Unemployed RN - Should I Work As A Pt. Care Tech?

[Evergreen09]

Hi Everyone,

I am a new RN. I want to work in Psych, but there a no jobs around me in this field.

My questions is this: Do you think I should work as a Patient Care Tech in Psych, just to get my foot in the door? Do you know of any RNs who would take a pt. care tech position? I am not even sure this happens. Or should I just settle and work in another area of nursing that I am sure I would not like as much as Psych.

Thanks!

[twentytenRN]

From what I know (and I'm no legal nurse expert here), most facilities won't hire someone holding an RN license for another clinical type position such as a CNA/PCT. It's a liability because you DO have the license and it's often tricky to avoid crossing the boundary between PCT and RN. When you're employed under a different title and you happen to cross that line and practice nursing, the hospital's insurance doesn't cover this and you are a liability.

I have friends that I just graduated with and they were working as PCT's, the day their license was active they had to stop working as a tech. They couldn't work until their internship's began at that same hospital.

[caliotter3]

I've known several RNs who held second jobs as CNAs or PCTs. Some do this until they can get a job as an RN. You have to be very aware of what you are doing and keep looking for an RN job. Don't get complacent just because you have a paycheck coming in.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

You also have to be very careful not to overstep the scope of the position you're working within as a CNA or PCT. There are lots of things that you can do as an RN that you can't do as a tech. You could find yourself without a job OR a license if you forget where you are.

[eeyorelov]

i was thinking of doing the same thing. they won't hire new grads but they will always hire a CNA/tech!

[Evergreen09]

Thanks for all the feedback!

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

Check out a public health or corrections position. Plenty of mental health experience there.