MA to PCT?

[Corpsman514]

Hello, and happy Labor Day

I was fortunate to land a position as a Patient Care Technician in a large university hospital based on my military training and experience (Hospital Corpsman - Navy) shortly after I completed my service in 2008. I was hired as a PCT in the Neuro/Medicine ICU and I loved it so much. I love critical care and the experience further solidified my desire to obtain my bsn.

Here's the issue at hand. A year after I was hired I had to discontinue my employment , because my husband was injured overseas, medically retired due to his injuries which required surgery, several medical appointments (including physical therapy), moving back to his home town and traveling back and fourth due to medical. I've managed to attend an accredited medical assistant program, graduate, and pass my certification exam. Hospitals don't seem to hire MA's I haven't been employed in 4 or 5 years and no matter how many years of experience, training, and accomplishments I had leading up to my ordeal... I don't get the offer I'm intensely lucky to get the interview, but that is as far as I go.

I feel defeated. I truly want to work in the hospital setting, and I especially want to go back into critical care.

I don't want to shell out more money for a PCT certification, but I feel that is the only way? I'd rather use my GI Bill for my degree, not a certification as I previously have.

Any advice is appreciated, and thanks ahead of time.

[funtimes]

The hospital I work at has MA's working as PCTs, and I've seen other hospitals list MA as being one of the minimum certifications required to work as a tech. CNA, EMT, and RN student being the others I've seen.

The fact you worked as a PCT would make you qualified in the vast majority of hospitals I think, regardless of what certificate you have. Having trouble finding a PCT job probably just has more to do with the fact those jobs have so many applicants than anything else.

I've also noticed military experience does not seem to be seen as a plus in health care. It seems like whenever I left out my military experience on a resume I got more responses than when I left it in, and if I ever mentioned it during an interview it seemed like the interview went south from that moment on, so I opted to no longer include it unless asked specifically about it, and it seemed to help. I was a trigger puller though so they might look more kindly on a Corpsman.

[Nathifalr26, LPN]

Hello,

I seem to have the same issue. My situation is a bit different. I am not miltary but I am an MA and CNA. I have had the most difficult time obtaining a position as an MA or a CNA despite my experience. I have tried doctor's offices, hospitals, and ltc and just don't seem to get much responses if any. I have now had my MA certification from NY for ten years and only worked in a radiologist office once for a little over a year. As a NA I have only worked home health before I received my certification. Nothing since and that was over three years ago. The best thing I could tell you is keep your mind open to other possibilities. I currently work for a Medicare Advantage HMO in the Case Management department and getting pretty good experience so far. I work closely with lpns, rns, and a social worker. You never know what else may be out there. Good luck.

[Lina_V]

do not do MA, I'd recommend to stick to PCA because they hire PCA's in acute care hospitals. I was a PCA/CNA for Neuro/Stroke/Cardiac as well, and trust me that acute care experience will be taken into consideration...My best advice from my research, experience, interviewing my peers and superiors (experienced RN's) was to keep going to school. I realized that if i had the money, i'd rather stick to part time PCA (keeping my hospital experience fresh)while attending nursing school full time. And if you have a GI Bill..omg you're forever so lucky (of course because you earned it)...go to school and live off of your GI Bill. you get paid while going to school and your tuition is all covered which means you can go to a private school and pay $0 because your GI pays for it (depending on how much your tuition costs and the amount your GI bill covers). Al contrar you get paid instead and all while attending nursing school. Please take advantage of that and just finish with a LVN/LPN or RN certification/degree. You will not regret the choices you have made if you go through either one of these routes :) best of luck to you. and stick to hospitals!! you get to choose your schedule most times *by the way, some teaching hospitals/universities will hire you even if you are not certified because they are learning facilities, this way you won't have to worry, and always apply your experience whether you're certified or not :) i was certified but no experience... just stay positive in your interview but apply real life topics. I am now an LVN student and plan on doing the LVN to RN bridge once i have about 1-2 years in the field as an LVN. Keep your head up. The possibilities are endless and don't give up!