pct/nurse tech wages

Nursing Students Technicians

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I was contemplating working at a hospital as a pct/nurse tech after my first semester of nursing school and wondering the approx. pay.

thanks:nuke:

Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

I am amazed at how much nursing techs can do in other hospitals as nursing students. I am graduating next month and work in a hospital. I do ADLs, vitals, EKGs, and I push the silence button on IV pumps. Being able to start IVS, put in foleys, and all the other stuff you guys do would be such great experience. I have put in 1 foley in my entire nursing career!

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Specializes in non-animals.

Its great that hospitals are using nursing techs/pct and all, but is anyone worried hospitals might phase out nursing and start using PCT instead due to the lower pay grade. (this of course is not going to happen in the near future) :confused:

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

Depends on your hospital. I used to work as a PCNA at a very well-known hospital (basically just a glorified NA + I could do blood sugars, d/c foleys and IVs and do SIMPLE non-sterile dressing changes) and I made $11.50/hr. I also worked nights a lot so I also had another $1 for shift differential.

Now I work as a nurse tech and I make $10.77. It's a little bit of a pay cut HOWEVER:

1. I am much happier with my NT job than my PCNA job.

2. I can do a lot more as a NT than I could as a PCNA (basically anything I've learned in school except administer meds & complete assessments)

3. My current hospital does not charge me for parking (the other hospital charged me $50/mo. to park! :eek: I also only worked 12 hours/week or every 2 weeks so that's a large amount of money that was being taken from my paycheck...at that time.

4. My current job is 5 minutes down the street from where I live. My old job was an hour away.

5. Less wear n' tear on my car because I do not have to drive nearly as far.

I love my NT job :D

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After the first semester of nursing school, Morton Plant Mease pays 11.09. However they just implemented a new job description called the nursing apprentice. It pays 12.50 and allows you to start IV's, trach care/suction, removal of NG tubes and that goes into effect after you complete level 3 and are entering your final semester. Pretty exciting to practice those skills in the real world versus on a manequin.

Now that it's a couple years later -- and I just came across this -- I am surprised to hear this and curious if they actually implemented this at Morton Plant. I want to do trauma and/or critical care and I talked to a recruiter at Morton Plant, but they don't hire new grads into ICU (I have to pick my site soon, so trying to find out who gives you the possibility to start in ICU when you graduate), so anyway I was surprised to see that they let PCT's do all that there. I really wanted to work there, but I really want to do ICU or trauma more, so I'm looking into VA (cause that's an awesome way to give back to the community) or Bayfront cause they are level II trauma (cause I thrive on crisis). Anybody know anything about either of these hospitals? I am not starting school til August, so in January will be looking for job as PCT in St. Pete/Clearwater area in a hospital who will possibly hire their PCTs as RNs in ICU when they graduate. Thanks for any info!

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I just started a MST (multi-skilled technician) same as pct in NJ. Hospital starts newbies at $14/hr. Heard from hospital employees that some MST's with a couple years experience are up to $18!!!!!

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Specializes in Sec/Tech.

With no cna experience prior, I was hired at $11/hour plus shift differentials

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well, I dont know what state you live in but here in NYC it's about $14-18p/hr that is where I live in the Bronx area.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I just got hired in Baltimore as a Nursing Student/PCT at almost 14.75/hr. With only 1 year of my 2 year program finished. I guess it really depends on where you're living.

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Specializes in MED SURG.
Start IVs? :uhoh21:Wow, I recall we didn't even learn how to start IVs on a fake arm until the last month of nursing school. My, how things have changed!!

Here in Texas, we start IV's in the 2nd semester of NS. Actually the 2nd semester we finish all of the skills we will be doing in the hospital, even central line.

I was a PCT in Ohio, I worked for an agency and got allot of hospital experience at $13/hr without being a NS. Here in Tx it is only $10 and you have to be done with your first semester of NS. Compared to a CNA, it is only min. wage.

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I work as a PCT in a teaching hospital for $10.44/hr plus 15% shift differential for working night shift (7p-7:30a) so $12/hr. I'm only a level one, but becoming a level 2 soon and in addition to doing basic patient care, vitals, fingersticks, and ostomy care, I will be getting trained to do EKGs and phlebotomy.

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Specializes in long term care, oncology.

as a new cna, i got hired at a hospital in connecticut and got started at $14/hr. on weekends i get paid $16/hr.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.
I just got hired in Baltimore as a Nursing Student/PCT at almost 14.75/hr. With only 1 year of my 2 year program finished. I guess it really depends on where you're living.

Just wanted to update my post since I've learned more about the job. I'll be getting to learn and do phlebotomy, EKGs, start IVs, along with the daily patient care and normal tech duties.

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