Patient Care Technician

The healthcare industry is currently undergoing major changes in the manner in which patient care is provided. This restructuring has resulted in the introduction of a new category of healthcare workers trained to perform a variety of patient care services. Patient Care Technicians must possess the technical skills necessary to service complex patient personal care issues including the implementation of selected portions of a specific care plan that may include rehabilitation services, basic bedside care, collection of laboratory specimens, Phlebotomy and EKG’s. They work alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to oversee and monitor patients. This Patient Care Technician program will provide students with the basic medical knowledge and hands on skills necessary to perform or obtain technical diagnostic testing and perform direct patient care.

Certifications

This course assists learners in preparing for the following certifications.

• National Healthcareers Association (NHA) Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) national certification

(The NHA exam can be offered both in groups of students in the classroom or individually at a local PSI testing center https://candidate.psiexams.com.)

• National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Patient Care Technician (PCT) Certification

(The NWCA exam can be offered both in groups of students in the classroom or individually online)

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the role of the Patient Care Technician.
• Explain Confidentiality and HIPAA.
• Recognize medical terminology and anatomy and physiology.
• Describe the various types and functions of health care facilities.
• Describe the function of the patient care departments in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Explain practices leading to patient safety.
• Demonstrate an understanding of basic medical law and ethics.
• Communicate effectively in a professional healthcare environment.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills and application of knowledge of human behavior for a variety of patient types.
• Describe the anatomy and basic physiology of each of the body systems.
• Describe common disease states.
• Describe aseptic techniques and infection prevention procedures in both sterile and nonsterile environments.
• Explain how to observe and report patient condition.
• Explain procedures related to mobility, body position, patient movement, and transfer.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the nursing process as it relates to caring for patients.
• Explain common procedures related to rehabilitation and restorative care (ambulation, range-of-motion exercises, etc.)
• Explain how to measure vital signs.
• Explain the procedure for setting up and assisting with a basic EKG procedure.
• Demonstrate how to assist patients with oral and personal hygiene (bathing, showering, etc.)
• Demonstrate how to assist a patient with basic grooming (hair care, nail care, shaving, etc.)
• Demonstrate how to make an occupied and unoccupied bed.
• Demonstrate how to assist a patient with dressing and undressing.
• Explain the procedures related to bowel elimination and colostomy care.
• Explain procedures related to toileting, incontinence, and catheter care.
• Explain how to monitor fluid intake and output.
• Explain procedures related to feeding patients and general nutrition.
• Explain procedures related to basic respiratory care (deep breathing exercises, assisting with nebulizer treatments, etc.)
• Explain procedures related to routine wound care.
• Demonstrate proper procedures for routine venipuncture and capillary blood collection.
• Demonstrate how to provide proper instructions for routine specimen collection (urine, sputum, stool, etc.)
• Demonstrate how to properly complete routine patient care activities, such as skin prep for procedures, applying antiembolitic elastic stockings, applying hot and cold packs, etc.)