Question about patient care technician/cna.

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Sorry I dont know where to post this exactly. I want a job in health care while I finish up my degree program. I was about to sign up for a phlebotomy program until I did my research and learned that its very hard for people to find jobs. So I was thinking maybe I will do a CNA training program instead. Do hospitals hire CNAs to be patient care technicians and they train them for EKG and phlebotomy or does a CNA already have to have training in those things before a hospital hires them? I dont have enough money to do all three of them. Just the CNA and EKG or CNA and phlebotomy. Also is it hard to find a job as a CNA outside of LTC?

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

At the hospitals nearest to me they do want you to have experience in phlebotomy, etc., but it may not be the same everywhere. Look at some job listings near you and see what it looks like in your area.

At one hospital I know of, they have a PCT training program once or twice a year, where they will hire CNAs and train them in the above skills, then give them a job at the hospital afterward. The only catch is that they require you to work there full-time for a year, which I cannot take advantage of because I hope to only work part-time once in NS.

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It depends on what state u live in. I live in Michigan. I got my phlebotomy license 2 1/2 years ago and was unsuccessful at finding a job had a few interviews but they all wanted an experienced phlebotomist. I went on to be certified as a Nurse aide about six months later not being able to find anything as a phlebotomist. Here in Michigan most PCT's/PCA's do the same exact thing a nurse aide do but work in hospitals instead and get paid a lil more. I volunteered with pcts /pcas and none of them drew blood nor did EKG's. Yes Nurse aides wrk in hospitals too, but most hospitals required u to have atleast a year of ltc or hospital experience and yes CNA's can be hired in as a PCT/PCA.

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

Instead of doing CNA course, do Patient Care TEchnician course, and you will get training in all the areas you mentioned. PCT's more likely to find work at hospital,office or lab. CNA more likely to get work at long term care facility...unless they do additional training. Some hospitals do train CNA's to become PCT's but you'll be lucky to find one that does. Some required PCT's to draw blood, check the career pages of your local area to find out what they ask for in the qualifications. or use indeed.com

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

It all depends on the area in which you live to determine the job demand. Where I'm at, a phlebotomy certification will get you in the door. In fact, I got 2 job offers my last week of class :) Unfortunately, I can't start working until this semester is over (taking 6 classes :eek:), so here's hoping I still have a shot at a job when this semester is over :)

You should check the hospital's employment website to see available job postings. This will give you an idea of what you should focus on. As I said before, it all depends on your area.

Best of luck to you :D

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Im sorry I am new here and I couldn't find the discussion. I was reading that cna and direct care aid are the same thing? The reason I was asking because after many years of having a lapsed cna certificate I obtained my direct care training the test I took said practice cna test and I told one of my jobs the second job I got the certificate and they stated that it was not cna and was not the certificate they needed. They want me to get cna certified as well and its not making sense to me since they both do the same thing.

Have a great day

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
Im sorry I am new here and I couldn't find the discussion. I was reading that cna and direct care aid are the same thing? The reason I was asking because after many years of having a lapsed cna certificate I obtained my direct care training the test I took said practice cna test and I told one of my jobs the second job I got the certificate and they stated that it was not cna and was not the certificate they needed. They want me to get cna certified as well and its not making sense to me since they both do the same thing.

Have a great day

Sounds like you just got a vocational certificate showing that you trained for that specific job.There are many job titles that require cna certification, like Unit Aide, some tech jobs etc. CNA certification is normally a State requirement and depending on your state you will have to be recertified if it lapsed. To avoid lapse if not working as CNA you need to do a certain number of continuation education courses each year and make sure to renew it before it expires.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Discussion has been moved to the Patient Care Technician forum.

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Specializes in military medicine.

any kind of in-hospital pt care experience (licensed or not) is really good if you are planning on going to nursing school at some point in the future. it will help you feel more comfortable with the patients and help you find a job after you graduate.

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Thanks for the responses everyone. I was about to pay $876 for a CNA certification. I definitley want to be a patient care technician. Do only vocational/technical schools offer PCT training? Also should PCT's get certified?

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I'd say get the CNA certification. Any hospital who hires you will train you for what they want you to do.

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$876? Wow, that is a lot of money for a CNA certification. Were I live CNA's with years of experience make around $9 hr so that much money would be a waste.

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