Patient Care Tech to Registered Nurse

[dscott76]

Hello everyone,

I am a second semester junior nursing student at a Maryland University. It seems like I am always reading about new nurses having a hard time finding employment. How beneficial is working as a PCT while you are in nursing school. Does that increase my chances of getting a job when I graduate? I really dont like the place I work for but if staying there would greater my chances of getting a job I have no problem with staying there. What do u think?

[SnowStar4]

It definitely helps. Many places in my area will only hire internally for new grads.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

Definitely, reading the posts on this forum I get the impression it gives you a huge leg up! So grit your teeth and put on your happy face, it'll be well worth it in the long run. Something like this....

Good luck!

[DC Collins, ASN]

It does, in general, but make sure you SHINE while there. It isn't merely the fact that you have a work history there. It happens when you make them want to make an exception for you, because they love you and your work attitude.

[tainted1972, ASN, RN]

yes, Stay with your current employer until you graduate, most of the people I graduated with were hired by current employers.

Once you work for at least a year as a nurse, it will be easier to find employment elsewhere.

I was a PCA on a med surg floor for a couple of years, I thought for sure that I would have a better chance of getting hired.. no such luck.

I was hired by a previous employer.

[RNperdiem, RN]

All of the new grads that work on my unit worked there before as unit clerks or CNAs.

Just make sure that the hospital/unit you work for does hire new grads.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

While only about 10% of my graduating class from last May have been able to find nursing jobs, nearly all who did were PCTs or CNAs at the hospitals that eventually hired them as RNs.

While no guarantee of employment, it does seem to increase the odds.

[bree*]

I won't lie..it DOES help. None of the people I graduated with have nursing jobs..except 3...2 were PCTs & one was a MA while in school.

[Biffbradford]

It will help you in your transition to RN as well. Think of it as extra clinical time while getting paid, or an extra long RN orientation. The nursing assistants that I worked with that became RN's were exceptional in their new role.

[Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP]

I hope that spending almost a year as a tech will help me when I graduate in May of this year. I work hard every shift and really work my butt off and have been praised for always keeping a positive attitude (sometimes it's hard though!!). I'm probably more worried about getting an RN job than I am about my final semester of school and passing the NCLEX!