As the title states, I'm in the last few weeks of my second semester, and I'm doing my best to find a PCT job. In addition to completing these semesters of nursing school, I'm also a registered medical assistant with two years of experience in a PCP office, one year in a weight loss clinic, and coming up on one year as a "medical" receptionist at a behavioral center.
I've applied to 37 PCT jobs, most in the Fl. Hospital network. One after another just bounces back as no longer considered. I've talked to two different managers, one which said "challenge the CNA," the other who did as well until she realized I was an RMA and a second semester student. I've heard it's downright impossible to get in without knowing someone...I'm trying to work that angle too, but I'd love to get in on merit alone, yknow?
Does anyone have any tips or tricks for how to either get your resume noticed to at least land an interview, or perhaps draw notice to the fact that I would love to make Fl Hospital my lifelong career? Other then bluntly saying it I'm having difficulty working that in to a cover letter.
I networked during my clinicals. I tweaked my resume and applied all over. I just accepted an offer today...yay!!! As a PCT at a teaching hospital. I will be on the med surg sub acute floor, the busiest floor in the hospital. It was my first interview for a medical job and I didn't think it went well either. I even delayed moving in with my boyfriend, who is in another state, so that I could get some experience. He understands how important this is to me, and is very supportive with school and work. Experience I feel is the key, and this will help me a ton in nursing school. I feel very lucky and fortunate today.
Even though all of the job descriptions I've been reading list "Medical Assistant with comparable acute care experience" or "Successful completetion of FON coursework" I had two peers mention it may be better if I challenge the course and become licensed.
I did NA before PCT after, got certified from the school, networked at the hospital I did clinicals. Our NA and PCT course was basically the first year of nursing school. I was surprised when we had the nursing students come to our class and they were months behind us. I'm looking forward to getting floor experience.
wow that was ? I think PCT is a valuable experience. There are lots of RNs that were PCT before becoming RNs. Did you that PCTs spend more time with patients than RNs?
I think it depends. I will be working the day shift so I come on the floor at 7 AM, I am the first person they see in the morning, so my mood and how I interact with them will set the day, for me, the nurses, doctors, therapists, etc. As a PCT I will not only be answering call lights, I will be helping the nurses, while they are tweaking the care plans. I will be the one who lets the nurses know about IV alarms, levels of CBG's, and other tests. So I guess yeah, the PCT is with the patient more than the nurse. I'm going to go to the medication course at the hospital so that I can be IV and medication certified. This will just advance me more into the nursing program. I'm also going to look for a nurse mentor, I want to learn while on the floor, not just do my job but do a better and enhanced version of my job. Everything will just make me a better nurse.
The ONLY thing holding me back where I am, is that I'm engaged to a wonderful man who lives in another state, not far but far enough. I was supposed to move up to be with him in June, (which had been delayed now for a year, something always happened). So after finishing my spring semester I was supposed to move, but I got this job and I really want the experience so we are going to wait now until August, after the summer semester and it gives me a few months at the hospital. BUT now, if I really enjoy this job at the hospital, and I get invited to the nursing program connected with the hospital, I know I will delay the move again. But there are nursing program in abundance where he is, and with the education and experience I have and will have getting a job won't be so hard, and getting into a program I think won't be as hard. I'm so lucky as my boyfriend totally supports me and we will work it out no matter what. It's a tough decision for me, a few months is one thing, but a year or two? Thats much harder.
I think all of you made excellent points about the experience you can gain as a PCT. Thank you for everyone's input! I'm super, super excited to say that I was able to land a position as a Nurse Tech!! Persistance definitely pays off!
That's awesome :) I "start" Monday too, but it's just my processing. I think it'll be about 1.5 weeks before I get to be on the floor. What type of unit are you working in? I got the ED-super nervous, but so, so excited!!
I'm on the busiest floor in the hospital, med surg subacute. I got offered the OR after but since I accepted med surg first I'm staying there first. Everything happens on the med surg floor I'm looking forward to learning everything. Since it's a teaching hospital, I'm looking forward to get IV and med certified. They offer all kinds of courses. I've already had my drug test, physical and background check, orientation and skills competency is Monday, I get my ID and schedule. Have you done that stuff yet? I have a notebook to jot down notes, I found in clinicals the more I was on the floor the more I needed to learn. So I plan on studying. ER would be fun, I really like working trauma.
That's so exciting!! I'm going to have to look in this facility to see if they offer those kinds of courses and how I could start them. I got offered a hospital two minutes away from where I lived, but I'd already accepted this one so i went with it instead as well :/ It's a larger facility, so hopefully that will make up for it. I had my drug test, TB and FIT test, got my badge and orientation packet all today, and I'm just waiting for the manager to sign off on the packet and start!
tnicnat
89 Posts
I networked during my clinicals. I tweaked my resume and applied all over. I just accepted an offer today...yay!!! As a PCT at a teaching hospital. I will be on the med surg sub acute floor, the busiest floor in the hospital. It was my first interview for a medical job and I didn't think it went well either. I even delayed moving in with my boyfriend, who is in another state, so that I could get some experience. He understands how important this is to me, and is very supportive with school and work. Experience I feel is the key, and this will help me a ton in nursing school. I feel very lucky and fortunate today.