What Is a Patient Care Technician?
Patient care techs are skilled nursing assistants who work closely with patients. They assist doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. PCTs spend a lot of time with patients, so they see improvements and setbacks firsthand. This insight makes them a valuable asset to the healthcare team and allows licensed caregivers to respond more quickly.
Patient care technicians can assist with the care of outpatients and inpatients who have a variety of diseases, injuries, or neurological or orthopedic problems. In addition, they may help patients walk to and from therapy with a gait belt, set up equipment for patient treatments, assist with community outings, and perform a variety of other duties.
*** All Patient Care Technician classes are taught by a Licensed Registered Nurse***
What are patient care technician duties?
Patient care technicians provide hands-on bedside care and personal hygiene assistance. PCTs perform certified nursing assistant (CNA) duties, but are also trained to perform some basic medical responsibilities such as blood draws and EKG readings. Here are a few common PCT duties:
•Labor and Delivery Care
•Surgical Post operative Care
•Obtain EKG readings and measure vital signs
•Specimen Collection
•Obtain blood or urine samples (phlebotomy)
•Pediatric Care
•Sterilization Technique
•Control infection by following safety measures
•Foley Catheterization insertion
*Psychiatric Care
*Medical Terminology
*Critical Care
•Observe and report any changes in patient condition