Patient care technician or anything else?

Question

I am a and will be doing my master in Biomedical science. and trying to get in to medical school ...I'm thinking of taking a PCT class .how is it like being a PCT..how is the pay, or must i go for the CNA class? I want to get clinics experience.

Certificate Program

Should I go for something else?

What should I do to work in the Hospital?

Answer 1

Wikipedia albeit Not for professional or school research as some more info on PCT.  That type of tech is apparently a combination of cna and medical assistant (drawing blood/phlebotomy, performing ekgs (electrocardiograms) and such.  (Please note that there aren't supposed to be too many jobs for the medical assistant itself if was considering taking an MA course).  It's usually more cost-effective to hire a PCT as opposed to hiring a cna, phlebotomist and ekg tech or such.

General info on pct:  http://www.wikipedia.org and can type into search.  

If considering taking such a course, please forgo those private $$ schools and instead opt for the county vo-tech school or community college (perhaps non-credit course) as long as it's accredited within the industry.

Answer 2

In my experience, a PCT and a CNA are the same thing. Some hospitals use the different terminology, but the responsibilities are basically the same.  If you're looking for clinical experience while you're waiting to get into med school, I think this would be a good idea.  Especially because it will give you a good perspective of what happens on the floor. I work at a teaching hospital, and so many of the Residents and Interns don't have the foggiest clue as to what really goes on on the unit. Then they don't want to listen to the nurses that really know what's going on. So maybe this experience will give you that perspective and make you a better doctor for it. I hope this info is helpful. Good luck!