Patient Care Technician

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) is the next step in the career path of a CNA. The PCT works mostly in hospitals and collaborates closely with the healthcare team to ensure that every patient receives the direct and proper care they need. The PCT performs delegated nursing functions that require a higher level of technical ability and skill. In addition to the normal CNA tasks, the PCT performs venipuncture, specimen collection, basic EKG, as well as catheter, ostomy, tracheostomy, and wound care.The Patient Care Technician program builds on the skills learned during CNA training. It trains the student in advanced nursing skills, for example venipuncture and EKG in a lab setting as well as in an actual hospital setting during the clinical portion of the program. It provides the student with a broad overview of the rules and policies in healthcare, human anatomy and physiology, and basic and advanced nursing skills. At the end of the program the student will be eligible to sit for the national CPCT/A certification exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (https://www.nhanow.com​
).Students entering this program need to be dedicated to their studies, attend all in-person classes, and have computer and Internet access for their homework. The Patient Care Technician needs to be able to be on their feet for long periods of time caring for patients at the bedside and transferring and/or positioning patients while always exercising safe practices. Their duties also require them to function quickly with accuracy while being detail-oriented. A high level of manual dexterity, psychomotor skills, and personal integrity are vital.​Patient Care Technicians have an excellent career outlook. Demand for certified technicians has been consistently high as the healthcare industry is growing while a large portion of healthcare support staff is ageing out of the field.

Program Course Sequence

To complete this program students must take all three classes within 12 months of the start of the program.