Tech/CNA

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I have a question about what is the different between a tech position and a cna. I'm pre nursing student got a year left to get my associate degree in nursing and I want to get a job that is flexible before i admission into my nursing course because the classes are various. Right now only have 5 left to finish my pre quisties courses and I just need an advice about these two position because I desire to become a Pediatric nurse but right now my focus is finding a flexible job that will work around my schdule before taking my nursing class

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.

a "tech" position is usually an expanded cna role. what it involves varies from hospital to hospital. when i was in nursing school, i took a "patient care tech" position at a local hospital. i already had my cna; they taught me ekgs, sterile dressing changes, and catheters. other hospitals in the area also taught lab draws to their pcts. not all hospitals require you to be a cna first if you are in nursing school, but you have to have so many semesters compleated first.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

There are different kinds of techs. Like Critterlover described, the patient care tech varies from place to place. A CNA is a certified nurse assistant. This involves (usually) a formal class and a state exam (which cost money.) I think pcts can be trained by the hospital at no charge to you. I can't think of anything that CNAs can do that techs cannot. I'm not sure. Some institutions train techs and CNAs to do things like insert and d/c foleys, and d/c IVs. Anyway, there is also a nurse tech which is a student in a nursing program who has passed the basic classes in patient care (baths, foleys,etc...). In some institutions, a nurse tech has an expanded role involving tasks that CNAs and pcts can't do. For example, some nurse techs can start IVs in some institutions. You just need to check around at the hospitals in your area. I think you will find that most places will offer flexible scheduling since CNA and tech jobs are popular with nursing students.

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xxx

thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my question. what i was thinking about doing is just visit some hospital because i really want to focus in the pediatrics area that my desire to become a pedatrics nurse. i live in jacksonville, fl and we have 2 large children hospital and i want to be able to get some hand on experience that will help me in my career once i become license which will be a year from now or some kind of background with kids

any advice tips will be appreciate

thank again

nicole

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
xxx

thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my question. what i was thinking about doing is just visit some hospital because i really want to focus in the pediatrics area that my desire to become a pedatrics nurse. i live in jacksonville, fl and we have 2 large children hospital and i want to be able to get some hand on experience that will help me in my career once i become license which will be a year from now or some kind of background with kids

any advice tips will be appreciate

thank again

nicole

good luck, nicole! you shouldn't have a problem finding a postition as a tech. they are in great demand in most areas.

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Good luck, Nicole! You shouldn't have a problem finding a postition as a tech. They are in great demand in most areas.

Thank you so much PricklyPear!!!!

your advice truly help. I want to know much do they start off as a tech. I went on line browsing and I notice they have a postion as a nursing service techinican postion in the Pediatric operation room and I wonder how much they will pay for those that is a student studying to become a Rn

any advice will help

Nicole

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

I have no idea what techs get paid these days. I got 10/h 7 years ago.

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I have no idea what techs get paid these days. I got 10/h 7 years ago.

That is not bad at all... I will keep you posted in searching for a tech job until get my degree to become a RN

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.

OK! And good luck in school, too!

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

At the hospital where I worked, I was a Critical Care Tech from December after my 1st semester of nursing school to June (end of my 2nd semester). I then moved up to an Apprentice Nurse, where I basically did all patient care, charting, assessing, etc.

I did not have to have any experience as a Tech and was trained on the job. But I also did not do many of the things mentioned above. My responsibilities were mainly stocking the carts located outside each patient's room, helping with baths and turning, making sure all the equipment was on the unit and operating correctly, and stocking the supply room. I also helped a LOT with patient transport, which was pretty cool because I got to see many, many procedures that taught me a lot.

None of the techs where we work draw blood, check blood (in fact, the CNA's can do that, but we cannot), do any procedures on a patient such as d/c IV, foley, NG, etc. I was paid $12.76 an hour and worked two 12-hour shifts during my 2nd semester.

After I completed my 2nd semester, I was promoted to Apprentice Nurse (which is why I was given the position of Tech to begin with...to groom me for the unit gradually while I attended school, then give me a position as a Graduate Nurse upon completion of school). My duties dramatically increased and I was responsible for total care of 2 ICU patients (with my preceptor watching of course). I did all the assessments, charting, procedures, speaking with the family, talking with physicians, etc. I was limited in that I could not give IV medication, nor could I suction an ETT. Suctioning a trach was fine, just not an ETT.

For the Apprentice position, I was paid $16.37 an hour and worked two 12-hour night shifts (which I thoroughly enjoyed, as opposed to getting up at the ungodly hour of 4:30am for a day position). I learned so much more at work than I did in school, plus I became very familiar with the staff and supervisors that I will be working alongside once I begin my new job as a Graduate Nurse. Knowing I had a job back in January gave me piece of mind and motivation to finish school, even when there were times when I felt like giving up (all you who experienced that "senioritis" know EXACTLY what I'm talking about).

I highly recommend taking a position at a healthcare facility during school (if you must work). The experience you get is priceless, even if it's nothing more than becoming familiar with the hospital environment. I waited tables before hitting nursing school and although I made around $20/hour (with my tips), I certainly didn't feel "fulfilled" at the end of a 6 or 8 hour shift. I LOVED my jobs, both the Tech position and the Apprentice Nurse (so much so I found it hard to believe how well I was paid for both jobs....I would have done it for free, to tell you the truth).

Melanie = )

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

Thanks for that post, Melanie! Very informative.

So how much are you going to make now as full blown RN??:)

Good Luck to you!!

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I will be making $27/hour as an RN....starting around June 20th. Apparently, my fingerprints are taking much longer that they were supposed to and it's holding up my IP :angryfire

Melanie = )

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