Medical Assistant working as PCT in the ER

[Brittanyxnicole]

Im currently a Medical Assistant in school for nursing still completing my pre-reqs. When I first started working with my company I was hired for a primary care office setting. I take vitals and obtain chief complaints. I just got a call for an interview to transfer to the ER as a PCT which offers me 3 12hr shifts. I have some questions, what exactly does a PCT do that a medical assistant does not? Just trying to figure out what my daily routine would be like, also I have a phobia with vomit, that I'm trying to get over, if anyone has an experience with this just wondering how you dealt with it at first.

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

As a PCT, you will be doing tons of hands on stuff. Vitals, assisting to the bathroom, passing trays, any ADLs, etc.

I used to have a major problem with trach suctioning. The phlegm, omg. Even the sound makes me shudder. What worked for me was just looking it in the eye (so to speak), and dealing with it. Deep breathing, reminding yourself that the only way out was to finish the task at hand. After a few near misses (dry heaving, having to run out of the room and leave my precepter to finish etc), I can now tolerate it. Luckily i work in L&D, and there are very few trachs on our unit! Poop, blood, vomit, urine, no problem. A loogie? No thank you!

[cayenne06, MSN, CNM]

As a PCT, you will be doing tons of hands on stuff. Vitals, assisting to the bathroom, passing trays, any ADLs, etc.

I used to have a major problem with trach suctioning. The phlegm, omg. Even the sound makes me shudder. What worked for me was just looking it in the eye (so to speak), and dealing with it. Deep breathing, reminding yourself that the only way out was to finish the task at hand. After a few near misses (dry heaving, having to run out of the room and leave my preceptor to finish etc), I can now tolerate it. Luckily i work in L&D, and there are very few trachs on our unit! Poop, blood, vomit, urine, no problem. A loogie? No thank you!