Would have put on Nurse Talk but was a little afraid lol. I would like your thoughts on a question that I have reguarding Patient Care Techs. I am wondering why can't PCT's be licensed as to make more money a little until the LPN pay scale. All levels are responsible for thier own maintaning thier scope of practice. Yes but RN'S carry the burden in the end. LPN'S can also lose thier license and CNA"S can lose thier certifications. So were are all responsible for our title's. Now thier's a new level PCT'S many are trained (hospital) specific. They do alot of things RN's and LPN'S do except (meds). The grunt work of thier levels. They not only do pt care, they put in and dc foley, they do blood draws, they do 12 lead ekg's, they dc IV's, they sterile suction and suction, wound care except sterile, they do colostomy bags all of it, can do certain things with O2 (med) and many other things. So my question is and trust me it's not about who is a nurse and who isn't it's about wether or not PCT'S should be allowed to be licensed like RN'S and LPN'S. also if someone knows how to go about it personally I only think it's fair if PCT'S are going to do a way lot more then CNA's are allowed to do then they should be paid more and allowed to license. yes no your thoughts

In this hospitals in my area the patient care techs are actually a step up from CNA's. There is a patient care tech. program at my school and you have to go through CNA certification before you can do that. The hospitals will only hire experienced CNA's, EMT's, or Student Nurse Interns (after the 1st semester of nursing school is completed) as PCT's.

Let me add this what if they were trained or have been trained and had to do a state board test? Oh I so agree there are some people all levels who should not be out there. Then there are the ones that are good at what they do and should be compensated