How did you become a PCT?

bawilliamson · Aug 15, 2013

Hello :-)...I went to a technical school in my area...I was in the process of trying to get into the LPN program...At the time I didn't pass

my teas test and I was recommended to sign up for the PCT course :-)...It was a five month course with clinical and lectures...loved the class...took state board and recurved my license :-)...I believe this was the best route to go...even though I didn't have much of a choice...and I believe I will now be better prepared for LPN class in which I begone this coming Monday...the 19th :-)...hope this has help in some way...good Lucy and have a blessed day :-)

green34 · Aug 16, 2013

I was an EMT for a fire dept and a private ambulance company while going to nursing school and finishing up a medic program at the same time (crazy). I had pals, ACLS, pepp, ITLS, and a bunch of other certs that look nice on an application so I was called for an interview as a PCT.

My current job as a unit clerk/paramedic came when that ER eliminated my position as I was the newest PCT. I work more than I need to.

One thing to keep in mind is that usually friends of employees so look out for clinical instructors or classmates that work at the hospital you want to apply. It is not a sure foot in, but it helps.

Also have a professional looking resume.

funtimes · Aug 17, 2013

A lot of part time or temporary techs are 3rd year nursing students. Full time techs the path seems to be a lot more varied. I've seen some that are MAs, some that were nursing students with clinical experience but had to drop out of Nursing school for one reason or another. Probably the most common full time techs I've seen are experienced CNAs that maybe have some additional training like phlebotomy and have some pre nursing or allied health education.

Someone mentioned being an EMT. Having an EMT license wouldn't hurt IF you have experience in an inpatient setting and some additional training. If your only training and experience is as an EMT you could be an ER tech, but EMTs aren't likely to be found on the floors because they require so much additional training and often learn bad habits in the field that can be disasterous if applied to an inpatient setting.

Unfortunately getting into any hospital patient care position is always tricky and usually requires luck or knowing the right person.

green34 · Aug 18, 2013

Someone mentioned being an EMT. Having an EMT license wouldn't hurt IF you have experience in an inpatient setting and some additional training. If your only training and experience is as an EMT you could be an ER tech, but EMTs aren't likely to be found on the floors because they require so much additional training and often learn bad habits in the field that can be disasterous if applied to an inpatient setting.

Actually, in the other state that I am licensed in as a paramedic it was common for hospitals to hire EMTs. It was also crazy how much they made as PCTs. He made about 14 dollars an hour in a lower cost of living area. If I lived closer to where he worked, I would apply for those jobs. Not to mention benefits including free college at an excellent university, decent health insurance, etc. He wanted to get road experience and we called him crazy because he would be making about 10 bucks an hour.

Also, I was a patient care tech in the ER. In the ER I was hired into, they eliminated the CNAs and nursing students and only looked at medics, LPNs, EMTs, and medical assistants.

It really depends on what you want to do and what the hospitals want to hire. 90% of hospitals have online job postings so look at what type of requirements they have listing. Some will list 1 or 2 clinical classes for nursing required in order to apply.

funtimes · Aug 19, 2013

Actually, in the other state that I am licensed in as a paramedic it was common for hospitals to hire EMTs. It was also crazy how much they made as PCTs. He made about 14 dollars an hour in a lower cost of living area. If I lived closer to where he worked, I would apply for those jobs. Not to mention benefits including free college at an excellent university, decent health insurance, etc. He wanted to get road experience and we called him crazy because he would be making about 10 bucks an hour.

At a previous hospital I worked at they did hire an experienced EMT as a inpatient PCT. His only experience was as an EMT for a Fire Department and a private ambulance company, but he did poorly from the start because quite simply, he didn't know anything. Not even basic stuff like how to make an occupied bed, reposition people, clean up someone who was incontinent, use a hoyer, much less stuff like maintaining a sterile field, starting foleys, straight cathing, trach care, ostomy care, tube feedings, dressing changes etc. He had to learn it all from scratch.

They gave him the benefit of the doubt and extended his orientation because he had a good track record as an EMT. In the end it just never clicked and he struggled to make the transition from Emergency medicine to an inpatient setting. His organizational skills and time management just weren't there and he neglected things that might be unimportant in an emergency setting but can cause major problems in a hospital. Decubs are a big problem, infection control is a big deal, not keeping accurate I/O can cause the RNs and docs big headaches, and little things like forgetting to put SCDs on a patient can have serious implications, and you cant always just turn up someones O2 because their spo2 reading is low. A hospital is not an ambulance. Its a very different mindset.

CPCTColeman · Aug 21, 2013

Hey for me I was in a PCT program from January 2012 to December 2012. First semester we took classes and clinicals to get our CNA license and I took one class in the summer because I was unable to take it in the spring. Then I spent my final semester taking Phlebotomy and EKG to take the certification exam after clinicals. I have read in different states their are many programs that are short and some are long.

RN_Student14 · Aug 25, 2013

I am a second year nursing student at a Technical College. I applied for a tech position after completing two clinical rotations and was offered a position as a PRN tech.

jescalynn, ASN, RN · Sep 1, 2013

I just got hired as a DCA at a group home, not ideal but I'm getting a ton of experience, their licencing is different and I am able to do much more than I could in a hospital.

kht124 · Sep 2, 2013

I got my CNA, then CMA. Worked 11 months in a memory care/assisted living unit for a company that owns multiple nursing home and hospitals. Applied for hospital job and got job as a pct/huc at a new hospital owns by the same company. Worked in that position for about 11 months, then my hospital (finally) created an education department, which meant that students/residents can finally do clinical there AND student positions were created. I became a nurse technician after that. I am still working PRN as a NT for the same company.

So my advice is: get your foot in the door anywhere. I did not want to work in a nursing home, but if working in a nursing home will make you an internal job applicator, do it!

icemanof92 · Oct 30, 2013

I have no certifications except EMT-B so what really got me in was having 3 years of undergraduate nursing education under my belt. Many hospitals will hire you as a PCT or NA after passing 1-2 clinical classes.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2013

No nursing school that I know of requires you to have PCT experience. They may require a CNA class.

I do recommend applying everywhere. In my state, they do not require you to be a CNA to work in a NA/PCT role in a hospital. If you know someone, ask if you can put them down as a reference. I became an EMT and that is how I became a PCT in an ER. Then I became a paramedic and I started working at my new ER.