difference in getting PCT AND LPN

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Are they same in any way or lpn is little vast than pct? Please advice

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Are they same in any way or lpn is little vast than pct? Please advice

PCT (patient care tech) is an unlicensed assistive position.

LPN is a licensed nurse. Very large difference.

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Specializes in Hospice.

The facility I work at is transitioning the LPN and PCA to a PCT position. It seems to take some skills away from the LPN but adds skills to the PCA. I'm not sure of the responsibility of the PCT but the LPNs are feeling demoted.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
The facility I work at is transitioning the LPN and PCA to a PCT position. It seems to take some skills away from the LPN but adds skills to the PCA. I'm not sure of the responsibility of the PCT but the LPNs are feeling demoted.

I'm sure they are feeling demoted! How sad is that. Yet another decline in facility staffing.

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Some LPN's won't have to do ADLS depending on the setting. PCTS are solely for that.

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Some LPN's won't have to do ADLS depending on the setting. PCTS are solely for that.

In any bedside care setting, an LPN will be expected to assist with ADLs and hands on care if the need should arise. I doubt very much any state's BON would accept the reply "But there weren't any CNAs around" when they ask you why you didn't perform care on a soiled resident.

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Are they same in any way or lpn is little vast than pct? Please advice

I'm curious what the phrase "little vast" means.

There is a large difference in becoming a PCT vs becoming a LPN.

An LPN is a licensed practical nurse who completed a PN program that enabled them to be eligible to sit for the NCLEX-PN. Once licensed, they are legally able to practice nursing under the supervision of an RN or a physician in the state in which they are licensed.

A PCT is a patient care technician. PCTs perform routine nursing tasks delegated to them by a licensed nurse. One may become a PCT through on the job training or through a vocational program that awards a certificate. (certificate does not equal license)

Note that no education is legally required to become a PCT, a hospital may choose to hire people off the street and train them to be PCTs or the hospital may choose to make educational certification a requirement. Totally up to the employer's discretion. Also note that there is no such thing as a "PCT license". All key distinctions.

Many PCTs mistakenly think they are "pretty much LPNs" or that "LPNs are glorified techs" because, in their particular place of employment, LPNs and PCTs do mostly the same tasks. Untrue. Just because an employer chooses to utilize their LPN staff in the same way as their PCT staff, that doesn't change the very real differences between the two roles.

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So I am an RN. A LPN is a type of nurse. A PCT is a tech. Totally different. One has a license, one does not.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

We no longer hire LVN's in our hospital because they are limited in what they can do in this environment. But they do have a license which the PCT does not. Maybe the facility that is giving the LVN's a new job description are cutting out the LVN's too and at least giving them a job till the LVN decides what to do next.

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Last hospital I worked at, the pcts were former cnas, they did pt care, drsg changes, iv starts, ekgs, hung tube fdgs, that sort of thing.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

in Texas, regardless of the title, a person is either licensed or not licensed. THis is why it is confusing to my why the LVN's are employed as non-licensed. I have the impression that, regardless of title, if you have a license you are held to that level of responsibility. Oh well

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I know I am hearing the same. I am doing my Lpn and my friend told me they are licensed for dialysis and phlebotomist so but she is PCT.

She finished in 6 weeks unlike me part time program for 18 months and full time for 9 months.

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