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Really need help finding PCE.


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Hi everyone!

 

Confession: I'm struggling to find PCE. I'm graduating with my B.S. in Biology next month, and throughout college I've had some healthcare jobs and what might (might might might) constitute as a PCE gig (I was a caregiver for a girl with cerebral palsy for the better part of a year--LOTS of hands-on, medication-giving, bathing, wiping, feeding, teeth-brushing, etc. experience, as she was unable to do these things herself). I say it might count because it isn't in a traditional clinical setting, but I've had several people (PAs included) tell me they think it could count. So, I dunno. I'd love to hear your thoughts, if you have any on that matter.

 

Anyway, I am going to give it a shot this application cycle, as my grades, GRE, shadowing, and LORS are good, my only weakness being PCE. But, I need a job. I'm about to be thrown out into the world for a year (or two, or three...however long it takes me to get in!) before beginning my program. I want patient care experience--I also want a job that allows me to pay rent. 

 

My question is...how do I find this great PCE job?? I have applied to dozens and dozens of them, and have come out with nothing. I don't have my CNA, or CMA. Some jobs I've applied to require neither, as they are private practices and just need a medical assistant for an extra hand. I could get a certification this summer, and I suppose that would be a good way to ensure employment come fall. Do y'all have suggestions? Is there a better way? What did you do? I appreciate any advice!

 

*ALSO: just to make clear, the schools I'm applying to (all in Texas) don't require PCE but recommend it; it would make me a stronger applicant next cycle if I don't get in this year if I stacked up some good hours, but, like I said, I'm a strong applicant in the other components of my application which makes me feel a little bit better.*

 

OK, go! Thanks so much in advance for your advice!

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Your experience as a personal care giver most definitely should count. It is your responsibility to explain your role on your CASPA application so that admissions committees can see that you did provide patient care in some capacity.

 

As far as a patient care job that will pay all the bills, that can be tricky. Most entry level patient care tech jobs are usually low paying (at least in my neck of the woods). When I graduated with my microbiology undergrad degree I took a job doing medical lab technologist work which was most definitely not PCE but it was still healthcare experience and then I kept my job as an EKG tech where I had been working through undergrad. I went PRN in the EKG tech position and picked up as many hours as I could fit it into my schedule so that I was still racking up patient care hours but making a better hourly wage as a technologist. Depending on your situation it may not be reasonable to work two jobs but it worked perfectly for me since I wanted to make as much money as possible before starting PA school.

 

I've said this on other threads where people as this question but the reality is that the most standard acceptable patient care jobs for PA programs typically require a CNA, MA, EMT, RN, paramedic. There are exceptions but it will be more challenging since patient care jobs that don't require any certifications are less common.

 

You could try things like EKG tech (this is what I ended up doing), medical assistant at a location that will do on the job training, research assistant at locations that do clinical test studies where you do actual patient care (drawing blood, vitals, patient interviews), psych tech, ophthalmology tech, physical therapy aide, or scribe. You could even try being a patient transporter or radiology aide as a way to get your foot in the door and transition to something more hands on.

 

Don't be shy when trying to get your foot in the door to places you apply. You may risk coming off pushy but in my experience I got my job as an EKG tech with no certifications because I called the manager over the position before HR called me. I had told that manager my situation and she agreed to interview me and request my application from HR. Who knows if I would have been auto filtered out by HR if I wouldn't have done that. You just have to do things like that very tastefully and some people might irritated with that sort of thing too.

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Your experience as a personal care giver most definitely should count. It is your responsibility to explain your role on your CASPA application so that admissions committees can see that you did provide patient care in some capacity.

 

As far as a patient care job that will pay all the bills, that can be tricky. Most entry level patient care tech jobs are usually low paying (at least in my neck of the woods). When I graduated with my microbiology undergrad degree I took a job doing medical lab technologist work which was most definitely not PCE but it was still healthcare experience and then I kept my job as an EKG tech where I had been working through undergrad. I went PRN in the EKG tech position and picked up as many hours as I could fit it into my schedule so that I was still racking up patient care hours but making a better hourly wage as a technologist. Depending on your situation it may not be reasonable to work two jobs but it worked perfectly for me since I wanted to make as much money as possible before starting PA school.

 

I've said this on other threads where people as this question but the reality is that the most standard acceptable patient care jobs for PA programs typically require a CNA, MA, EMT, RN, paramedic. There are exceptions but it will be more challenging since patient care jobs that don't require any certifications are less common.

 

You could try things like EKG tech (this is what I ended up doing), medical assistant at a location that will do on the job training, research assistant at locations that do clinical test studies where you do actual patient care (drawing blood, vitals, patient interviews), psych tech, ophthalmology tech, physical therapy aide, or scribe. You could even try being a patient transporter or radiology aide as a way to get your foot in the door and transition to something more hands on.

 

Don't be shy when trying to get your foot in the door to places you apply. You may risk coming off pushy but in my experience I got my job as an EKG tech with no certifications because I called the manager over the position before HR called me. I had told that manager my situation and she agreed to interview me and request my application from HR. Who knows if I would have been auto filtered out by HR if I wouldn't have done that. You just have to do things like that very tastefully and some people might irritated with that sort of thing too.

 

Thanks so much. I appreciate your thorough and helpful response. I'll look for EKG tech positions open in my city, and try my best to wriggle my way into a PCE job. Otherwise, I'm thinking about taking a CNA class after I graduate--which will definitely open up more options.

 

Thank you for the info!

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Your experience as a personal care giver most definitely should count. It is your responsibility to explain your role on your CASPA application so that admissions committees can see that you did provide patient care in some capacity.

 

As far as a patient care job that will pay all the bills, that can be tricky. Most entry level patient care tech jobs are usually low paying (at least in my neck of the woods). When I graduated with my microbiology undergrad degree I took a job doing medical lab technologist work which was most definitely not PCE but it was still healthcare experience and then I kept my job as an EKG tech where I had been working through undergrad. I went PRN in the EKG tech position and picked up as many hours as I could fit it into my schedule so that I was still racking up patient care hours but making a better hourly wage as a technologist. Depending on your situation it may not be reasonable to work two jobs but it worked perfectly for me since I wanted to make as much money as possible before starting PA school.

 

I've said this on other threads where people as this question but the reality is that the most standard acceptable patient care jobs for PA programs typically require a CNA, MA, EMT, RN, paramedic. There are exceptions but it will be more challenging since patient care jobs that don't require any certifications are less common.

 

You could try things like EKG tech (this is what I ended up doing), medical assistant at a location that will do on the job training, research assistant at locations that do clinical test studies where you do actual patient care (drawing blood, vitals, patient interviews), psych tech, ophthalmology tech, physical therapy aide, or scribe. You could even try being a patient transporter or radiology aide as a way to get your foot in the door and transition to something more hands on.

 

Don't be shy when trying to get your foot in the door to places you apply. You may risk coming off pushy but in my experience I got my job as an EKG tech with no certifications because I called the manager over the position before HR called me. I had told that manager my situation and she agreed to interview me and request my application from HR. Who knows if I would have been auto filtered out by HR if I wouldn't have done that. You just have to do things like that very tastefully and some people might irritated with that sort of thing too.

 

Thanks so much. I appreciate your thorough and helpful response. I'll look for EKG tech positions open in my city, and try my best to wriggle my way into a PCE job. Otherwise, I'm thinking about taking a CNA class after I graduate--which will definitely open up more options.

 

Thank you for the info!

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Guest HanSolo

If you're struggling with a job search after awhile there are almost always orderly positions at a hospital. Some places consider it PCE, others don't. The plus side is you can get in, work for a few months, and then apply as an internal candidate for another position. Often the hardest thing is just getting "in." We call it the HR blockade. 

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I had a similar issue (no med certifications) and my only previous experience was volunteering. I got a job as an ICU secretary and always went above and beyond, including helping with patient care, when the RNs were in a bind. After a few months of that, with the nursing staff behind me, I was able to get internally hired on my unit as a nursing assistant (like HanSolo mentioned) - a position which doesn't require state certification except BLS. 2000 hours later, I got into school.

 

I'll admit, though, I had to downplay my education (B.S. and M.S./my future goal of becoming a PA) to even get interviews. Often, the NAs I've worked with are going for their RN/BSN, so why hire someone with B.S. Biology (or, in my case, someone with a master's) - you can look educationally overqualified without a clear reason of why you'd want such a lowly position. Make it clear that you've done patient care before and that you're looking for an opportunity in a larger clinical setting.

 

That being said, though, what you've done already should definitely count, as long as you're being honest with yourself and it's verifiable. 

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Hey y'all! Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful responses. I wanted to give a quick update...I got a job! I'm now working as an ophthalmic technician, and I'm thrilled to say that all the schools I'm applying to accept this as PCE. Excellent. I'm hoping that I can work as many hours as I can before submitting my applications, and though I recognize schools don't accept future/planned PCE, I hope they understand that I'll be working full time for the next year in this job and will gain lots of experience.

 

And if I don't get in this cycle due to my lack of PCE compared to others, well, l'll have racked up lots of hours for next cycle!

 

Thanks again, everyone! 

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  • 1 month later...

I will say again what I said on Eliment's post deterring people from CNA and MA positions for HCE. I also ask you give people educated advice.

 

 

Read the fine print:

"Please review the definitions below, consider the duties which you performed during your experience, and use your best judgment to determine which category your experience falls into. Note that these definitions are based upon general feedback from PA programs; ultimately CASPA has no preference as to which category you choose to place your experience under as individual programs’ definitions and requirements vary. CASPA advises applicants who have prerequisite requirements to confer with their individual programs if they are unsure how these programs will consider their experience."

 

Many schools consider CNA or MA and PCE. Also, note job responsibilities and which category they fall into. I have my CNA and the work I do in urgent care would definitely fall under the PCE CASPA description in my opinion. (I realize my opinion will obviously seem bias here.)

 

I question why CASPA made this change and was not more clear about qualifying it.

 

http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/42619-psa-cna-and-ma-are-listed-as-hce-and-not-pce-on-caspa/

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