question?

[able2009]

As a CNA do you do clinicals while in school or do you have to learn once you get hired at a job? And I was wonder what the difference was between a CNA, PCA, Patient Care tech, and a medical assisstant.

[rancelumsden]

CNA training consists of classroom training and clinicals. How much of each depends on the requirements of the state. There is some difference in the amount of classroom and clinical time required from state-to-state. They're similar, but some states have more rigorous requirements.

You do the clinicals to actually apply the skills you learn in class. Those skills include things as range of motion, making occupied beds, taking BP's, transfering, bathing, etc.

However, as every CNA knows, it takes 3-6 months on the job before you really get good at the skills. So you actually learn on the job as you do in every profession.

CNA's have different titles in different institutions ---- there is no 'standard' for names. PCT (patient care tech) is a very common name for CNA's in hospitals, but there are at least a dozen common names.

A medical assistant requires far more training. The ones I worked with went to school for a year. They often work in ambulatory clinics because they can perform most duties that RN's do (including giving injections), but cost a lot less.

When dealing with titles, you have to ask what dutes are expected. There is no generalization that if you're called a PCT for example, that you will do such-and-such duties. It's up to the particular employer.