pct debate

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 12, 2003

In SC theyre called PCAs Patient care associates. They do phlebotomy, ekg, regular nursing technician work etc. They don't give meds.

mona b RN, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2003

Lpnga,

I have heard of PCT's. I'm in Jersey and I know one of the big teaching hospitals here use PCT's. I wasn't aware of the levels though. I thought you needed to be an RN to do IV's. :confused:

mona b

baseline · Mar 12, 2003

We have pt care techs....all of them do blood sugars, some do catheters and some dressing changes. I don't know all the details, but yes, we have PCT's.

nurse521 · Mar 12, 2003

I work at a small community hospital in Ohio. We have patient care assistants, who perform the usual tasks like baths, feeding patients, ambulating patients, phlebotomy, blood glucose monitoring, vital signs, etc. We also have patient care techs, who perform clerical duties as well. I was not aware that some techs can pass meds and start IV's.

MishlB · Mar 12, 2003

NOBODY said you were lying. We were discussing CNA's, and you mentioned your friend was a PCT. That's all. When you mentioned the things you were doing as a ***CNA***, like giving meds...I said I never heard of CNA's giving meds...so NOW you are a PCT?......which is a CNA.

Tinkertots · Mar 12, 2003

I live in Florida. We have Pcts. They do vitals, assist with adls, some run 12 lead ekgs, all do blood sugars, all do lab draws, some even do foleys. But, Never meds. I have heard of some Pcts that take special medication classes. These I think work in facilities that dont normally staff alot of nurses... like ECFs or ALFs.

ShortFuse_LPN, LPN · Mar 12, 2003

Originally posted by mona b
Lpnga,

I have heard of PCT's. I'm in Jersey and I know one of the big teaching hospitals here use PCT's. I wasn't aware of the levels though. I thought you needed to be an RN to do IV's.

mona b

I am an LPN and I am IV certified. I work in LTC care now and the facility doesn't allow LPN's to start IVs.(I was certified when I worked in a hospital). I'm guessing this varies depending on which state you live in and the policies of facilities.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2003

We have PCTs. They don't pass meds. There are however specially trained techs outside of hospitals and nursing homes and rehab facilities, for example in a group home for the mentally challenged that can pass meds.

At our hospital they have the three levels you describe. The 3rd level can do trach care, suction trachs, EKGs, start IVs (which is a big controversy at our hospital, "can they flush the IVs or not?", "I'll start my own IVs, I'm not risking my license, blah blah, blah), foleys, admininister 2liters of 02 and do incentive spirometry.

There are very few Level 3's right now. Our educator on the floor I just transferred to refuses to teach PCTs how to start IVs, I'm not sure why, just something I've heard.

They do get paid for skills, so the more they do, the more they make.

The post below reminded me, our can do foleys insertion and d/cing as well as enemas.

RN-PA, RN · Mar 12, 2003

They call nurses' aides PCT's at our hospital, but they mainly help with ADL's, do blood glucose monitoring, vital sigs, and ECG's. They also used to do phlebotomy, but phlebotomists were hired due to the amount of blood draws. There was some talk a while back about letting the PCT's give enemas and D/C foleys, but nothing's come of it. Most nights recently on our Med/Surg floors, they've been getting around 18 pts. to care for and there isn't much time for anything beyond the basics.

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2003

At the hospital I currently work at, we just have CNA's... no blood sugars, they can't even clear the IV pumps for I&O. Just basic ADL stuff.

I worked as a PCT in a larger hospital when I was in nursing school. I wasn't a CNA, they just did their own two day training. We could do phlebotomy, blood sugars, remove foleys, dc IV's and INT's.... I'm sure there was more. But I believe all the nurse aides that worked there took the course as part of orientation and were called PCT's... either that, or it was just for nursing students... I can't remember now.

RNforLongTime · Mar 12, 2003

I work in a 387 bed facility in PA. We use PCA's. They do ADL type stuff and some are trained to be Unit Secretaries. They do NOT pass meds or start IV's. I don't know that I'd want them to do that stuff.