Explanation of job titles?

[maggijo]

Can someone please explain the differences in the following positions:

CNA, medical asst., patient care asst., patient care technician?

Thanks!

[TazziRN, RN]

CNA---Certified Nursing Assistant. Does pt care, ADLs, may do simple dressing changes to assist the nursing staff.

Medical Assistant---usually utilized in clinics and offices. Next step up from CNA, can give some meds, draw blood.

PCA and PCT are basically the same things. They were supposed to help free up more time for the RNs and LVNs to do more "important" things....like paperwork.

[woody62, RN]

I believe in North Carolina you can be a CNA 1 or a CNA 2. Under their law, both are authorized to do much more then just basic patient care.

Woody:balloons:

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

They have really expanded the CNA roles to be patient care technicians and associates, who do bedside care and in addition, draw blood, do dressings, EKGs, fingersticks, catheter insertion and care, and also clerical work. It is a form of multi-tasking. Medical assistants usually work in a doctor's office and as previously stated, may give PPDs, vaccinations, and depending on the doctor, may administer some medications. One of the pet peeves about medical assistants is that some of the schools pump them up to think that they are nurses, but that is another story.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

no matter how many extra roles and interventiosn you add to Nursing support worker staff roles it doesn't make any difference and what fancy titles you give them it doesn't changethe overall accountability and responsibility patterns i nthe work place the designated RN (or second level nurse if you have them and the charge RN ) carries the can...

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

in my state the CNA has completed a certification course that follows an outline promoted by the State. The PCT's can be doing the same job, but their training is "on the job" and may not make them eligible for hire in every facility. Most Nurse Practice Acts refer to all these as unlicensed assistive personnel. The interaction between nurse and UAP has to be regulated for patient safety.