Keep CNA Job vs. New PCT Job

[charactercomic2]

Currently have been working as CNA in nursing facility for the bulk of my clinical experience, but it isn't a "hospital setting" but slightly mirrors one. I'll list the pros and cons of each

Keep CNA Job Pros:
- Flexibility of hours (very close with management, able to have flexible shifts as I study for the MCAT this summer)'
- Better pay ($20.xx vs $14.xx)
- Comfortable with staff
- Still very hands on and responsible for a variety of short term patients and long term residents is very rewarding
- Friends I am close with work in other positions

Keep CNA cons:
- Not a hospital setting
- Understaffed at times (upwards of 15 people on certain shifts)
- While close with management, they can be a pain sometimes
- Rarely ever get to interact with physicians, mainly just close with nurses on shift

New PCT Job Pros:
- More direct care (vitals, oversight of hospital admitted patients, etc.)
- Working with a more complete health care team (Physicians, nurses, etc.)
- First time working in hospital setting outside of shadowing
- Broader scope of tasks
- New and exciting opportunities

New PCT Cons:
- Would not be as flexible hours (which I would like to study for MCAT)
- New environment not well versed in could add a second layer of stress on top of MCAT
- Pay is less by like $5 an hour
- Don't know how good they are with undergrads leaving for college during the year
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[kenykj49]

I would take the PCT job simply for the diversity of experience and being exposed to the hospital setting + being surrounded by nurses and physicians. There are PCT's at the hospital I work at though and the job seems extremely boring. They really don't get to do much besides take vitals, answer call bells, and clean patients.

 

[princesspeach2]

How many hours a week do you work and will $5 less an hour be a huge financial hit to you (if you work 20 hrs a week, that's $100 a week or $400 a month lost)? I'd stay at a job that I made more at, liked, had friends at, was comfortable at, was rewarding, and was flexible with my school schedule.

 

[charactercomic2]

How many hours a week do you work and will $5 less an hour be a huge financial hit to you (if you work 20 hrs a week, that's $100 a week or $400 a month lost)? I'd stay at a job that I made more at, liked, had friends at, was comfortable at, was rewarding, and was flexible with my school schedule.

I would be working closer to 30 a week, and money is sort of a big factor. My gut is telling me to stay but thank you both for your advice!!!

 

[Banco]

I mean listen, the point of this is to

1) Get you good clinical experience
2) Get you a paycheck.

The CNA job does both of those well. You don't need to go beyond that for the "type" of direct clinical experience pre-medical school. That's not really expected. If you're concerned about lack of physician related contact, shadow some doctors here and there, or volunteer a bit in a hospital setting. You give up the CNA job as you're making $150+ less per week - that's just a tough sell.

 

[charactercomic2]

I mean listen, the point of this is to

1) Get you good clinical experience
2) Get you a paycheck.

The CNA job does both of those well. You don't need to go beyond that for the "type" of direct clinical experience pre-medical school. That's not really expected. If you're concerned about lack of physician related contact, shadow some doctors here and there, or volunteer a bit in a hospital setting. You give up the CNA job as you're making $150+ less per week - that's just a tough sell.

Thank you thank you! I have been fortunate enough to been getting shadowing in the ED over the past couple of months so your comment especially pushes me toward my initial gut feeling of keeping my current job.

 

[Med Ed]

The PCT job will not add anything substantive to your application, but it will deprive you of two things that are extremely precious: money and time. Stay in the CNA job.