Are there any former PCT turned BioMed folks that can give me input on the pros/cons of each job? Any regrets for changing roles? I'm looking for a change but want to know where I'd have less of a headache...

Thanks All

I have done both jobs; I was a patient care tech for 5 years before I went into the Bio Med side of Dialysis. If headaches are all you are concerned about, consider the position of unit secretary. You will have more authority and far less to do. On a more serious side, the Bio Med job is my preference; it is a lot more enjoyable but definitely not headache free. The increase in pay does offset this but does not alleviate it. I guess it comes down to what kind of work you want to get into. Do you want to have a day spelled out for you, a patient assignment, and no control over you day? If so the PCT role is for you. There is a lot more freedom in becoming a Bio Med tech, but in return you get an ambiguous job description that everyone wants to define to make their life easier. You will also get the pleasure of being on call, but you will only get called when it is not your rotation.

The only thing that you need to be absolutely sure about, is that the day you become the Bio Med tech, that your responsibilities as a PCT are done and over with. For a year and a half I had to fight and argue to get to the point where every time they fell twenty minutes behind on the floor I wasn’t out there helping them play catch up. That was the biggest headache in my life. You really want to make sure that situation never happens, because at that point you will have the headaches of both jobs.

JP is pretty much on the money. Was a PCT 10+ years, been Biomed 8+ years., if you don't want to switch back and forth( to keep from being bored or burned out), never let them know you can do both jobs. Good Luck, you'll probalby need it.

An area manager hired a PCT to become a Chief tech then to a supervisor - the PCT I heard step down because of pressures.

Managers who don't know how technical things work hires PCT to biomed
Former PCT's now biomed are having trouble delivering

My RTM just hired a PCT to help me. He is OK, but when we walk out into the unit we see things differently.

He looks for patients and staff to talk to. I say hello, but I am checking the clinic for cleanliness, leaks, checking the wall boxes and giving the machines a quick visual check as well as anything else that falls under my responsibilty. The former PCT pays no attention.

PCTs have always had a schedule, have always had someone to tell them what to do, NEVER had to eat lunch with one hand, a phone,manual,screwdriver...etc.etc..etc in the other
and fewer still 'get it' that we go home when our job is done, after the loop has been repaired, AND disinfected, when you have a backup,PRAY you have the parts you need for the emergency RO repair...

DO YOU THINK THEY'LL SEE THE HUMOR IN A WORK ORDER WITH 'BROKE' WRITTEN ON IT???? when they're the ones that have to figure out what 'broke' means

after all, they see us, sitting on the stool (or the 5 gallon bucket) with our heads inside a machine...at the computer, reading manuals, and this, gentlemen, looks as if we do nothing.

I've only seen one make it, in some 15+ years

can't even make decisions

1.0.....amen brother