What's the difference!?!

[Hopeful76]

Ok, I am just not understanding all of this. I had a phone appointment with a school because it was a hour drive for me to meet in person and all I wanted was some information on there school. So, they actually scheduled a appointment for them to call me and go over everything about there school. This is for patient care tech. The guy told me it is a 5 month course going 5 days a week at night it is 4 hours at night. It is alot more money than it would for me to go to a week long class or 2 weekend classes for a prep course. What is the difference??? I told him about the prep course and he basically had nothing good to say about it but of course he is trying to get me down to there school and sign up. He told me they do job placement and the hospitals hire alot of there students. He told me that the prep course is only going to get me ready for the test and not actually have alot of hands on experience and not as much as I would if I take a Patient Care Tech Class. He said they do alot more. I am just so dang confused. I want to hurry up and sign up for a class and there is 2 prep courses I could go take soon and then this school which is called Americare. But, of course alot more money and 5 months long. Why? I just want to be able to get a good job afterwards and get into a good course or school to get all the education I need to. WWYD?

[samsam22, CNA]

Its weird at my company anyone who works at the SNF across the street is called a CNA. and thats what it is on their badges.

I am a CNA but since i work in the acute care my title says "Nurses Aide" not CNA like theirs does.

*shrug* makes no sense to me really, when i applied for the postion any CNAs working in a hospital are known as nurses aide, and any over in SNF are the CNA's... all i know is were doing the same type of work lol, and i have no idea why i would be known as a "Nurses Aide" instead of "CNA"

maybe its just a weird difference they wanted on the badges

[jennileigh8182]

Apparently, this varies by area. I am taking a combined CNA/PCT course. Each class individually is 8 weeks, but mine is 16 because I'm getting both together. You do NOT take a certification test to be a PCT, only to be a CNA. CNA is primarily long-term care, and PCT is primarily acute hospital care around here. I believe CNAs make more money here, but I'm not positive. I'm only taking it to get some experience before I start nursing school next fall.

[Miwila]

I might be in the minority but I say go for the PCT. A PCT is really a CNA who can do ekg and phleb and while hospitals train CNA's to do that stuff anyway, at least in my metro area it is almost impossible to get hired as a CNA right out of training class unless you know someone while doors open up for the same new grad students who are PCT's. So the question is if going to work in a hospital is important to you or if you are willing to do your dues in a LTC facility first. You can either work in LTC to get experience, or get PCT traing which will make you more competitive in finding a job in a hospital right out of school. I live in large metropolitan area with a tight job market so maybe it is different elsewhere. If your goal is to go on to become an LPN or RN you'll need the ekg and phleb training anyway.

5 months also sounds pretty standard to me when it comes to PCT training.

[slowrabbit]

A patient care technician is not the same as a CNA but you do need to be a CNA to get the PCT designation. The major difference is the level of training and skills a PCT has over a CNA. The prep class sounds too brief and may not give you all the hands on training you'll need. In addition, most places prefer that a PCT has experience working as a CNA first before they hire you as a PCT. Hope this answers your question.

[jennileigh8182]

you do need to be a CNA to get the PCT designation....In addition, most places prefer that a PCT has experience working as a CNA first before they hire you as a PCT. Hope this answers your question.

You shouldn't generalize. This is NOT AT ALL true in my area. The PCT class is the same length as the CNA class and you do NOT have to be a CNA for it. Hospitals around here will take either skill set without preference. In my area, CNA=LTC, PCT=acute care.

Our classes are 6-8 weeks for CNA or 6-8 weeks for PCT, depending on how long your class runs when you meet and how many days a week you attend.

[Codeda]

You shouldn't generalize. This is NOT AT ALL true in my area. The PCT class is the same length as the CNA class and you do NOT have to be a CNA for it. Hospitals around here will take either skill set without preference. In my area, CNA=LTC, PCT=acute care.

Our classes are 6-8 weeks for CNA or 6-8 weeks for PCT, depending on how long your class runs when you meet and how many days a week you attend.

Similar here in Orlando. Here it is the same thing different title. If i were to be training as a PCT most hospitals here STILL want you to have experience before they will hire you regardless. Also not all of the PCT training programs here teach phlebotomy and all that it just depends. Now there is a program here that if you are already a CNA you can go to the local tech school and be training for phlebotmy for $100 bucks and a lot of people go that route also.

[Miwila]

You shouldn't generalize. This is NOT AT ALL true in my area. The PCT class is the same length as the CNA class and you do NOT have to be a CNA for it. Hospitals around here will take either skill set without preference. In my area, CNA=LTC, PCT=acute care.

Our classes are 6-8 weeks for CNA or 6-8 weeks for PCT, depending on how long your class runs when you meet and how many days a week you attend.

A PCT has to learn additional skills so how is the school legitmately going to train their students to become PCT's in the exact same amount of time as they are training students to become CNA's? Even 6 weeks to become a CNA seems kind of rushed to teach someone all the skills they need to know - although I don't know I guess it's doable if you're in class all day.