Is PCT training worth it for a future RN?

nurse51806 · Mar 10, 2006

Hi Allison,

The duties of a PCT vary from health system to health system. I took a job in December as a "Nurse Extern" which is really a PCT who is a nursing student. I'm going to graduate in May as an RN. The last few months of experience as a PCT has been great - I've learned a lot more in addition to what we learn in school. The duties of our PCT's are the standard bed changes, patient baths, taking vital signs, drawing blood, wound care, removing foley catheters, doing the blood glucose accuchecks, and of course we are the extra set of eyes and ears for the nurses - who usually appreciate the extra help and sometimes a heads up on a patient who appears to have things going on that seem to be abnormal. You'll know your patients very well from spending time with them and will notice chances in behavior, changes of color in their foley bags, drastic changes in their vital signs and their accuchecks - to name a few. The starting rate you mentioned seems low - but then again it depends on what state or part of the country you are in - even in the same county here, hospitals pay different rates You can actually work every other weekend and get plenty of experience. Check around to the other hospitals in the area and find out what the going rate is for PCT's. The more responsibilities you have, the more you should be paid. Most hospitals really need good PCT's and you can negotiate a lot with them for pay, tuition, etc. I know this from first hand experience. One system I was going to work for didn't want to give tuition reimbursement until you had worked there 90 days - I got them to waive that and give it to me up front and start paying from the first day I worked for the semester I was about to start.

Hope this helps. Just don't wear yourself out - the experience will come - the pay and tuition and benefits are your own personal preferences - do you need them now - or can you wait?

The PCT's that I work with and all of our instructors say the same thing - the experience is invaluable and will help you through your clinicals - which is half the battle of nursing school!

Good luck!

Kathy:nurse:

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2006

I think working as a PCT is a good idea for someone wanting to get into nursing. You either really really want to be a nurse or you change your mind real quick. Also, it gives you some basic knowledge so when you get out of nursing school you have some real experience in knowing what others roles are.

student4ever · Mar 10, 2006

Yes yes and a million times yes! It sounds like for you, the real decision is whether or not you can handle it financially. I took a pay cut to leave my former job and be a PCT, but it is serving me SOOOOO well already and I haven't even gotten to clinicals! I really do recommend it if you can financially swing it. It will help you be more comfortable handling patients in clinicals, because you already have experience interacting with the patients, and you will see and do SO much that will help you understand what you're learning in school and make it applicable.

AllisonLP · Mar 10, 2006

Thanks guys! I contacted another hospital to get some info about training programs, starting pay, etc but I havent gotten a responce yet. I think you guys are right that it's totally worth a lot for the experience, hopefully I can find a little higher pay... or work nights for a 1.75/hr diff....I just found that out today!

Allison

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

Nurse externing is much more appropriate and generally pays a little more. PCT training is good--but only if you don't have to pay them for it!

While externing, I worked with a PCT who had gone to some private school to learn to be a PCT, and her tuition, books and fees left her with a $5,000 debt!

Usually if you are an extern, RN's will take some time to teach you some things, and, depending on the facility and whether they are all on the same page (which wasn't my experience much of the time), they will allow you to practice the skills you have been checked off for at school.

Great thread!