Patient Care Technician

[philippians4:13]

I have been a CNA for 20 years and am almost 40 years old. I would like to further my education but because I need to work full time I cannot attend an all day LPN course or every evening course because I have two kids still at home. The RN course is completely unaffordable to me. This has led me to look for other options and what I found is a Patient Care technician course which is extremely affordable (under $4,000) and I can complete the classes one day a week and saturdays for less than a year. Has anyone else taken this course. I know some LPNs are upset that technicians are doing their work but with the nurse shortage I see this as a helpful way to get more trained workers into the hospitals. A lot of people simple cannot afford school or the time it requires so why not a Tech? It seems to be a course that offers only skills training and no theory so its not like Techs are replaceing LPNs. We have to work under an RN too. Just wonder if anyone has recieved this training or works with a Tech and how are their skills? I dont want to give up on my dream to work in patient care above CNA and hope this might be a workable compromise for me. April

[CTPCTstudent]

Hi- I am going to be starting the PCT student At Naugatuck Community College. Check out what they have. Getting the CNA is part of the program, which I am going to be doing soon. But they have many courses that lead to PCT certificate and some of they are only one day or evening event, at a pretty reasonable price. It might be exactly what you are looking for!:heartbeat

[Thornbird]

Not sure where you live or how competitive it is but all that is required to be a PCT is CNA or EMT-B cert. Our local community college has a class that teaches phlebotomy and other skills for these people to be hired as PCT's for a couple hundred dollars. I think you are being ripped off to pay $4000 for this cert. PCT's are not licensed or certfied by the state.

[mid2348]

I took the PCT course four years ago. I'm currently working in CCU/TELE at the hospital. I love my job and that's something that I never felt working in LTC as a CNA. I can only speak from my own experiences but I think the course was well worth the cost. We don't have LPN's in the hospital but I can say the RN's don't have any problems with PCT's. It's a good alternative for people unable to pursue nursing at a higher level. If possible you should seek national certification in phlebotomy, as this will give you even more career opportunities. Good luck:)

[raquelphiladelphia, NP]

I would suggest that you attend an RN program. I don't know where you live but if you are going to go to a school for a year why not go to RN school for less than 2 years. I am in school finishing up my prerequistes for the RN program which I will start fall 09. I have been a cna, phlebotomist, and ma for over 20 years and just landed a job as a PCA in a hospital which will eventually pay for my continued education in the future. It will only pay of to go to RN school.