV Tech is fun. :) Good luck deciding!

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Specializes in Aspiring to become something great!.

Thanks! Hey you never know what may happen, I think I may apply to both! I just looked again and they have some positions where you don't need CNA for pt tech, but the title won't be certified! I don't need that, I just need to get in! BUT I will be starting EKG class in May, I feel I need this under my belt anyway.

How is the ICU? I can't wait to see!

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Specializes in Aspiring to become something great!.

@KB24...thanks! I'm going to continue searching for a school with better hours, as I'm positive this under my belt would be awesome. I just want to be well-rounded.

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Specializes in ICU.

I LOVE the ICU. I work at a teaching hospital for one of our state university's medical schools, so I work in such a fantastic learning environment. Everyone's always willing to teach! My ICU nurses are amazing and put up with all my questions; I love them! I totally want to work in a CV ICU after nursing school.

It would never hurt to apply to both! I think both would be great experience.

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Specializes in Aspiring to become something great!.

YAY! I'm applying to a teaching facility who hires new grads in ICU. Their only requirement is you must have student nurse experience. They have a wonderful orientation program for all new grads, I'm so excited to get in there and just check out all depts!

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