will being a patient care tech look good resume for when i start nursing school

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im still doing prereqs for nursing and im planning on taking a semester off to do patient care tech training so that i can pass the national exam and hopefully work at a hospital. will this look good when i apply to nursing school?

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It didn't for me. When I saw the academic advisor from nursing school, she said that they were strictly looking at academic transcripts and were not interested in work experience.

CNA, however, was a good student job. The availability of weekends, evenings and night shifts made it possible for me to arrange a schedule that combined work and school.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Even if it doesn't matter to the nursing schools you're applying to, it will help you immensely when you do become a nurse. Definitely helps you get familiar with patient care and helps with time management

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It really depends on the school. I'm a PCT and also just started nursing school. Admission to our nursing program is off of a point based system. You get points for your GPA, points for your grades in you're pre-req classes, and points for having previous healthcare experience. I've been a PCT for 5 years now and I can say that it does help with the patient care aspect of nursing and being comfortable taking care of patients, but as far as the "nursing world" I really don't feel like being a PCT gave me a huge advantage over anyone else.

If I were you and didn't NEED to work while your in nursing school, I'd go ahead and apply, hopefully get accepted and go ahead and start the nursing program. I wish I would have started years ago!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

My school only cared about grades. However, I believe my 3 year job at the clinic helped me get a scholarship and guaranteed job offer at a local hospital. The doctor wrote a recommendation letter for me as well.

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If it doesn't help with acceptance into the program, it will definitely help once you are done and looking for your first nursing job. The school I graduated from just started requiring all students to obtain their CNA before they can be admitted to the nursing program, so a lot of the techs on our floor are in nursing school . I think this is great!! It helps students get a realistic view of what the field is really like and I personally think these people are more prepared when they do start working as a nurse.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

UNPOPULAR OPINION: It didn't matter much for me. Never worked in a hospital a day in my life and I still managed to have a job before graduation so it didn't matter much in that perspective either. I'm sure it would help your Nursing practice once you do become a nurse, but I never wanted to become a tech. Ever. They are overworked and underpaid.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
UNPOPULAR OPINION: It didn't matter much for me. Never worked in a hospital a day in my life and I still managed to have a job before graduation so it didn't matter much in that perspective either. I'm sure it would help your Nursing practice once you do become a nurse, but I never wanted to become a tech. Ever. They are overworked and underpaid.

Being young, it definitely beats working in retail or fast food :)

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
Being young, it definitely beats working in retail or fast food :)

Very true!!

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