Patient Care Careers

Patient Care Tech Career Overview

Patient care technicians (PCT) work with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide direct patient care in a variety of healthcare environments. PCTs are an important part of patient recovery because they have the most contact with patients. Their close rapport with patients allows patient care technicians to monitor developing signs of distress.

The patient care technician assists patients with many tasks they cannot do for themselves while they are in hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or at home. PCTs may assist patients with tasks such as:

• Eating
• Getting out of bed
• Taking a bath
• Brushing their teeth and hair

Someone interested in becoming a PCT should enjoy helping others, be kind, caring, patient, and a good listener. In addition, someone interested in becoming a patient care technician ought to feel comfortable working with technology.

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Patient Care Tech Training & Education

Patient care technicians learn how to perform an assortment of patient care duties and associated technical procedures in a hospital or other healthcare facilities. PCTs typically must hold an associate's degree, if not a bachelor's degree.

Training involves learning medical terminology, basic anatomy, vital sign measurements, communication skills, and other basic patient care skills. Emphasis is placed on learning the technical skills needed to perform personal care for patients, including:

• Respiratory services
• Rehabilitation services
• Reading EKGs
• Phlebotomy under the supervision of registered nurses

Some patient care technician students also work with local healthcare agencies in clinical practice internships before beginning their career.

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Patient Care Tech Career & Salary

As of 2004, healthcare is the largest industry in the United States. As a result, there are plenty of jobs available in this field. Patient care technicians have a wide variety of possible locations for employment. While the majority of PCTs work in hospitals, many work in nursing and residential care facilities, some work in physician offices, and some assist patients in their homes.

The role of the patient care technician continues to evolve and expand as the demand for such professionals increases. The position also serves as an excellent introduction to other careers in healthcare services, such as nursing. Salaries for patient care technicians, including patient representatives and admitting clerks, range from approximately $18,748 to $35,982 per year.

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Career Fields/Specializations

Patient Care Technician (PCT) Career

Patient care technicians work under the supervision of nursing or medical staff to provide basic patient care. They assess a patient's height, weight, input and output, record vital signs, and are responsible for collecting and testing specimens.

PCTs record a patient's condition and possible treatments. PCTs also help patients with meeting their nutritional needs. They deliver food trays, assist with feeding the patient if necessary, and refill water and ice.

Additionally, PCTs assist patients with their mobility. This includes helping patients by turning and positioning their bodies, performing range of motion exercises, transferring patients to and from their wheelchairs, and assisting with walking. Patient care technicians have a wide range of duties and also engage with a variety of different patients every day.

Home Patient Care Tech Career

Skilled nursing or medical care is sometimes provided in the home, under a physician's supervision. Patient care technicians offer home healthcare services, which are predominantly provided to elderly patients. This portion of the health services field is growing significantly due to an increase in the demand for such services.

The development of in-home medical technologies can cut medical costs and increase a patient's comfort level. Careers in in-home patient care are often more flexible than if a PCT worked in a hospital or in a private medical practice. It also can allow for a more personal relationship between PCTs and their patients.

Hospital Patient Care Tech Career

Patient care technicians are especially important in hospitals. They assume the majority of patient care after the doctors and nurses have completed their rounds. Patients rely on PCTs to provide them with medical assistance, as well as a friendly face to rely on while staying in the hospital.

Patient care technicians handle a great deal of the hands-on patient care in hospitals. As a result, PCTs often serve as a liaison between patients and their doctors and nurses. PCTs express patient needs to doctors and nurses, and also make sure that patients are actively engaged and committed to their prescribed plan of recovery. Patient care technicians play a significant role in patients' healing processes and must have a good understanding of the importance of their career.

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