New pct at a hospital

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Specializes in Geriatric, MRDD, Alzheimer, ect..

I just got offered a new position at a very known local hospital as a pct on the cardio thoracic step down floor. I'm very interested in the position yet very nerves being that I never worked in a hospital setting. Plus I heard that, thats one of the hardest floors being that the patients may have just had open heart surgery, etc. I'm up for the challenge and love learning new things but I'm serious about my work. Any suggestions

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Exactly what does a pct do? Im going through the process of physical,orientation etc.for a nursing assistant position on a telemetry/med surg. floor. Im guessing that your floor might be similar? Im nervous too! No nursing assistant experience at all..graduated a few months ago with A.A.S. medical assistant (certified)

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Specializes in Geriatric, MRDD, Alzheimer, ect..

Patient care tech is basically cna work, certified nursing assistant. You assist the patient bedside by providing any care needed. Just assuring that the patient is comfortable and satisfied as possible. Congratulations I never worked in a hospital but have many years of experience.

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Congrats on the job! I'm currently a PCT in an ICU and love it, and it's definitely helps being a nursing student.

At my job the techs can do bloodwork/accu checks/ and EKGs

Since it's your first time working in a hospital,it will take some getting used to, specially since you'll be around critical patients, but the nerves will wear off after a bit.

suggestions....

1. Always offer to help if your not doing anything... the nurses will love you and if your a nursing student this will be a good advantage

2. If you get an abnormal reading on a blood sugar/ blood pressure/ temperature whatever it is tell the nurse right away

3. get very familiar with where everything is/ what everything is. Even things we as techs don't use. Cause when an Emergency arises or a code is going on you are going to be the "runner" for things they need right away

4. At least in the critical care setting, always tell the nurse what you are going to be doing with the patient before you do it. no matter what it is, if your not familiar with the patient

My hospital gave us training but like nursing, you learn most of it on the job

good luck and enjoy it!

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Specializes in Abdominal Transplant.

Some tips I've learned in the two months I've been working on an abdominal transplant floor...

If your unit uses cordless/cell phones, tape/sticker RN's, PCT's, and any other frequently needed #s/information to back of phone. I usually write RN # with room #s, along with Q4VS and BS times.

Clarify if you are unsure. Better to sound stupid asking a question than look stupid making a mistake. RNs, other PCTs, and your charge or unit director may all tell you different things. Always go with the top dog and your best judgement.

Don't put up with slackers and mean people if you don't have to. Tell your unit director in a way that isn't complaining or whining, specify patient safety. My unit director is great with this, you'll have to judge yours for yourself. Trust me, you will run into these people everywhere!

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Patient care tech is basically cna work, certified nursing assistant. You assist the patient bedside by providing any care needed. Just assuring that the patient is comfortable and satisfied as possible. Congratulations I never worked in a hospital but have many years of experience.

In addition to that you also do phlebotomy work, wound care, EKG's, insert, clean, and remove catheters,perform ostomy care, urine and stool collection as well as check blood sugars.

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I'm a PCT on a unit called Comprehensive Cardiac Care. It sounds similar to the unit you are considering. I've been working here for about 7 months now, and it is my first experience working (vs. volunteering) in a hospital setting other than my CNA class clinicals.

It is definitely an intense floor to work on, at least in my hospital. It is one of the busiest floors and we are frequently at full census (30 beds). We don't get as many people immediately recovering from open heart surgery, but many of our patients have had it in the past. Most of the patients we get are here for CHF or various arrhythmias. We are a telemetry unit, so working here provides excellent experience with placing heart monitors and doing EKGs.

If you are planning on going to nursing school, or are already in a program, I would say go for it! I've learned so much in my short time here.

Good luck! :)

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