First Foley

[nurseangel78]

I inserted my first foley catheter tonight! YAY for me!!!:yelclap: I was kinda nervous about it knowing that I had never done it in school or at work before, so one of my CNA 's which was a PCT 2 went into the room with me to help walk me through it. It felt so weird that she had done it before and I hadn't and I was the nurse. I'm very glad she was there. After trying a couple of times, I finally got urine. I don't think I have ever been that happy to see URINE before. Only in Nursing!! :rotfl:

[TCASII, ADN]

Hmmm... can they also do injections? How does this differ from the scope of pratice of a Medical Assistant or Phlebotomist?

PCTs don't get the billing, coding, office training that MAs get. Also, no injections, just venipuncture and cath training as far as "invasive" techniques are concerned. PCTs are also taught EKG along with what I mentioned. PCTs are mainly used in hosptical med/surg floors, whereas most MAs work in doctors offices. As far as hosptials are concerned though, PCTs usually don't get to do phlebotomy or even catheters on the floors. Most of them only do wound care (minor) and help the RN/LPN do a little more than a CNA with simple stuff. The hospitals here all use their own phlebotomists from the lab and make the nurses do the catheters, unless they come from another department with one already in, e.g., surgery. The CNAs are getting phased out for PCTs, except where LTC is needed. Nursing home are still just using CNAs. A lot of hosptials here won't even hire LPNs anymore.

[Slobgob]

PCTs don't get the billing, coding, office training that MAs get. Also, no injections, just venipuncture and cath training as far as "invasive" techniques are concerned. PCTs are also taught EKG along with what I mentioned. PCTs are mainly used in hosptical med/surg floors, whereas most MAs work in doctors offices. As far as hosptials are concerned though, PCTs usually don't get to do phlebotomy or even catheters on the floors. Most of them only do wound care (minor) and help the RN/LPN do a little more than a CNA with simple stuff. The hospitals here all use their own phlebotomists from the lab and make the nurses do the catheters, unless they come from another department with one already in, e.g., surgery. The CNAs are getting phased out for PCTs, except where LTC is needed. Nursing home are still just using CNAs. A lot of hosptials here won't even hire LPNs anymore.

Thanks for clearing this up. Even though i've been exposed to about 7 hospitals from rotations and work in SoCAL... i've never heard of a PCT.

With that said... my psych hospital use to have a Mental Health Nurses Aide that sometimes would do venipuncture and EKG on a STAT basis when we couldn't wait for an outside service. I always wondered how the heck she was able to do both of those.... maybe now I know. =)

Sad thing about her though... she was easily the most abused employee when it came to someone's hours being toyed with.... and only made $9/hour which is less than 90% of the Nurses Aides that couldn't do phlebotomy or EKGs. Actually... the only people that were trained to do EKG were the House Sups and they got paid $40/hr.

[Heartman]

Speculating,

So well said.

I have always worked in hospitals and make it a point to know the name of everyone I come in contact with.

All the ancillary staff, from supply , pharmacy, lab, x-ray, OR, ER etc. etc.

It's nice to know the person on the other end of the phone when you need something in a hurry.

Makes your job more fun too.

Walter :redbeathe

[TCASII, ADN]

Thanks for clearing this up. Even though i've been exposed to about 7 hospitals from rotations and work in SoCAL... i've never heard of a PCT.

With that said... my psych hospital use to have a Mental Health Nurses Aide that sometimes would do venipuncture and EKG on a STAT basis when we couldn't wait for an outside service. I always wondered how the heck she was able to do both of those.... maybe now I know. =)

Sad thing about her though... she was easily the most abused employee when it came to someone's hours being toyed with.... and only made $9/hour which is less than 90% of the Nurses Aides that couldn't do phlebotomy or EKGs. Actually... the only people that were trained to do EKG were the House Sups and they got paid $40/hr.

That's the problem with these ancillary jobs. Outside of the deparment-specific jobs, like X-Ray techs or lab assistants, the abuse of the lower paying individuals is getting out of hand. Hospitals would rather not hire LPNs, but "aides" to work for less money. Good ole' HMO-driven industry.

[rach_nc_03]

However, no where in a CNAs schooling does it teach about inserting foleys. Maybe a CNA has seen someone do it... do I trust them? Do i trust that they understand the importance of sterile technique and know what to do in abnormal circumstances? Not really.

It *is* part of CNAII scope of practice in many states. I work as a CNAII in an ICU while I finish nursing school, and I do very few bedbaths...all the patients are on monitors, so I only do temps. Most of what I do are tube feeds, setting up IV's, and inserting foleys. And helping turn patients. I was trained to do every skill I perform, and had to demonstrate them when I was tested for my certification. I've probably put in 100 foleys over the last year as a CNA, and 1 as a nursing student!