PCT job offer. What should I do?

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My nursing school start next January. However, I was offered a job at a rehabilitation hospital, but they require me to have CNA license or at least finish my first semester of nursing (it's state law and they can't make exception). The nurse manager that I had talked to suggested that I should get the license which gonna take about a month or so. It will be quicker rather than waiting half a year to step foot in the work force. They will reimburse my education and have flexible schedule that will fit my schooling. Everything sounds good but I don't want to go through the CNA traning+test+background check again (I already did my background check for nursing school but they require me to start it over?!?!!!). HELP! any advice helps! I've just done with the Hesi and got an 86 overall, I'm employed and go to school full time. It is hard to take on another test right now. What should I do? Thanks!

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The background check is no biggy, especially if you just recently did one (at least where I'm located). I was already in the database a while back but at the time they didn't save the fingerprints. So I went in to a local place that did them (it was like a fed ex drop off location or something ten minutes from my house) had an appointment and in and out in five minutes. Got a call a few hours later saying I was cleared.

If nursing programs still work the way they did when I first went to school, your first few (4-6) weeks will be nurse's aide type instruction. You will know what you need to do to take the certification exam. You will probably have a few clinical days for this as well so you will have practiced hands on the physical part of the certification. It's really not that hard.

The fact that they will help pay for your tuition is great (though there will probably be strings attached-a commitment per say if time). Having an employer that will be flexible with your school schedule is a must. You will need time to study and you can't miss much class time, especially clinical if your work won't give you the day off. The school will drop you.

The experience will also help you when it comes to clinicals. Let's face it, a good amount of your clinical time will be filled with aide tasks, with higher level licensed material filtered in here and there.

I worked as an aide my last semester of LPN school. I made more money than my former retail position and I had a job at that hospital the minute my license posted on MQA.

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Thank you for your input! Is PCT job hard to find? especially in hospital setting? I did some research and most of them require at least 1 year experience which I have none. I'm not certain if I want to go for it (that means I have to pay like 500$ for everything: training, test, background check, and time) while I can just wait to finish my 1st semester of nursing then go look for a PCT job. But what if I could not find one? this hospital is close to home and they all seem very nice. The nurse manager called and seemed very interested in recruiting me. Plus, I don't want to fail the skill test and ended up retake again. :( Thanks again for your reply!

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Thank you for your input! Is PCT job hard to find? especially in hospital setting? I did some research and most of them require at least 1 year experience which I have none. I'm not certain if I want to go for it (that means I have to pay like 500$ for everything: training, test, background check, and time) while I can just wait to finish my 1st semester of nursing then go look for a PCT job. But what if I could not find one? this hospital is close to home and they all seem very nice. The nurse manager called and seemed very interested in recruiting me. Plus, I don't want to fail the skill test and ended up retake again. Thanks again for your reply!

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