Working the floor after a job interview!? WOW!...

CritCareTech · Oct 10, 2021

18 minutes ago, chare said:

Agreed. I think he or she is confusing being providing supervision to the PCT to mean that he or she is working under the RN's license. Also, I find it hard to believe that any hospital would hire a PCT without having a detailed job description.

And, if this is true, that the nurse is responsible for any error committed by a PCT, I don't think I would ever ask one for help.

Nope, I definetly understand what I said.

Our job description is vague. And is not a scope.

For example. If a nurse says "Hey that COVID patient should be on 12 LPM. Can you bump him up from 5 LPM" - oxygen is NOT in our job description but we're asked to do it. It falls on the RN. Not us.

That's how it is everywhere in my state. We don't have a scope of practice like we should. "Complete tasks as delegated by the professional Registered Nurse".

"Delegated" doesn't mean supervision

bluescrubs, ADN, ASN, RN · Oct 10, 2021

On 10/10/2021 at 4:28 PM, CritCareTech said:

So we can theoretically do anything a nurse does- as long as they're aware of it.

Untrue, if that was the case they would have 1 charge nurse who is an RN and a bunch of PCT's working under that license doing "anything a nurse does" to save money. I've shadowed after an OR interview, basically just watched a surgical case in the OR but didn't assist in any form or capacity. I value my time too much to actually lift a finger to help the unit for free. Soon they will expect you to clock out on-time but stay late if you need to finish charting or jut to 'help out'. This shows how they treat their potential staff which is a bad sign.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Oct 11, 2021

3 hours ago, CritCareTech said:

Bingo.

And NONE of this makes sense. I'm in a state with basically 3 Healthcare companies. Two of which are on my side of the state, and each are their own insurance provider for most of Northeast USA.

I won't say the name - but this 4-letter monstro really threw me into a tizzy.

Like, I'm not scared of COVID but there was only 1 other time I went for an interview when if there was a COVID positive pt - no interviewees were allowed on the unit. That was a small hospital then so I could understand.

But this last interview, she was like "Yeah we have about 85% COVID positive now in the ICU. Hope you don't mind".

COVID doesn't worry me at all but literally - I am shocked that they're allowing in-person interviews and allow "shadows" with the COVID patients. All within the largest Healthcare system in the northeast. ???

Adding to my prior comment, what if you'd been injured in some way during your shadow event? You'd be SOL, because you wouldn't be eligible for workman's comp, not being employed there. Again, I advise you, and anyone else, against this

CritCareTech · Oct 11, 2021

On 10/10/2021 at 7:49 PM, bluescrubs said:

Untrue, if that was the case they would have 1 charge nurse who is an RN and a bunch of PCT's working under that license doing "anything a nurse does" to save money. I've shadowed after an OR interview, basically just watched a surgical case in the OR but didn't assist in any form or capacity. I value my time too much to actually lift a finger to help the unit for free. Soon they will expect you to clock out on-time but stay late if you need to finish charting or jut to 'help out'. This shows how they treat their potential staff which is a bad sign.

That's another issue.

PCTs don't chart a single thing there. I asked which system they used and they said "Oh don't worry about that. The nurses do that."

This is the largest general employer in PA and the largest hospital network in the multi-stare region saying this...

Not to mention this hospital killed my mother last year due to overdosing her on buproprion and me ended up coding her for 50-minutes just to get ROSC, then being coded 30 minutes later after she went into PEA.

On 10/10/2021 at 8:05 PM, Hoosier_RN said:

Adding to my prior comment, what if you'd been injured in some way during your shadow event? You'd be SOL, because you wouldn't be eligible for workman's comp, not being employed there. Again, I advise you, and anyone else, against this

For sure.

I would have been screwed.

chare · Oct 11, 2021

Based upon some of your previous posts I was fairly certain I knew which system you were referring to, particularly after stating that you were in PA. When you posted the following, you confirmed my suspicion.

23 minutes ago, CritCareTech said:

This is the largest general employer in PA and the largest hospital network in the multi-stare region saying this...

Knowing what I do about this system, and having reviewed the job descriptions for a few PCT positions they have posted, giving you the benefit of doubt, I can only conclude you haven't reviewed the job descriptions, which are fairly specific.

Best wishes.

CritCareTech · Oct 11, 2021

8 minutes ago, chare said:

Based upon some of your previous posts I was fairly certain I knew which system you were referring to, particularly after stating that you were in PA. When you posted the following, you confirmed my suspicion.

Knowing what I do about this system, and having reviewed the job descriptions for a few PCT positions they have posted, giving you the benefit of doubt, I can only conclude you haven't reviewed the job descriptions, which are fairly specific.

Best wishes.

Trust me. I have.

The peer review with a long-time PCT confirmed that those job descriptions are fluffed.

What is listed on the careers portal is nothing like what the PCTs do.

CritCareTech · Oct 11, 2021

10 minutes ago, chare said:

Based upon some of your previous posts I was fairly certain I knew which system you were referring to, particularly after stating that you were in PA. When you posted the following, you confirmed my suspicion.

Knowing what I do about this system, and having reviewed the job descriptions for a few PCT positions they have posted, giving you the benefit of doubt, I can only conclude you haven't reviewed the job descriptions, which are fairly specific.

Best wishes.

I went in there thinking it was like an NA position. Nope. Strictly codes, IV access abd HUC.

The clinician even said PCTs don't bath or do personal hygiene at all. The job descriptions say they do that, but they actually don't per the PCTs I peer reviewed with.

allnurses Guide · Oct 11, 2021

On 10/9/2021 at 10:27 AM, CritCareTech said:

Hello everyone!

Not a nurse, but I think this section fits perfectly! I come from EMS and started at a trauma center on the COVID unit as a PCT in 2020.

I progressed into a more advanced PCT role in a different ICU which gave me a lot of experience.

I applied on Tyesday for a Medical and Surgical ICU position (Senior PCT) at a local well-known hospital. The job was posted on Monday and I did my interview yesterday.

I came dressed in formal attire and the interview was very pleasant. It was honestly more conversational and casual than anything else. She even said I could skip some "What if questions" if I wanted to, but opted to not skip any. We shared a lot of interest, such as military service and working EMS.

She toured the unit with me which was ramping with COVID. I did my peer review with the on-shift advanced PCT who thought during the whole time, I was an RN. I laughed and was like "Oh no, definetly not a nurse!".

The hiring manager (clinician) said "Oh I wished you brought your scrubs with you so you can jump in and help by working the floor for a bit". I go "Oh I did, they're in my satchel". She was like "You don't need to if you don't want to stay" and I go "It's perfectly fine!"

Fast forward, I changed into scrubs and helped work the floor for 2-hours. I was introduced to all the staff and had some pleasant discussions with the RNs and attendings!

Then the hiring manager goes "Oh the CRNAs bought everyone lunch, go eat" and I'm like "I'm just interviewing" and she goes "No, you're gonna go eat!" Like I was stunned to be included in so much.

At the very end they thanked me for coming and giving them a hand, and said "We'll be in contact with you in a few days".

Does it seem promising to you? I told them I have an interview on Monday with their primary level 1 trauma center ICU and they really talked down on it - so maybe it'll light the fire under them to hire quickly due to staff shortages?

I'm a PCT/CCT with my EMT, BLS, PALS, ACLS, and TCCC which they seemed to be heavily surprised at.

Thank you all and stay safe!

It sounds extremely promising. My only caution would be prepare yourself mentally for a potential letdown.

I had a very similar experience where part of the hiring process was to work for a day (which they did pay me for) and the feedback was glowing! Me and this job just clicked so well, how could they not hire me? Well, I didn't hear back, and I didn't hear back. I was hurt and perplexed.

I took another job, and about 2 weeks later I heard back from the manager.... the person they hired left them in the lurch, and could I please come work for them?

I was so sorry not sorry to decline. I hope it works out for you, though.

CritCareTech · Oct 11, 2021

9 minutes ago, nursel56 said:

It sounds extremely promising. My only caution would be prepare yourself mentally for a potential letdown.

I had a very similar experience where part of the hiring process was to work for a day (which they did pay me for) and the feedback was glowing! Me and this job just clicked so well, how could they not hire me? Well, I didn't hear back, and I didn't hear back. I was hurt and perplexed.

I took another job, and about 2 weeks later I heard back from the manager.... the person they hired left them in the lurch, and could I please come work for them?

I was so sorry not sorry to decline. I hope it works out for you, though.

Totally agree!

I guess when I went into my last interview before this and signed the job offer that day. I got a little egotistical it would be the same thing. That job I had left is still up since July haha.

I would love to go back to my COVID unit but I think I'm blacklisted after leaving due to no bereavement for my mother's death. Kinda miss it

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Oct 11, 2021

I’d like to offer my condolences on the loss of your mother..

CritCareTech · Oct 11, 2021

I accepted the job offer just now!

Got a sign-on bonus as well!

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Oct 11, 2021

49 minutes ago, CritCareTech said:

I accepted the job offer just now!

Got a sign-on bonus as well!

I’d definitely tuck that away for safekeeping. The last sign-on bonus I got was handed back to the the facility IN FULL when I saw what they were truly all about. NEVER give an employer the rope they need to hang you with.

Congratulations on the new gig but proceed with caution.