Published Sep 25, 2009
grechi2009
102 Posts
i just got my stna passed the state test i dont have any prior experience my dream is to work at childrens, i am not a nursing student yet, will i have a chance to get hired as a pca without having taken a pca course?
GracefulHippo
8 Posts
Which Children's?
cincinnati childrens in avondale the main campus on burnet or the one in college hill though i prefer on burnet
Oh, well I can't speak of Cincy, but I don't think you're out of the running. Does it tell you on the website or when you apply for specific jobs what the qualification requirements are? I know at Nationwide Children's they have various experience requirements, and one is an STNA with I think a year of experience. Of course, Cincy may be different, I don't know.
no it just asked if you are a nursing student who just completed a clinical rotation or are you listed in the ohio registry as a state tested nurse aide, i am just wondering because everybody i ask says they dont know or that it depends i have no experience but i just dont know whats the difference between a stna and pca i am sure a pca is more hospital based than a stna but i dont know why it would be required if the hospital can train you for those skills plus i thought that was what the cna class was for...thanks for your input though
i probably wont be hired since i dont have any type of cna experience but i just got finished with the class so i am looking for that experience and since i already work in their food service i was just looking to transfer in
ohh no you are only listed anywhere as an STNA if you take and pass the state test. PCA is more hospital-based, you are right about that.
Heavenly4505
107 Posts
I am a STNA. I passed the class in May and passed my state test in June. I have applied to every hospital in the Cincinnati area, including Children's. I was hoping they could hire me as an STNA and then train me for a PCA. PCA's are able to do more clinical duties, such as drawing blood and EKGs. I have been denied by all of them, including Children's. I thought about taking a PCA class on my own through Great Oaks and then trying again. However, in the meantime I have been hired by a Home Health agency. You might try that. PM me and I can give you the name and information to contact the Home Health agency. It's better than working in a Nursing Home (not that there's anything wrong with working in one; it just isn't my cup of tea). I'm not saying that you absolutely cannot get hired by Children's, but I know that I haven't had any luck. Do you have any prior experience in the medical field? The only previous experience I had was working as a Veterinary Assistant (not the same thing, I know). Let me know if you are interested in the name and phone# of the home health agency.
foreverLaur
1,319 Posts
I'm considered a PCA at a hospital, but the lab draws the blood and we are no longer allowed to do foleys or dressing changes. However, I was trained in all of them. Foleys were pretty easy to learn as were dressing changes. It is phlebotomy that takes some practice, especially on people that don't have great veins.
You could learn to do an EKG in 5 minutes.
I applied to hospitals for a solid 5+ months before I ever heard back. You just have to keep trying.