SavingGrace007

Amen! You are one of those Nurses that this PCT LOVES to work with and I will work my tail off for you! Blessings!

That was such a good reply and as a PCT I see it all the time. Nurses putting off duties that they could do when I'm really busy and overwhelmed already. Making patients wait because they don't want to help. I have felt like saying many times "Why are you a Nurse or why did you become one if you don't like taking care of the patient"? It is frustrating for me and makes my job miserable when I work with RN's that act like that...like it is beneath them to do a blood sugar or change a patients gown, etc? Perhaps that is why the OP doesn't like working as a PCT and if so I hope she is learning what not to do when she graduates and becomes a Nurse!

Do you have to be an RN to do this job? I'm a PCT/MA who has worked for 10+ years in the medical field plus 6 years in a hospital. I'm trying to get out of the hospital! It's literally killing me. ☹️

What a GREAT answer! I'm glad you found a job that brings you peace! Money means nothing when your miserable and dreading a job.

That's the best answer here! Happiness and peace are waaay more important then "things". Amen!

Hello Everyone, As I read the message along with the suggestion my heart broke for the nurse who wrote saying she hated her job. The reason why it broke was because she poured out her heart regarding her hatred towards the job and didn't get any answers but instead was told to think differently about her job that she said she dislikes! I know how that feels because as a Patient Care Tech/ Medical Assistant in a hospital who works around nurses and patients I have come to hate my job as well and I as well as the OP dread going to work. I have even quit nursing school because I dont think I want to spend any more time and money on a field that I dont believe I would enjoy. I am so thankful that I found this out BEFORE spending a fortune on nursing school! I work along side many nurses who hate their work. Feeling stuck is a horrible place to be and I believe that if you don't like your life... your job... then you shouldn't be told to disregard or stuff that feeling and just "feel better" by thinking another way! Isn't that called denial? The nurse has obviously tried various avenues in her nursing career all with the same result... dread about going to work... and again that is a terrible place to be. Your suggestion was like telling someone to like eating meat when their a vegetarian and they don't like meat. You wouldn't tell them to find something good about meat and just eat it! Or would you? Clearly the OP doesn't like nursing and she needs something else or another option which you didn't provide. Is there another field that she can perhaps get into that uses her degree with minimum training, etc? Please could someone give her some hope... some encouragement? Thank you!

I worked at an assistant living for one year and then started applying at hospitals. I've worked in every department in the hospital for the past five years. I have talked to many new techs over those years who came straight in with no experience and only a CNA cert! Be professional, get a great looking resume, look professional and start going on the hospital websites. Don't let that one-year experience issue keep you from applying. After you apply online and download your resume wait a few days and take your resume in HR as a hard copy. Introduce yourself to HR and say that you are a PCT and would love to be a team player at their hospital. Shake their hand and tell them you can start immediately. If you believe in yourself, look sharp and do this....I can just about promise you that you will get the job. Tenacity and self confidence work! ❤️❤️❤️

Hi... I am wondering if anybody knows if there's a company that hires agency or travel PCT's and what is the pay and perks if there is such a job.

$18.50 plus anywhere from $1.75 to $5.75 shift diffs for working nights and weekends. I have worked hospitals for five plus years, worked at an assisted living facility one year and was a certified medical assistant for five years so about eleven years medical experience under my belt. Good money working nights and weekends but hard on the body. I'm looking to get out. I'm stressed to the max on Med Surg. I live in the Dallas Texas area.

Don't you give that person a smiley face. That person has no clue what they are talking about and as far as clarifying anything...they have no right because they don't even have a clue as to your job or the importance of it. The high and mighty nurse who thinks that a piece of paper or passing the nursing exam makes them a nurse. I have news for them IT DOESN'T!!! Nursing is a gift...a calling...and since I can see no compassion or respect in their replies I don't consider them nurses! Who asked their opinion anyway...this is a PCT section so they can go back to the corner they crawled out of!!!

Really tasks? You are ignorant! Go copy and paste your important charting! The job that keeps you from your patients and keeps you from knowing what the patient care tech actually does! How would you know her job? Do you work at her hospital? Sounds like you have a God Conplex or you are a phychic? Are you an administrator? A CEO? I didn't think so because you don't know what your talking about and if you are a nurse and I was your tech I would report you to HR!

Yah... I agree. God complex and if they only really knew what those with a higher grade pay think about them they wouldn't be on here acting like their all that! I wouldn't want that kind of nurse taking care of me or anyone I loved cause if they treat the techs who are their assistants like that how do they treat their patients! Never have I seen so much disrespect!

You are ill-informed and ignorant. We do everything a nurse does except for meds and the ridiculous "charting" if you can call copy and paste charting and we do a lot more! How pompous of you and rude to talk that disrespectful about the OP's job that you know nothing about! My nurses wouldn't be able to handle it if I wasn't caring for the patients the way I do! Tasks? Really? You call changing dressings, EKG's, blood sugars, vitals and placing heart monitors on patients tasks? Your in the wrong profession if you view those things as merely tasks! Vital signs and knowing how to take them correctly is what Dr's and nurses used to do BEFORE all the ridiculous brainless copy and paste charting was done that has NOTHING to do with patient care! Most of our nurses sit on their butts while I do patient care. The only thing I don't do (and I could because I'm also a medication aid but my hospital policy doesn't allow it) is give meds and I see the nurse in the room for 15-minutes if that to give meds! So who knows the patient? Who listens to the patient and who has a relationship with the patient? I DO...The lowly patient care tech! Wow... you need an attitude check dude!!!

Hello, I think this post is old so I'm not sure if you will even see this but my thoughts as a PCT/MA is that the responses here are very rude accept for maybe one. I feel for you OP and hope you got some peace about your frustrating situation. Being in a nursing support situation is not easy and it is sometimes a thankless job especially if your working with those that have a God Complex. And for those who commented. Yes... PCT's work in ER's, ICU's and anywhere in a hospital. I know because I am one and they need me and I do a lot and work my a-- off. No I don't do meds or the same duties as an RN or even an EMT but there's lots to do in a busy ER and I'm not talking about wiping butts. I am certified to do EKG's, wound dressing changes, send blood to the lab, do blood sugars, and help wherever I am needed and I am needed and treated with respect where I work. I've often been called a nurse even by my nurses but mostly by the patients because I am professional. Most importantly....EVERY role in a hospital is important because it's all about team work. A PCT....even a CNA, janitor, cook, transporter, phlebotomist, respiratory tech, etc, etc are all part of a tapestry that woven together creates a complete package that makes a hospital run correctly. I'm tired of viewing remarks on this forum that are derogatory because someone isn't an RN. I'm telling you this! A patients daughter was yelling FOR ME last week in MedSurg (I'm a float tech) not the nurse and the nurse was in the room. So before you start judging your nursing SUPPORT you better get some more information because it sounds like you have no clue as to what PCT's do in a hospital setting. Sounds like the OP had/has a pretty important job. And by the way...I make more as a PCT then an LVN as far as salary. So please don't disrespect the position just because the OP doesn't wear an RN on her uniform! Cause in the last six years of hospital work I've seen nurses that shouldn't be in the profession and I've seen techs that should be nurses. Would you like a DR. treating you the way you are treating the OP? Didn't think so.

Hello, I need some practical help and encouragement. I am currently a CNA/PCT in a hospital and I really want to go on to become a nurse. Problem is I am 57 years of age. When I was in my 20's I was a Medical Assistant and I was working on my pre-reqs in preparation to become an RN. Then I started having kids and put everything on hold. I didn't work for 15 years and didn't go to school. Now my kids are grown and I am divorced. I work really hard at the hospital and barely make ends meet financially. I have nobody to help me through school and am kind of alone all the time..no boyfriend, etc. I guess I am scared that I am too old, and I am not very good with math. I have wanted to do this for years and the desire is constantly there but for some reason I keep dragging my feet. I don't know where to begin as it has been years since I have been in school. Any suggestions, encouragement, etc.. would be great.. I have a natural compassion with the patients and I would be so thrilled to achieve the goal of becoming a nurse.

You were ALL very helpful to me. I have been doing the extra set of vitals since I posted this post and basically the nurses have all been very compassionate and helpful, noticing that my load is heavy. Also, my supervisor has made sure to have the RN's tech on nights that the census is low so now the nurses have more of an understanding what my job is all about. I hopefully have enough energy to add classes to my busy work schedule because I would really like to get my nursing degree. This was the reason why I took this job in the first place. I have been dragging my feet for too long. I need to get going and get into class. God Bless all you wonderful people... May your compassion and beautiful smile make someone's day...every day!

Your reply was so very helpful to me...I can tell by the way that you handled yourself in that situation that you are a quality tech and a very intelligent person. I hope you are in nursing school...lol. You sound like you would make an excellent nurse!! I see what you mean... we all need to do the best we can and tactfully handle situations that come up in the correct manner. Possibly with my personality I have been a bit of a pushover and then I resent it. It is up to all of us to let others know that abusive behavior and lack of teamwork is not going to be tolerated and there is a fine line in figuring that out. I am going to print your message and use it for reference in the future. Thank you for your help. You are awesome!!!

Does your tech do ECG's, blood sugars, help set up new patients after admission, clean the rooms, stock the nutrition room, the supply drawers and boxes on the doors, go get the tele for the heart monitor from another floor, do bed bath's, showers, help patients to the bathroom, answer call lights and do the I&O'S plus hourly rounding logs, filing and help the nurses with whatever the nurses need done? It seems like an overwhelming job that I cannot keep up with. Now an extra set of vitals is another job added to a very heavy work load. I'm wondering how to say no to the nurses when they are piling work on me that they can very well do when I am doing these vitals. Don't get me wrong...there are nurses that have been techs and they help but others that completely take advantage of having a tech and treat me like their slave. I do not know how to get past this and keep my job.

I am so proud of all of you for getting so far into your goals. I am still a pct, recently divorced, was a stay at home mom and gave up my dream to be a nurse for my husband and kids. Now i am 56 and just beginning the steps to become an rn. If i can do this at my age...so can all of you. I need your encouragement, your prayers, your support and your stories. I am sure you are experiencing a release of all the stress of what it takes to get to where you are. I know i will be there crying as well...if i ever get there...but i am trying...god bless you all in your goals and successes. You encourage me!!!!

Your welcome David...anytime I can be of encouragement let me know.. You will do fine...trust me. Just focus on the patients.

Hello everyone. I have a question. I am a pct at a major hospital. There was just a policy change and now instead of the pct's taking two sets of vitals they are adding a third set right before the shift change which is the busiest time for the pct's. Honestly, all of my co-workers are wondering how we are going to do this with are already busy crazy schedule. Each tech has as many as 14 patients and sometimes it can be up to 19 if the census is low at the hospital. This means that we have to do vitals on all those patients times three. The time that we are supposed to clock out is 7:15 but we aren't supposed to start vitals until 6:30. Personally, it takes me over an hour to do twelve vitals as I help my patients to the bathroom if needed, pick up the room, get fresh water, empty trash, etc while I am in their room as not to disturb them later. I don't know how I am going to accomplish this extra set of vitals without being at work until 8:00 Am. Also, call lights are going off at that time in the morning so what should I do? Ignore the other patients? This is really upsetting to me as I believe I am a really good pct and a hard worker but it seems like too much is being loaded onto the techs. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks for allowing me to vent.

I have never heard of it and I am a PCT. Hmmmm.. I wouldn't think it would be too hard since basically a PCT is like a CNA but I am not sure. Good luck to you, do your best.

Hi, I have been a Medical Assistant in the distant past but am currently working as a PCT at a major hospital and was a CNA for a year in a rehabilitation center before that. From experience I can say that I worry as well and looking back I can honestly say it was silly to worry and it wasted so much energy. Everyone is nervous of the unknown and fears doing things for the first time. This is normal so just allow yourself to be a little nervous but don't worry yourself to death. For the most part if you are a compassionate person you will take very good care of the patient for compassion is EVERYTHING. Yes skill is a big part of the job but that is learned through repetition. Ask for help whenever you are unsure. Ask lots of questions and write stuff down. You are going to feel so good about yourself and the fact that you helped someone (the patient) or a nurse in need. The job truly sets you apart from other people and changes you for the better if you let it do so by being compassionate. In time you will be experienced and will be writing on this site to encourage others. I am planning on going back to school now to become an RN. This job has been the stepping stone and working with nurses has inspired me to go forward. You are going to do great because you are the kind of person that doesn't think you are below doing a job that most people wouldn't think of doing...you obviously have a love for people and want to help them...right? Enjoy your new job...learn from it and be loving and kind to those who truly need a loving touch and an understanding heart... Let us know how you are doing from time to time...