Recently Certified as a PCT in NYC

Nurses General Nursing

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I've recently been certified as a PCT and I'm very excited about it. I just started looking for jobs online and haven't had any luck as of yet. The only experience I have is 4 days of clinical as a CNA, 15 EKG's and 15 venipuncture. Could anyone please give me some advice on how to land a job as a PCT. I'm really starting to get desperate, I'm in need of a job asap.

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What is a PCT doing worrying over EKG and doing venipuncture?

I am a little confused?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I am a NCT, same thing as PCT,we do EKG and phlebotomy, etc.

I checked hospital websites twice a day and applied and applied and applied. Make sure you have a good cover letter personalized for the particular place you are applying, I always work in their mission or values somehow. If you have any customer service experience play that up, I believe that had a bigger play in getting hired with no experience into a hospital then being a CNA.

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Hmmm never heard of it, must be a NY thing

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Hmmm never heard of it, must be a NY thing

If PCT means patient care technician then it's common in PA too. I do phlebotomy and EKGs. However doing an EKG and actually interpreting it are two different things. I just enter the patient data, slap all the leads on and wait until the machine tells me to go, hit a button, print and either hand it over to the doctor or nurse or put it in a patients chart.

I think the confusion sets in because CNA's must be certified with their state in order to work in nursing homes. Anywhere else such as hospitals you don't need to be certified so that's why they give them 800 different titles like PCA, PCT, ST, PST etc etc.

Recently I just heard of a CENA which is a competency evaluated nurse aide. It's getting ridiculous and I think there should just be one universal name across the board for non certified people.

Oh and as for getting a job in a hospital? Volunteer!! This way you can see if you would enjoy the environment before actually committing to anything.

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.
What is a PCT doing worrying over EKG and doing venipuncture?

I am a little confused?

I think it varies from state to state and even from hospital to hospital. I worked at a hospital as a nurse tech a few years back and we were allowed to start IVs and draw labs but at the hospital where I currently work, nurse techs are not allowed to start IVs or draw labs. I would assume the same goes for PCT. Scope has to do with the area you live. Hope that helps some! :)

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