Do you enjoy being a PCA?

[RunnerD1987]

I have worked five year's in healthcare and finally found employment after a six month layoff. However, pay is not the greatest and status of the job varied on fund's coming in by the state. I was thinking of going the CNA/PCA program available here. Heard on average PCAs make no less then $40,000 a year starting out...feel be a secure job in an area interested in while going back to college.

Curious on individuals.feedback working as a PCA...Thanks

[funtimes]

I've done worse jobs and I've done jobs that were a lot easier and less stressful. At least when I go to work there is the illusion of possibly doing something positive or making a difference, although in reality most of what I do as a tech is menial backbreaking dirty work that frees up the RNs to do things that really matter.

I liked working in EMS better but the pay and benefits were horrible and the stress was a lot greater. It wasn't the constant low grade stress of being a tech, but it was periods of extreme stress punctuated by hours of monotomy, along with the inherent Monday morning quarterbacking that goes with EMS. Then there was being periodically assaulted or threatened on the job and the constant wear and tear on your body. Working as a tech is easier generally, although dealing with snotty arrogant RNs gets old. Most aren't like that but you will always have some that are, and as a tech you basically just have to put up with it.

As for pay, we are probably underpaid in comparison to RNs, at least those of us who have a fair amount of training and experience. I guess if you are some kid out of high school with nothing more than some Nursing pre reqs or a semester of nursing school under your belt its good pay, and unfortunately that makes up a large portion of hospital techs.

As for pay, around here it can vary between 12 and 20 an hour with 14 probably being the average.

[Lame]

I've been a CNA for over 2 years in assisted living. Just started at the hospital as PCA about a month ago. I love it, but it's super stressful! I'm getting better and am glad I have some experience to go off of.

I live in California. The PCAs at my hospital start off at $22/hr. It depends on what area you live in.

[tayp1991]

In reference to your original question, Do you enjoy being a PCT, I would say yes and no. I have been a PCT on the resource team in my hospital for just over a year. Essentially, I float to units who have staffing needs. Whether my day is "good" or "bad" largely depends on what unit I go to. I chose to do this type of position because I am in nursing school and I wanted to get experience on the units in order to know which unit I wanted to apply for upon graduation. When I first started working, I loved it! However, lately I find myself "dreading" going into work. I can't wait until May of this year when I graduate and no longer have to care for 12-15 patients. I do understand that PCT work is not at the level of RN work, but there is just so much asked of PCTs by so many different people at the same time, it is hard to keep up. Sometimes, when there are extra nurses and not enough PCTs a nurse will be assigned to be a "nurse helper," or be a PCT for the shift. I cannot count the times I have seen this happen and the nurses say that it is "awful" and they could NOT be a tech all the time. It is HARD work, and we get paid minimally. (I make $13 an hour only because I am a student nurse level II, PCTs who are not student nurses make 10-11). However, the experience working as a tech provides to nursing students is incomparable. I go home from work absolutely exhausted, but the job is rewarding if you remember WHY you are doing it...for the patients! It is not an easy job, and it is certainly not for everyone. I could not do it for an entire career, and I have the utmost respect for those who do!