I'm so confused.....CNA or PCT??!!

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2007

PCT, PCA, CNA, MST...etc. are all the same really. Some hospitals call cna's PCA's and then when they receive additional training in ekg's and blood draws they then call them PCT's, but they are really all just cna's.

According to the BON they are all..."unlicensed assistive personnel." That is...they are assistive personnel that can not do anything that requires a license. So, call them what you want.

Working as a CNA is a great way to start a nursing career. Good luck with school.

Sincerely,

Jay

Megsd, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2007

A CNA is a state certification (you take a test and are put in the state Nurse Aide registry). A PCT or RCT or PCA or whatever is a job description. That will vary from facility to facility.

bethin · Jan 12, 2007

Basically, they are all CNA's. Where I currently work we do not employ PCT's - those that can draw blood, do ekg's etc. CNA at the hospital where I work is pretty basic stuff: vitals, baths, turns, answer call lights, etc. I have thought of being a PCT or PCA (the same thing in this state) because they can do more in the larger hospitals.

Ready2BRN · Jan 16, 2007

Thank you guys for clearing that up. It all finally makes sense!

allantiques4me · Jan 16, 2007

Hey everybody. I was considering taking a PCT course this semester at the local tech college. But I'm noticing that alot of the threads saying that a CNA takes vitals, start IVs, among other things. I thought a PCT was trained to do so, not a CNA. Does it depend on the facility you work in? Can someone clear this up for me? Thanks!!!

DPko CNAs really start IVs??Im a nurse and had to take an extra course to be IV certified.Now Ive got a few questions and am confused.Please respond.

myres07 · Jan 20, 2007

Hey everybody. I was considering taking a PCT course this semester at the local tech college. But I'm noticing that alot of the threads saying that a CNA takes vitals, start IVs, among other things. I thought a PCT was trained to do so, not a CNA. Does it depend on the facility you work in? Can someone clear this up for me? Thanks!!!

As to what I have heard you have to be CNA in order to be a PCT. In other words, being a CNA is a pre-req for PCT, and also u need to take some EKG and some other stuff. Hope this helps.:wink2:

PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2007

I'm a PCT at my hospital. Most of the PCT's I've talked to worked as a CNA before they came to work here. I've never taken a CNA course nor the state certification exam, but I was still hired as a PCT. Maybe they hired me without the CNA certification because they know I'm in nursing school.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2007

I worked as a PCT while in nursing school. In fact, my first job in health care was as a PCT. I was trained in phlebotomy and EKGs in addition to performing common nursing assistant duties. It's all words but PCTs do seem to have more responsibilities and the pay might be slightly higher. Nursing students usually don't have to be CNAs for PCT positions. One semester of nursing school is usually sufficient experience. I see the term CNA used more in nursing homes and PCT in hospitals.

Xentec · Jan 21, 2007

More acronyms than the military :)

Im starting school next semester and my school calls the course that im taking....

A.A.S in MAT medical assistant tech applied science degree.

So far my goal is hospital work, i really want to avoid LCT if i can. Then go back to school for nursing.

Ready2BRN · Jan 23, 2007

I'm a PCT at my hospital. Most of the PCT's I've talked to worked as a CNA before they came to work here. I've never taken a CNA course nor the state certification exam, but I was still hired as a PCT. Maybe they hired me without the CNA certification because they know I'm in nursing school.

I noticed you're in Tampa....do you go to USF? I go to USF-Tampa and am just starting my pre-reqs. I will be applying for the accelerated program. Just curious to know what you think about the nursing school so far....