How do you let a friend know a nursing position isn't what she thinks it is?

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A friend of mine became interested in Nursing after I sort of found my calling for it. I decided I really wanted to become an RN, I'm currently enrolling into a community college so I can start working towards the RN program. My friend, actually she's more like my sister - I've known her for 18 years now, she's going to a tech school for a 10-month PCT program, that is costing her $14k. IMHO, that's a bit much.. but either way, she's decided to do it and that's great. It's awesome to see her ambitious again! My problem is, the school she's going to isn't giving her completely honest information, and I'm worried she's going to end up miserable or disappointed. She wanted to get an RN, but the school convinced her that PCT is the way to go, so conveniently one of their most expensive programs as well. Her teachers are telling her that a PCT is equal to an RN - that the only difference really is title, it's (supposedly) the same thing! Not to mention, they (once again, supposedly) make the same amount of money as an RN. Now.. I know this isn't true. I know quite a few nurses in our area, and around here a PCT makes a bit more than a CNA, and generally does mostly CNA work. Since she's going full-steam into nursing without knowing what goes into it whatsoever, these instructors aren't informing her of the not-so-glorious work that a CNA would normally do. So, I think she may be getting a false impression.

I was really hoping she'd join me at the community college to work towards an RN degree, but she's already locked into this school. I don't want to bring her down, or upset her... but she needs to know that there is a pretty steep difference between a PCT and an RN, she's not going to learn nearly as much in this tech school (I already spoke to admissions and I've read their course catalog), and she's going to be very unpleasantly surprised when she realizes that the position isn't what she thinks it is.

How can I talk to her about this without hurting her? She means a lot to me, and I want her to have a great education, not just a decent education from an unaccredited tech school. Any suggestions? :confused:

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Just tell her that you love her and are looking out for her. I had a friend who was in a similar situation and I just told her the truth. Its hard but she needs to know this stuff if she doesnt know it already. Tell her to do some more research also if she still doesnt understand.

Good luck.

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What angers me about programs such as the one your friend signed up for is the incredibly high prices and the encouragement of taking on big loans in addition to making sometimes very misleading claims about future potential income and job opportunities.

Maybe you can give her some resources and references to refer to and some questions for her to get answers for (eg look up actual pay of PCTs on local job sites, call human resource departments to ask if this PCT cert would help land a job or not) and let her come to her own conclusions about the program she's enrolled in. If she chooses to not pursue that information, then that's her choice.

If it weren't for the high cost and false promises, I wouldn't discourage PCT training. I don't think any training is a waste. I personally would've benefitted from being a PCT for a before and during nursing school. It would've allowed me to focus on RN-level skills and knowledge while in nursing school instead of having to learn and become comfortable with even the most basic of patient care skills in a cram-packed two year RN program.

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Gosh, how hard. If she is truly already locked into a contract with this school, then I am not sure that being the bearer of bad news at this point would be helpful at all. It may just make her feel unsupported. But, if you have reason to believe that she can still get out of this obligation to the tech school, then by all means, talk to her. Maybe help her find community colleges in the area with programs that are much cheaper, and point out that they are accredited, while this tech school isn't. Also, if her eventual goal is to be an RN, then a lot of hospitals hire nursing students as PCT's after the 1st semester of nursing school anyway (it's what I am doing!). Tell her about this website, too! Good luck!

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:eek: OP Show her this thread. Im a PCT and no PCT is not equal to an RN. PCT is basically a CNA. Also spending 14k to become a PCT is ridiculous. She could have used that money to enroll in a BSN program. Also tell her in my area PCT gets paid around $9-13 an hour.
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14k for a PCT program! What state are you in? In my state a PCT is a CNA with the EKG and phlebotomy certificate. Full time it's an eight week program or 15 weeks part time. 14k for that is taking advantage.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I know you want to avoid hurting your friend's feelings, but it also sounds like you want to show her the light and save her a$$ (and her pocketbook) PRONTO!

In my neck of the woods, you can get a CNA in eight weekends for a few hundred dollars at a community college. This school is preying on her (and others') ignorance.

If need be, you can take her to one of the local, reputable RN schools and have an advisor talk to her. Or, you can start out by showing her these wikipedia links. Maybe that's a good start to determine how much that school got their claws into her. If she says, "Oh, that's not true. The school said...," she's in deep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlicensed_assistive_personnel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nursing_assistant_skills

In the end, though, you can only do so much. Know when to step back and let her learn her own lessons and try not to feel too guilty if she goes down the path that you know will only lead to disappointment (and deep debt) for her.

Good luck to you and your friend. :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiology, Hematology,.

my hospital pays us our base rate while they train us to be a PCT, Unit Sec, RN, whatever oriantation you are doing. thats insane to pay 14k to be trained in a non-licensed prof.

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:eek: OP Show her this thread. Im a PCT and no PCT is not equal to an RN. PCT is basically a CNA. Also spending 14k to become a PCT is ridiculous. She could have used that money to enroll in a BSN program. Also tell her in my area PCT gets paid around $9-13 an hour.

We live in the Tampa area, PCT gets around the same here. I've done a lot of research over the past couple years on Nursing professions and I'm glad she's interested in going back to school, I just don't think she took the time to figure out what she really wants to do. As far as I know from the Nurses I know that live around here, somebody with an ASN will generally start out at minimum around $18/hour.

I know she wants to start a career, she just really has no idea what she's getting into. I'm going on what I know about the school and what she's told me so far. I'm going to get some actual evidence so she can see the difference between the two professions. The thing that scares me is I'm relatively sure any training she gets there will not transfer to another school except for any certifications she may get. Can't help but worry for her. :(

Thanks very much for your info though Athrun. :)

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Specializes in Hospice.

IMHO, simply tell her ... and point out that more than one of these for-profit tech schools have been proven to be scams and prosecuted for fraud. If what you say about their information is true, they are lying to her and that is fraud.

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Oh, also! I thought I'd mention - most of the threads I've seen on PCT programs are generally 8-12 week courses or so.. this is a 10 month program. I'm not sure how they're stretching out a 12 week program into 10 months, but it seems that's how it is. Maybe they convince people the extra time justifies the cost? Not sure, but I know my financial aid at the moment won't cover $14k...

The admissions rep I spoke to was SELLING (well trying to sell) the program to me. "So, you know Lisa, hospitals are completely phasing out CNAs and LPNs. The position to go for right now is definitely a PCT. Great way to start a career, once you placed a job you'd be able to tap the potential hospitals resources and maybe pursue a higher degree that way. Get your foot in the door, you know? You should come down to the school today and let me show you around.." Etc., etc. I've spent enough time with Nurses and is hospitals in this area to know that there are definitely PCT positions available, but I have extreme doubts that hospitals and care centers would "phase out" CNAs and LPNs.

Darn tech schools, it just seems too good to be true when they push that hard. Just my opinion. :rolleyes:

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I must admit, while I'm paying ridiculous $$$ for a PCT program, it will allow me to get my foot in the door of a hospital and gain experience while I work on my nursing education. The private school program worked for me because it gave me weekend classes so that I didn't have to put our 3 year old in daycare and then pay for that on top of classes. I think these tech schools will work for certain individuals who know what they are getting themselves into from the door. RN and PCT are totally different salary and job ranges though. Good luck! Just show her this board...where are you from?

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