What is the advantage of taking a PCT course?

Nursing Students Technicians

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I finished a CNA course at the Manhattan Institute, I reviewed it in a different thread if anyone is interested. If someone can answer a few questions I would be very happy.

1) Will I make more as a PCT?

2) From what I been told a PCT is a CNA who learns Phlebotomy and EKG is this true?

3) If it is true, then why would I take a PCT course if I work in a Nursing home where there is no Phlebotomy or EKG?

4) Five years ago I almost took the PCT class and it was called Nurse Technican, why is that?

5) Every school I checked for CNA the class was the same hours, the class for PCT varies, does anyone know why?

6) Is there a State test for PCT?

A million thanks for anyone that could help me. Besides the expense, I am not a big fan of going to school and all that goes into it. My main reason to study is to earn more pay.

Wendy

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.

Because you may eventually look for a new or better job. Knowing a few extra skills may make you more valuable. You may then be able to work for a doctor's office as a medical technician instead, since they function under a doctors supervision. Typically many cost conscious (I didn't say cheap, but you know what I mean, LOL...) doctors refuse to hire real RNs because of their costs. So they may go with a med tech. The med tech is expected to do a lot of what you just stated; draw bloods and do cardiograms. In essence, you're already more marketable than the regular CNA. :up:

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Hello,

I live in FL and currently in a PCA course. We will not learn Phelb. After we complete our courses and get certified then we will become CNA in the state of FL.

Patient Care is what a nursing assistant does, so maybe that is why the course is named Patient Care Assistant/Technician.

Yes there is a state test, written and skills test and you must pass in order to receive certification.

My course is 3.5 months. I go 3 days a week at night. 270 class hours. NO job placement. No credits, only the Health Care Concepts. Im having fun, and would like to further my education to LPN, and maybe bridge over to RN, extra 9 months.

Good Luck!

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I finished a CNA course at the Manhattan Institute, I reviewed it in a different thread if anyone is interested. If someone can answer a few questions I would be very happy.

1) Will I make more as a PCT?

2) From what I been told a PCT is a CNA who learns Phlebotomy and EKG is this true?

3) If it is true, then why would I take a PCT course if I work in a Nursing home where there is no Phlebotomy or EKG?

4) Five years ago I almost took the PCT class and it was called Nurse Technican, why is that?

5) Every school I checked for CNA the class was the same hours, the class for PCT varies, does anyone know why?

6) Is there a State test for PCT?

A million thanks for anyone that could help me. Besides the expense, I am not a big fan of going to school and all that goes into it. My main reason to study is to earn more pay.

Wendy

I took a nurse aide course and landed a job with the title "PCT" at a local hospital and I did not do phlebotomy or anything like that. It was strictly nurse aide duties plus EKGs. We learned EKGs in about 10 minutes during orientation - actually doing one is a piece of cake. No need to take an entire class for that!!

The patient care tech CLASS at my local CC teaches you EKGs, foleys, and sterile technique.

From what I've seen, the only way to learn phlebotomy, outside of OTJ training, is to take a 2 semester certificate program.

I recently landed a different hospital-based job that is titled "multi-skilled tech" that includes phlebotomy, EKGs, foleys, and dealing with all orthopaedic devices. They prefer you to have the previous knowledge but are willing to train.

If you plan to work in LTC and are certified/state-tested as a nurse aide, you don't need any additional coursework. If you want more money, learn the PCT skills and apply to hospital-based jobs.

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Hello,

I live in FL and currently in a PCA course. We will not learn Phelb. After we complete our courses and get certified then we will become CNA in the state of FL.

Patient Care is what a nursing assistant does, so maybe that is why the course is named Patient Care Assistant/Technician.

Yes there is a state test, written and skills test and you must pass in order to receive certification.

My course is 3.5 months. I go 3 days a week at night. 270 class hours. NO job placement. No credits, only the Health Care Concepts. Im having fun, and would like to further my education to LPN, and maybe bridge over to RN, extra 9 months.

Good Luck!

Do you mind me asking where you took your course at and how much it was? I am struggling to find a decent PCA/PCT program without paying an arm and a leg!

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I'm going to take a PCA course so I can get a job outside of a nursing home! PCA's/PCT's are not hired in nursing homes in my state, only CNA's. PCA's work in the hospital.

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I took both a CNA and PCT course. I didn't take either before I got hired in a hospital and I never took a certification exam.

My CNA course taught by all the basic things you'd need to know to work in long-term care, but most were applicable to your job in a hospital.

My PCT course taught me dry sterile dressing changes, wet to dry dressing changes (reeeal useful), putting in a foley, straight cath, removing a foley, open/closed bladder irrigation, NG (putting in and removing), NG bolus tube feed, basic EKGs, very basic phlebotomy (fake arm, no clinicals), ostomies (rinsing and changing), CVC dressing change, suture/staple removal, use of a Doppler, oral suctioning, and administering enemas.

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I think that it varies by state, but I'm in FL in a PCT program. I finish on 7/12 and I'm in clinicals right now. A PCT is a CNA with Phlebotomy and EKG training. We have to take the CNA test with Prometric to be certified. The Phlebotomy/EKG is just something extra we get. Most CNAs do work in nursing homes, and you in fact do not utilize the Phleb/EKG there. Others work in the hospitals under the nurse, where you still do not utilize the extras. You are the runner. Clean the patient, see if they need something, do their vitals. That's the short story of it all. And if you did want to go do Phlebotomy, the place that hired you would train you for 6-8 weeks anyway. I chose PCT to feel my way around to see if I wanted to be in the medical field as much as I'd always thought and to get my foot in the door. A few of the hospitals here, however, will post a job opening for a PCT that says "PCT or MA". So I guess the MA could do your job. Which I wasn't aware of. Sigh, I'm not crazy about CNA PCT whatever you want to call it. It's a good program to go into if you want to learn where you want to be (for example, I now know that I CANNOT handle rehab or respiratory) but if you're in for the money only, search around beforehand.

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

I started out as in a PCT program, half way through, the director of that program and the director of the LPN program encouraged me to apply for and test for the LPN program, which I got into and started after I completed my PCT classes.

I feel the PCT class gave me an excellent jumping off point. I didn't know if I wanted to be a nurse.

Plus I really learned alot about EKG's and that I pretty much love cardiac.

I was taught phlebotomy, EKG's, NA, HHA, med term. and some math.

PCT's never caught on here in my area, but I know the bigger cities are using them and they have alot of responsibility. Two PCT's changed my dressings in the burn unit, but the RN did the pt. teaching on it.

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I am a certified PCT and have been looking for a job for a month now. I went to couple of agencies but no luck... they are hiring experienced PCT. I would be so thankful if you could suggest me how to get hire in hospital as PCT without experience...although i have done my internship at doctor office as Phlebotomist n ekg technician...

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I am a certified PCT and have been looking for a job for a month now. I went to couple of agencies but no luck... they are hiring experienced PCT. I would be so thankful if you could suggest me how to get hire in hospital as PCT without experience...although i have done my internship at doctor office as Phlebotomist n ekg technician...

I just kept at it - took me 8 months to get a call back and then a job. I applied to every open posting at every single hospital in my area and tried to highlight the little experience I had and make it SHINE.

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Hi, Sorry I would've messaged you but I don't know how to use this site because I am new at it. But I saw one of your old posts saying that you've taken the hesi a2 exam. I was just wondering what study guide you used. I am planning on taking the test next week but I want to use a study guide that actually works. Thanks!

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