Work as pt. care tech w/o CNA after completion of nursing skills??

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I was wondering if it is possible to work as a patient care tech after completing fundamental nursing classes (foleys, vitals, etc.). I wouldn't have CNA certification as most tech job descriptions request, but I wondered if hospitals would allow a nursing student who has completed the required skills to work as a tech.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Cant you petition the state board for it instead and get the certification?

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no idea but im hoping so cause i hope to land a hospital job this summer whether its cna, tech, pca or scrubbing floors lol

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I got a job as a "CNA" after my first year of nursing school. The job posting said something like "CNA or nursing school with 1 med/surg clinical completed. I also applied for ones that didn't mention nursing school. I had never taken a CNA class or anything. I highly reccommend working while in school, I see so much more at work than I do at clinical. (More hours, more patients, more comfortable setting)

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It may be a state to state thing - but here in Massachusetts, a nursing student with a specified number of clinical hours can work as a tech...you'll need a letter from your chair person stating how many hours you have logged in clinical.

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In my state, RN students can work as PCTs after completion of their 1st year.

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Specializes in NICU.

the hospitals around me require two full clinical rotations before a nursing student can work as a tech/CNA. Every place is different though!

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I was looking at a job description last night while at work. Currently I work nights as a mental health tech on the behavioral health unit. It is a great job because it allows me time to study at work. None of the patients have "medical issues", they are strictly mental health related. If a patient requires an IV or any medical attention, they are transferred to another floor until they recover and are self-sufficient once again. So it is a great job in that it isn't taxing. However, I would like the experience of med-surg. I heard it is a lot of work and my psych nurses said they would never go back...They enjoy the "freedom" of psychiatry. I believe that the experience would be beneficial, allow me to perfect my skills, and give me practical application which would better prepare me for life after nursing school. I checked into some of the positions and they allow you to work as a PCT after completion of nursing fundamentals (nursing skills) course. So that would mean that I could start the second half of summer....contingent upon my acceptance into nursing school and passing nursing fundamentals :?

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Around here you there are PCT position postings that say "CNA cert or completed 1 semester ADN or 2 semsters BSN".

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Specializes in Telemetry.

yes, that is how I got my job at the hospital I am working at now. I didn't do a CNA class but as soon as I finished my first semester in nursing school I was able to find a job. Then again, it may depend on what state you live in?

Good luck!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I got a nurse tech job after my second semester of nursing school. Where I work as long as you are in nursing school and show transcript every semester you can do tech work without having the CNA certification.

Doing tech work has helped me out tremendously in clinicals. Not to mention it looks great on a resume

Good luck to you.

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