PCA and Nurse Aide, what's the difference

[ConstantLearner2010]

Hello All Willing to Read,

I am new to Nursing but have been attending college for some time, I let the military get in the way of it. Anyway, I would like to know if there is a real difference in PCA and Nurse Aide. A local health care office offers PCA or I can take two classes through my current college for Nurse Aide. Want to weigh my options as far as the knowledge I would gain, not necessarily the pay. Thanks if anyone decides to respond.

Signed

ConstantLearner

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

There are small offices that do PCA/PCT training by me, however, they are run by a college. It's a 40 hour course. You have to already be a CNA/STNA before you can enroll.

In my state, PCA =Personal Care Associate/Assistants and they are the same as PCT's.

The PCA's I know work in the Emergency Department and they do the same tasks as CNA's and then more tasks. They have advanced training above CNA's. They are not attendants for just ADL's.

Even in your state, I am guessing that the P stands for Patient and not Personal. That may be the difference between a Tech and someone who helps with ADLs. This would also beg the question, "What do they call people who do ADL/homemaking/Assisted Living duties in your state if they are not Personal Care Attendants (PCA)?

If you go back to the OP: in your interpretation, she doesn't have a choice between PCA or CNA, she cannot get your version of a PCA cert without having a CNA first. However, it is very common to be able to choose between CNA and (the ADL version) Personal Care Attendant.

[happy2learn]

Even in your state, I am guessing that the P stands for Patient and not Personal. That may be the difference between a Tech and someone who helps with ADLs. This would also beg the question, "What do they call people who do ADL/homemaking/Assisted Living duties in your state if they are not Personal Care Attendants (PCA)?

If you go back to the OP: in your interpretation, she doesn't have a choice between PCA or CNA, she cannot get your version of a PCA cert without having a CNA first. However, it is very common to be able to choose between CNA and (the ADL version) Personal Care Attendant.

In my state, the duties you described are done by CNA's or Home Health Aides (HHA). Of course, a PCA(Patient Care Assistant)/PCT assists with these duties (including ADL's, though of course there is not as much need when someone is only in a hospital for a day or two)l, only in the hospital setting.

Yes, I meant patient, not personal. Sorry about that.

If one is not a CNA, they have to have already been through some nursing clinicals to be a PCA in a hospital.

We don't have "personal care attendants." There is no such job title where I live.

I didn't say that she doesn't have a choice. Her choice could be to become a CNA, then a PCA(Patient Care Assistant).