CritCareTech

And I cemetery agree. The techs everywhere I have been do not go to huddle. They are only present for rounds with the doctors and residents, that is it. A "task" would be say an RN comes up and says "Go put a 16 in the LAC of room 3018" for example. They're off the wall the tasks, and not the same day-to-day. The tech position at this ICU is very... relaxed. Techs don't bath their patients, the RN does that. Typically the RN also cleans up the pt, and a tech is only needed if they need help rolling them. What I was used to do is very different here. Where I was doing the basic daily life tasks, those are now gone to where I will be more or less, on reserves for a code or helping with consults.

Again - I fully understand where you're coming from but this state and health system is not what one would expect from such a large corporation. I am extremely policy driven so when I was told "Go find it yourself" and the literal scope only said "To complete tasks as delegated by the professional Registered Nurse" I was dumbfounded. I would like an actual scope in black and white print. In EMS, all of our scope is put into protocols on our app. We can go boom, here is what we can and can't do. It's nothing like that with the PCT positions around this area.

That is DEFINETLY not how it is done here. I mean that kindly as well. Different states have different laws. For example, if a paramedic told you to connect that syringe filled with whatever med, and push it because their hands are busy intubating - it falls on their license. Not the person who pushed it. In my state, I can speak for because I've seen lawsuits happen both in hospital and in pre-hospital. If a task is delegated by a professional licensee, they are responsible for anything that happens with their delegated task. It may not be that way in your state, but it is here. I know this due to years of working in public safety. We had a firefighter who was in EMT school that was at the YMCA. The medic told the EMT student to draw up Epi and push it at a code. The EMT student (who was not licensed) drew up Adenosine during the code. The pt ultimately died. Who was at fault and held responsible? The medic. Why? They were the LICENSED provider who DELEGATED the task and did not validate what was happening. And unfortunately if you go into a hospital anywhere in this area and request a scope of practice or what you can and cannot do - they say "just do what the RN tells you to". So even as a NA, they had me removing IVs and adjusting oxygen levels due to my EMS courses I took. It wasn't allowed for any other NA on that floor but me, because there's that "trust" they had. And even as my MSN unit director said, legally there's nothing that could happen to me, but could fall back on the licensee for delegating the task and not supervising per the "span of control". There's a reason why older RNs around here refuse to let PCTs do anything with their pt, because they are scared of it coming back on them. As far as 12-leads, an RN cannot legally bill for that. Only a clinician can (MD, cardiologist, etc...) but PCTs can interpret them. I have experience doing such as a monitor tech and working in EMS. Again - not being rude but my state does not recognize the PCT, so they fall under the nurses license whereas CNA/NA's do have a scope, and must strictly adhere to it. This isn't my first rodeo and I'm sorry if your state and region has stuff that's black and white - we don't yet were one of the largest cities with the most advanced Healthcare in the US.

I thought of that as well. Not to mention I had some concerns with a few pending charges against me and they never once inquired about it (yet). I just can't imagine if someone had a serious charge (SA, etc...) coming in to shadow.

I accepted the job offer just now! Got a sign-on bonus as well!

Totally agree! I guess when I went into my last interview before this and signed the job offer that day. I got a little egotistical it would be the same thing. That job I had left is still up since July haha. I would love to go back to my COVID unit but I think I'm blacklisted after leaving due to no bereavement for my mother's death. Kinda miss it

I went in there thinking it was like an NA position. Nope. Strictly codes, IV access abd HUC. The clinician even said PCTs don't bath or do personal hygiene at all. The job descriptions say they do that, but they actually don't per the PCTs I peer reviewed with.

Trust me. I have. The peer review with a long-time PCT confirmed that those job descriptions are fluffed. What is listed on the careers portal is nothing like what the PCTs do.

That's another issue. PCTs don't chart a single thing there. I asked which system they used and they said "Oh don't worry about that. The nurses do that." This is the largest general employer in PA and the largest hospital network in the multi-stare region saying this... Not to mention this hospital killed my mother last year due to overdosing her on buproprion and me ended up coding her for 50-minutes just to get ROSC, then being coded 30 minutes later after she went into PEA. For sure. I would have been screwed.

Nope, I definetly understand what I said. Our job description is vague. And is not a scope. For example. If a nurse says "Hey that COVID patient should be on 12 LPM. Can you bump him up from 5 LPM" - oxygen is NOT in our job description but we're asked to do it. It falls on the RN. Not us. That's how it is everywhere in my state. We don't have a scope of practice like we should. "Complete tasks as delegated by the professional Registered Nurse". "Delegated" doesn't mean supervision

Pennsylvania But you didn't hear it from me. They only cover Certified Nursing Assistants state-level. Most PCT's are not CNAs, like myself.

Bingo. And NONE of this makes sense. I'm in a state with basically 3 Healthcare companies. Two of which are on my side of the state, and each are their own insurance provider for most of Northeast USA. I won't say the name - but this 4-letter monstro really threw me into a tizzy. Like, I'm not scared of COVID but there was only 1 other time I went for an interview when if there was a COVID positive pt - no interviewees were allowed on the unit. That was a small hospital then so I could understand. But this last interview, she was like "Yeah we have about 85% COVID positive now in the ICU. Hope you don't mind". COVID doesn't worry me at all but literally - I am shocked that they're allowing in-person interviews and allow "shadows" with the COVID patients. All within the largest Healthcare system in the northeast. ???

Unfortunately in my state - they don't recognize PCT so there is no scope of practice. I seen it before in my previous ICU position. The scope falls under the nurses license. "Complete tasks and duties as delegated per the professional Registered Nurse". If I or another PCT screws up - it's the RNs fault per policy as he/she said to do it. I've never screwed up thankfully - just did some stuff that policy says not to even with RNs approval (like rotating and cleaning an intubated and heavily sedated pt alone when policy says an RN must be present). Even respiratory said that day "Yeah you know what to do if the tube DC from the ETT". So we can theoretically do anything a nurse does- as long as they're aware of it. It's like in EMS. We're not allowed to drill or start lines, or draw up meds unless the medic says to. And then, legally he/she did it per the report and pre-hospital report. I have shadowed before, but never had to change into scrubs nor actually go hands-on with any skills/interventions in an interview. Just threw me off LOL

I have never negotiated a wage before so this will be fun haha! Literally the PCT is so broad. You can start and DC IVs, run 12-lead EKGs and interpret them, place and remove foleys and caths, respond to all codes and rapids. Bladder scans, consults, etc... all in the job description too LOL. Wage is $16-$24/hour

Me and you both. I sent my post-interview thank you email out this afternoon.

Hahaha! I was just doing what the email said LOL! "Feel free to bring a pair of scrubs with you as well should you be asked to stay and shadow on the unit after your interview." Keyword was SHADOW - anytime I shadowed, I wouldn't have to change in the staff locker room nor actually make pt contact haha. It was like "***. Do I say yes and look prepared or say no and look forgetful".

No joke, I literally just said that the minute I got home and my neighbor asked why I was in scrubs. She goes "I thought you was going for an interview". I was like "I don't know whether to be more pissed I worked for free for 2-hours when they openly admitted they were short staffed.. or be even more upset if I don't get the job and still worked for free" haha. But I agree. I miss my 3 x 12's a week compared to what I was just doing of 5 x 8s.

Not a nurse, but I think this section fits perfectly! I come from EMS and started at a trauma center on the COVID unit as a PCT in 2020.  I progressed into a more advanced PCT role in a different ICU which gave me a lot of experience. I applied on Tyesday for a Medical and Surgical ICU position (Senior PCT) at a local well-known hospital. The job was posted on Monday and I did my interview yesterday.  I came dressed in formal attire and the interview was very pleasant. It was honestly more conversational and casual than anything else. She even said I could skip some "What if questions" if I wanted to, but opted to not skip any. We shared a lot of interest, such as military service and working EMS. She toured the unit with me which was ramping with COVID. I did my peer review with the on-shift advanced PCT who thought during the whole time, I was an RN. I laughed and was like "Oh no, definetly not a nurse!". The hiring manager (clinician) said "Oh I wished you brought your scrubs with you so you can jump in and help by working the floor for a bit". I go "Oh I did, they're in my satchel". She was like "You don't need to if you don't want to stay" and I go "It's perfectly fine!" Fast forward, I changed into scrubs and helped work the floor for 2-hours. I was introduced to all the staff and had some pleasant discussions with the RNs and attendings! Then the hiring manager goes "Oh the CRNAs bought everyone lunch, go eat" and I'm like "I'm just interviewing" and she goes "No, you're gonna go eat!" Like I was stunned to be included in so much. At the very end they thanked me for coming and giving them a hand, and said "We'll be in contact with you in a few days". Does it seem promising to you? I told them I have an interview on Monday with their primary level 1 trauma center ICU and they really talked down on it - so maybe it'll light the fire under them to hire quickly due to staff shortages? I'm a PCT/CCT with my EMT, BLS, PALS, ACLS, and TCCC which they seemed to be heavily surprised at. Thank you all and stay safe!