should i do PCT?

flwannaB · Mar 11, 2006

I was under the impression that a PCT had to have CNA experience. Without any experience, it may be tough to get in. If you can get the job without experience, by all means go for it. It is great experience for your LPN and a nice foot in the door at the hospital. They may even offer tuition reimbursment.

hi all
some much needed advice. i am on my way back to school for my LPN, and i was looking for a job where i could work at nite(cause i have too), anyway i came across a job at an area hospital looking for a PCT(patient care tech).
i dont have any medical exp but this job isnt req much just HS. so should i go for the job????? from the description it will give me a lot of nursing exp as i will be working under RN&LPN's.
so any advice would be great and if anyone has worked as a PCT how was the job likes & dislikes?
THanks
L&D.......lol one day

Skinny~Tech · Mar 11, 2006

I think CNA's and CNT's have to be certified but not PCT's. C= to care, not = certified. The problem is hospitals would require you to be certified. You could easily get a job in a nursing home but as a prospective student would probably not be where you want to be to get experience. Why not go ahead and get your RN? A little more time but well worth the effort.

suebird3 · Mar 11, 2006

Welcome to allnurses.com! To be honest, in my neck of the woods, the schools (whether LPN or RN) require you to be a CNA prior to starting school. And yes, you do get experience.

Suebird

hethbearpooh · Mar 11, 2006

Hello! Here is NJ you are not required to be a CNA or have any expierence prior to entering the LPN program. I was lucky enough to have some medical training (10 yrs as a EMT) and it ended up helping tremendously! So I say yes...If you can get a job as a PCT then do it. It can only help further you.

Good luck to you!

Heather

L&D · Mar 12, 2006

hey again thanks for the advice but as a asst. PCT you do not need to be certified. and lucky for me i can go to school for LPN without being either or having any medical experience. and as for the RN part i would love to do just that, but the extra time in school will put a whole in family finances.i hav 2 small children, i need to work and most of all they need me. so RN would have to come later after my youngest is in school.

thanks again

any other advice ?

RNMISTY362b · Mar 12, 2006

Most Rn Programs Do Not Require You To Be A Pct, But A Pct Is Good Experience And Most Hospital Will Asst With Schoolcosts. I Started School With No Experience. I Currently Work As A Nurse Extern But I Started Out As A Pct And The Father I Got In School I Got A New Title Better Money Smae Job. But My Tution Is Being Paid For 100% Plus They Pay For My Books. Rn School Is Only A Yearlonger And You Make So Much Better Money In My Area An Lpn Only Makes A Few $ More Than A Pct Where As A Nurse Make Twice To Two And Half Times More Than A Pct. Check Out Local Nursing Schools. Good Luck.

nrcnurse · Mar 17, 2006

Being a PCT is terrific experience. You should do it. It IS hard work, but you'll learn a ton, and that will help you a lot in LPN school. Some of your classmates will have had NO patient contact experience at all, and you'll be surprised how much you'll be able to assist them, and the amount of confidence your experience will give you while doing school clinicals. My advice is to apply for the job. Do be cautious not to work so much/hard that your school/health/family suffers.