Pros & Cons of RN working as PCT

Like many new nursing grads, I’ve been unsuccessful in lining up a job. We new grads are painfully aware that nearly all open positions – even those in LTC – require at least one year of RN experience. Since most of the grads from my class who are presently working were PCTs at the institutions that hired them later on after they became RNs, I thought I’d try that route.

With that in mind, I applied for open PCT positions at 2 local hospitals and actually got a call back from one to set up an interview. I'd been told that many hospitals will not hire RNs for UAP-type positions and did not want to waste either my time or the hospital's so I was quite open in the application and indicated that I was already an RN. Since both hospitals wanted CNAs for the positions, I was careful to point out that I was not a CNA and hoped that my RN would be acceptable instead. I also emphasized that my intention was to establish my bona fides as a PCT while returning to school for my BSN (the jobs are part-time eve/weekend positions) with the hope of being hired on as an RN at a later date.

Assuming that the job is offered, what are the Pros and Cons of an RN working as a PCT? The big Pro that I see is that taking the job allows me to get a foot in the door and establish myself as a conscientious and knowledgeable employee in the hope that after some period of time, I’d be considered for an open nursing position. It’s less clear to me about what’s on the Con side though.

Anyone gone this route? Can anyone offer any thoughts or advice? Last edit by chuckster on Feb 7, '11 : Reason: correct typo