New PCT on Med-Surg Floor, Need Tips!

crossfitnurse · May 27, 2014

I second this! I will be on the cardiac floor and would love any tips:)

I have not done my orientation or shadowing just yet - but tips are always appreciated!!

funtimes · May 27, 2014

One thing that comes to mind is that going above and beyond for patients is something that sounds great, but in reality I would focus first and foremost on getting the important things done. Vitals, blood sugars, I/Os, bladder scans and ISCs and other orders that techs on your unit are expected to handle. The one thing that ill let get in the way of those things are safety related stuff. If a patient can fall, they will find a way to fall, so beware of that.

Ask lots of questions on orientation. If you aren't 100 percent sure of something, then ask. Don't promise something to a patient or a nurse if you aren't sure you will be able to do it.

Also, if you haven't worked in health care before, be prepared for the fact a lot of your patients are not going to be totally with it mentally. Drugs, pain, sleep deprivation, stress, and the short and long term physiological effects on the brain of whatever condition got the person admitted means you are going to routinely see and hear patients acting in ways that make you wonder if you didn't somehow end up on a psych unit. You'll experience temper tantrums, sometimes from family. Especially on a cardiac unit where patients tend to be high strung. This is why I think customer service experience is extremely helpful in the nursing field.

guest769224 · May 29, 2014

Your 3 P's to remember while rounding on each patient-

1. Pain?

2. Position?

3. Potty?

Ask about each of those.

If a patient is cold and asks for blankets, observe if they are shivering. Check their temperature.

They may be febrile (fevering), and if so, no blankets. Report to RN.

Get your vitals and blood sugars done early. I always did mine 30 minutes in advance.

Answer your call lights as quickly as you can. This will prove your work ethic to the team.

If you get a blood pressure that is whacky, retake it. Preferably on the other arm. Make sure it's on correctly.

Count the actual respirations of the pt. So many CNA's just enter 16 or 18 while charting.

As a general rule, patients can get up to the restroom or ambulation if they are

Any pt exceeding that, needs to keep O2 on while mobile. While attending patients in bed, always RAISE the bed to save your back!

And lastly, never ever guess on something you are unsure of. Always consult another aide, or ideally the RN with any situation you are unfamiliar with.

crossfitnurse · May 29, 2014

Thank you:) good points to remember!

berttravels · May 29, 2014

do an inventory of supplies that are in the room before you go to wash a patient or do a procedure with them so you don't end up without something you need or bring in things that there are already a surplus of. i work in critical care so we bathe our patients with the nurses because they need help with turning. whenever a nurse will ask me for help i say something like "are there any supplies you need for me to get?" to assess whether they are unsure what is in the room or they already have everything ready. before i started doing this it felt like we were always running out of the room to get something that was missing.

don't give patients water or food unless you are sure they are allowed to have it (they might have thickened liquids or special diet or be NPO)

ask for help. it really isn't worth risking your safety or your patients' just to do something quicker or on your own.

ChipNurse · May 31, 2014

Make sure to get time sensitive tasks done on time, such as vital signs and accuchecks. If you get any thing abnormal in the vitals, such as temp > 38C, SBP 160, SaO2 100 or

eclectmint · Jun 3, 2014

Thank you so much for all the tips. I just finished my third day and I felt like a complete amateur. Hopefully this week will be a little better.

thenightnurse456 · Jun 3, 2014

Thank you so much for all the tips. I just finished my third day and I felt like a complete amateur. Hopefully this week will be a little better.

It will get better with time. You'll be a pro before you know it.

Mandylpn · Jun 6, 2014

hello: I am unfamiliar with the scope of practice of a PCT, is that a replacement for the LPN in the hospital setting and how long is your training (if I may ask)? the reason I am asking are the procedures you've mentioned you are allowed to do, a few of which are 'sterile' procedures and you say you've never had a health care position before? could you clue me in? thanks (yes, I am an LPN). Also I am assuming you are being supervised by an RN?

funtimes · Jun 6, 2014

I am unfamiliar with the scope of practice of a PCT, is that a replacement for the LPN in the hospital setting and how long is your training (if I may ask)? the reason I am asking are the procedures you've mentioned you are allowed to do, a few of which are 'sterile' procedures and you say you've never had a health care position before? could you clue me in? thanks (yes, I am an LPN). Also I am assuming you are being supervised by an RN?

PCT is just a Nurse aide under a different name, in most cases with a few extra tasks aides typicallyl don't do delegated to them, such as straight cathing, performing 12 leads, blood draws, and the ones the OP mentioned.

As for being supervised by an RN, usually they are trained and supervised initially during their training period, signed off by an RN on the skills, and then they do it when its ordered or its requested by an RN.

Yes I think its crazy some PCTs are hired with no health care experience and no certifications or licenses. Most PCTs are either RN students or experienced CNAs, but It does vary a lot as to their training and background.

PCTs didn't really replace LPNs so much as RNs did, but its probably true that the PCT position came about after LPNs began to disappear from hospitals, in order to lesson the load on RNs.

summerbluesky · Jun 7, 2014

Make friends with your nurses. Get your job done, offer to help, ask the nurses if they need help. Smile. Be friendly. Get to know your patients. Do a good job. Ask questions. People will help you. The nurses are happy to help you learn to so things right. If you are good at your job it makes their shift easier. They want to help you be good.