I hate my PCT job!
So guys I’ve been working as a PCT for almost 2 years now and I genuinely feel like I’ve developed a hatred for ppl (really just old ppl if I’m being honest)
I’m just venting pls don’t jump on me
Ok reason 1: My job is genuinely looked down on by everyone in the hospital. Pts, Nurses, Providers, etc. The nurses don’t show any empathy towards you for the amount of work that you do. They don’t care anything ab your job and your heavy load just if you do vitals on time or glucose checks. You could be elbows deep in a bed bath or literally picking up the pts shit off the floor and they’ll walk in acting like they don’t see you at all and start talking to the pt as if you’re not even in there, but expect you to stop what you’re doing so they could tell the pt that they’re putting in “dc orders” for them😭. Pts and especially their family think that you don’t know SHIT, like for example a pt wanted a pull-up their wife was like “she wouldn’t know, she’s just an aid” likeee wtf??!! Why wouldn’t I know if the floor I work on has pull-ups or not??
Reason 2: the physical toll on my body. I literally have the worst back pain from this job. Having to basically pick up and hold on to these big ass bariatric pts is honestly part of the job. They don’t help you at ALLLL. It’s like they almost want to punish you bc they’re in the hospital. Some nurses like to act oblivious to the fact that a pt requires x2 or 3 assist, and they leave you to do all the turning, pulling, and rolling by yourself.
Reason 3: ELDERLY PTS! Omg working as a PCT just solidified my dislike for ever working with old ppl. They are truly some of the nastiest-rudest ppl ever! Some of them can be soo entitled thinking that you’re supposed to be waiting hand and foot for them. And pls don’t get my started on demented/Alzheimer’s pts, especially when the family acts like their pawpaw is the sweetest man on earth but turns into most racist, nastiest person ever at night. It’s like their strength multiply into the strength of 100 gorillas. I actually dealt with one kicking the shit outta my stomach today, with its scabby ass foot.
Reason 4: Ratios! It seems to me that the only ppl management cares about is the nurses bc on day shift we can have up to 15 pts sometimes and the charge nurses wouldn’t bat an eye or even offer to get a pt a cup of ice. It’s like no one’s cares to help and it’s no need to even say anything bc your Job will be downplayed and they’ll act like they have the hardest job on earth as a nurse. I honestly get that sometimes nursing can be very critical when it comes to thinking and that I’m sure you need to be very smart to do your job, but pls when most of your pts orders are just pain management you don’t get to make me feel like I interrupted you doing the Lords work to help me turn a 400lb pt.
I honestly could go on and on but that’s all I can manage to type today after my shift.
Ik some ppl are just gonna say go to another hospital, this is my 2nd hospital job doing different specialties and I still hate it.
I already have a little over 3000 hrs, in those 2 years from working full time the entire time. I honestly don’t have the time nor the money to do another certification program to find another job to get PCE hours.
I’ve shadowed enough to realize PA is def for me, but it’s getting to the point that idk if I will even make it to PA school if working as a PCT is what’s required.
*pls don’t mind the grammar or any spelling issues, I can’t get my brain to reread all of this rn