PCT or CNA

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I am currently during the prereq to get into the LPN program at my school in the spring 09 and I will be done with that this december. In december when I'm done, I will be eligible to sit for the state exam and get my CNA certification. I want to start working to get experience before nursing school starts. I have seen a few jobs posted for local hospitals that are hiring for a patient care technician. The only requirements that it lists, is that you have your CNA. But, on the job description it also says that you would be drawing blood and reading EKGs, so I guess they teach you that. My question is, does anyone know, the difference between a PCT and a CNA as far as the qualifications to become a PCT, and if you need experience or any other certification besides being a CNA? And also, what is the pay difference?

Thanks

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gagurl,

It depends on the region or business... where I am at the term PCT is often someone with CNA skills and does what a CNA does...they just use a different job title. If that is the case I would think as the job being a PCT which requires CNA certification as a pre-requisite.

:) good luck~

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Greetings,

A PCT is a Patient Care Technician is a person who has a little more

skill than the CNA.PCT's insert catherers,NG Tubes,put in IV's.:twocents:

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I think someone already answered this but a PCT is a step up from CNA. They get paid more and usually work in hospitals. You have to know phlebotomy. Average pay for CNA $15 ...average for PCT $18-20

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

If possible, I would invest in a course in phlebotomy. They may teach you that skill at the job, or they may expect that you have already aquired the training outside, similar to the CNA. PCT/PCA is an upgrade from CNA, where you do the nursing assistant duties in addition to phlebotomy, EKG, dressings, maybe catherization, clerical, etc... Many CNA courses have additional classes in these for a bit extra.

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Specializes in Med Surg, LTC, Home Health.
PCT's insert catherers,NG Tubes,put in IV's.

I certainly hope they dont do all that. That's our job!:)

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I certainly hope they dont do all that. That's our job!:)

LOL! Well, Im a PCT and we don't touch NG tubes or do IV's. The PCT course in CT was 8 months. I work in CCU/TELE we draw blood, EKG's, glucose monitoring, we do chest compressions in codes (which in CCU is quite frequent) as well as assist with patient care. The nurses do their own patient care so we assist with boosts or whatever is needed. There is much confusion when people ask what's the difference between CNA's and PCT/PCA. The difference for me was 8 months vs 4 weeks of school.

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Seems in Texas they are fairly similar, depending upon the terminology of the hospital.

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If possible, I would invest in a course in phlebotomy. They may teach you that skill at the job, or they may expect that you have already aquired the training outside, similar to the CNA. PCT/PCA is an upgrade from CNA, where you do the nursing assistant duties in addition to phlebotomy, EKG, dressings, maybe catherization, clerical, etc... Many CNA courses have additional classes in these for a bit extra.

I will be completing the Health Service Technician certificate at my school which is the classes I have to take to be eligible to apply for the PN program. I will be done with that in December and I will sit for the state CNA exam. I have taken phlebotomy but we are not required to do the clinical, so hopefully I can still get a PCT job without doing to the clinical. I have looked up the classes that you have to take for the PCT certification and they are less than what I've had with Health Services Tech which includes phlebotomy. So hopefully I will be good to go and get the job. Thanks!

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