I am in school and not currently a CNA/PCT

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Hello,

I am in my fourth semester of a five semester BSN program. I went straight from pre reqs to nursing school as I was lucky to not be wait listed. I never had an extra semester to get my CNA license. Most hospitals around here will hire nursing students as PCTs after completing Fundamentals, which I did. However, I stayed at my job as a banquet server because it works so extremely well with my schedule and because its a great job.

All I have been hearing lately is how stupid I am for not getting a PCT job and how I won't get a job because the hospitals will hire all the students who are already PCTs.

Has anyone been in the same boat as me? What were your experiences? Was it difficult finding a job?

I have been more stressed about the prospect of being jobless after graduation than nursing school itself. It really is driving me crazy.

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Stop stressing it. Everybody has a different path and not just those who have had work as CNAs get hired. I have a list of varied job experiences and twenty years of childraising behind me and I'm not going to let any of them lower my confidence in what are new skills to us ALL.

Go get em, tiger. Polish up that resume and be prepared to give a killer interview and you're fine.

Can't we all stop trying to be intimidating to each other? What is the point???

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I'm in the same boat as you! I'm about to start my final semester of a BSN program in a couple of weeks. I have a job at a collective cafe on campus and it's the best job I've ever had, and I didn't want to leave to get a PCA job even though I knew it could give me an edge. I just figured that since my whole life would be nursing school, I was ok with making this decision for my own emotional well-being and happiness. I did have a hospital internship last summer to get some more medical experience besides clinical, though. Maybe that's an option you could consider?

Also, I've heard and read many stories from RNs who got jobs just fine without having PCA/CNA jobs first. For resumes and interviews I think it'll be really important to highlight how different skills you've used at your current and past jobs can still help you be a good nurse (time management, prioritizing tasks, dealing with difficult customers, overcoming challenging situations with colleagues, etc) I've been feeling anxious about employment too, but we'll be ok! :)

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I couldn't work and be in nursing school at the same time. I put all of my time and attention into passing nursing school... so then I at least had my degree and could possibly get a job. Hehe.

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thank you! you have all made me feel much better now. i agree, part of the reason i haven't tried extremely hard to find a pct position is because of how it works with the school schedule. there are a few techs who will work overnights until 7:30 am and then come to school for a full day on monday at 8am. I would never be able to pay attention in class that way!

i also agree about the intimidating each other. I actually had one girl who was is a pct at a hospital that I should have done what she had done. She told me that she is basically already a nurse because she does EVERY THING they do besides pass meds and start IVs and that I am going to have such a hard time because I have no experience at all.

That was what was getting me bummed. I was simply asking her how she likes that particular hospital and she basically just brings up me having no experience. I was like well gee thanks!

I figure if you're trying really hard to get a job and never give up, you can't go jobless forever!

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