What's the difference?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 20, 2007

Sorry for the not-so-nice reception; I'll hope to do better :)

In most facilities, a Patient Care Tech is another name for a CNA. However, not all PCTs ARE CNAs. A CNA (Certified Nurse's Aide/Assistant) goes through a several-week course to learn the basics of turning patients, bathing, ambulating, positioning properly, etc. At the end of the course, they get a certificate. Our hospital happens to have PCTs as the title, although most are CNAs (not all).

Now, as for starting IVs, learning A&P: I don't know how that figures in to either job description. I'm sure there will be others here that can point to jobs they've had that did require this as a PCT, but I'm not aware of any. For the most part, the PCT/CNA is at the bottom of the food chain in terms of hierarchy--not in terms of appreciation.

I'd be curious as to what the actual certification IS that you'd be getting?

zozzy777 · Jun 20, 2007

A lot of places have different levels of care for the CNA and tech. I have come across many where the CNA does the very basic things for the patients, such as baths, vitals, I & O's. Some cannot even do a fingerstick. Then they have tech's who can draw blood, put foley's in, things that are more advanced. It really just depends on the facility you are working at. Hope this helps a little!

missAmanda · Jun 20, 2007

A lot of places have different levels of care for the CNA and tech. I have come across many where the CNA does the very basic things for the patients, such as baths, vitals, I & O's. Some cannot even do a fingerstick. Then they have tech's who can draw blood, put foley's in, things that are more advanced. It really just depends on the facility you are working at. Hope this helps a little!

This makes much more sense. This is what I thought. To me, a CNA cleans/changes the bed, washes the patient, but isn't allowed to do anything along the lines of sticking and such. Kinda like an EMT-B (which I also am). I just hope I get a nice hospital or clinic that allows me to use my skills.

I'm also an Army medic and can do a lot of stuff on a base or overseas, but unfortunately the civilian sector doesn't recognize my training.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Jun 20, 2007

I just wanted to add that my CNA training was 5 months long and yes we did learn Anatomy. :) The hospitals around my area use a CNA for thier skilled nursing faciltiy and those with nurse assistant training are called healthcare partners or some other name. They can be CNA's but the job title is different.

Trophywife81 · Jun 20, 2007

In my area, PCTs are usually nursing students who have completed one or more semesters of their nursing program. CNAs are healthcare workers who have a certificate, and may or may not also be in nursing school. Just like a previous poster stated, PCTs generally do things that are slightly more invasive (IVs, foleys, etc.); CNAs usually turn and bathe patients, take vitals, etc. Both PCTs and CNAs make nurses' lives much nicer :)

Elysium_Won · Jun 21, 2007

I graduated from a PCT program prior to going to nursing school. I lived in Florida at the time. We had a CNA course as part of the program, then learned injections, EKGs, lab tests, phlebotomy, Foley insertions, etc. It was a 6 month program followed by 2 months of clinicals and then a 90-hour externship. When we finished, we took the CNA exam to get that license, earned a Home Health Aide certification, and a PCT diploma. In the area I lived, the hospitals would hire PCTs and they would function at a level between CNA and LPN/RN. Some medical offices would also hire PCTs to serve as Medical Assistants. After moving to Virginia, my experience was that most PCTs served as CNAs though some hospitals have them do more. Hindsight being what it is, if I did it over, I probably would have saved the $8,000 I spent for PCT school. I've since learned that many hospitals hire nursing students as PCTs and will train them for more advanced skills, thus creating different clinical levels of techs (Tech I, Tech II, Tech III).

ceecel.dee, MSN, RN · Jun 21, 2007

Higher or lower? Interesting language.

Differing institutions have differing job descriptions. In a hospital, I cannot imagine anyone "below" (to use your language) a RN obtaining IV access, unless a lab tech.

Perhap Medical Assistant is a better title for what you schooled for?

missAmanda · Jun 22, 2007

So I've gone to class a couple nights now and have asked some questions. I guess I will get my CNA certification, but that is just one mod of 8. I will get my national phlebotomy, EKG, PCT and CPR. So, I dunno where that fits into the whole hospital hierarchy.

Anyways, thanks to everyone who took the time to reply.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 22, 2007

I just wanted to add that my CNA training was 5 months long and yes we did learn Anatomy. :) The hospitals around my area use a CNA for thier skilled nursing faciltiy and those with nurse assistant training are called healthcare partners or some other name. They can be CNA's but the job title is different.

FIVE MONTHS?? Wow. Obviously you were trained far and above what I'm used to seeing from the local CNA programs, which are six weeks long. In that role, they take vital signs, do fingersticks, and the usual bed/bath/toileting. And alot of fetching icewater, snacks, etc.

Clearly the job training varies considerably.

justme1972 · Jun 22, 2007

A girl in my AP class is a Patient Care Technician at a local hospital. To be technically correct on your question, her position is actually lower than a CNA, but the pay, ironically, is the same.

There was minimal training for her job, provided by the hospital, no certificate, and all she can do is blood pressure, baths, bed making, and other "errands" that other staff needs her to do. She cannot move a patient, help them to the bathroom, etc.

This is a hospital that doesn't have enough CNA's applying for jobs, so that is why they have these jobs open.

Our state requires anything invasive, to either be a Phlebotomist (certified), or an LPN, at the very minimum, and an LPN isn't exactly "minimal training", as they are nurses. CNA's cannot do anything that invades the skin.

I can see from reading this thread that it is different at different hospitals.

RNDreamer · Jun 22, 2007

My CNA course about 5 wks long. We we were taught bathing with back massage, peri care, height, weight, cath care, nail and hair care, bed making, emptying a foley bag, pulse and resp, range of motion,etc. We weren't taught how to take BP or finger stucks in my CNA class, but I was taught to take BP in my HHA class, weird...the job titles and duties may vary with different facilities..In the HHC hospitals in NYC, I usually see ads for Patient Care Tech that includes the duties of a CNA, and Patient Care Associate which includes EKG and Phlem...someone who is more familiar with these facilities, please feel free to correct me