Patient Care Technician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a patient care technician. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a patient care technician.
Who is a Patient Care Technician?
The role of a patient care technician is crucial for the success of a health facility. Their duties include assisting doctors during examinations and taking the vital signs of patients. They also conduct EKGs, maintain a clean and safe environment, and perform other duties as needed. These positions require a person to be compassionate, patient-focused, and well-trained in basic nursing procedures. As a patient care technician, you’ll be responsible for helping others feel better.
As more baby boomers age, the need for senior care will rise. Long-term care facilities will also need more patient care technicians to handle the growing number of elderly patients with chronic diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. As a patient care technician, you’ll need to be understanding and compassionate toward patients, who may have a difficult time moving. This career can be very rewarding and satisfying. As you progress in it, it gets better.
As a patient care technician, you’ll be providing primary care alongside a healthcare professional. Depending on your position, you’ll perform tasks such as feeding patients, bathing them, and transporting them from one place to another. In addition, you’ll help the doctor during basic medical procedures and oversee the administration of medications. You’ll also be responsible for cleaning patient rooms and accompanying patients to x-rays.
You will also work alongside healthcare providers to provide primary care to patients. Their responsibilities include providing comfort for patients, ensuring their well-being, and communicating with other health professionals. A patient care technician will also help the medical staff communicate with the patient about their health conditions. This role is very important, but a few additional skills will go a long way in the long run.
Patient Care Technician Job Description
Below are the patient care technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a patient care technician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The job and duties of a patient care technician include the following:
- Checking the blood pressure, pulse, and heartbeat of patients
- Listening to the concerns of patients and guiding them through answering their questions.
- Monitoring the condition of patients and updating the healthcare team with any updates
- Moving patients between seats, wheelchairs, and beds by turning, repositioning and moving them.
- Helping patients to use the toilet and change their clothes
- Monitoring the patients’ liquid and food intake
- Escorting patients to receive X-rays or other imaging tests
- Ensuring that patients’ rooms are clean and tidy.
- Assisting the patient with daily needs such as personal hygiene, toilet use, grooming, etc.
- Monitoring vital signs (temperature, pulse, etc.) Monitor vital signs (temperature, pulse, etc.) and monitor EKG signals.
- Taking fluid samples and other specimens for medical tests
- Assisting nurses in administering basic treatment
- Performing basic nursing procedures, such as dressings and bandages, can be performed. changing bandages)
- Ensuring that patient care supplies are available in all rooms
- Assisting patients with specific issues or needs
- Providing appropriate emotional support
- Caring for patients by giving emotional support, guidance, and quality patient care
- Taking samples, performing tests, and keeping records
- Checking patients’ blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate.
- Providing updates to the care team and monitoring patient conditions
- Monitoring the intake of liquids and food by patients
- Assisting patients with X-rays and other diagnostic imaging procedures
- Assisting patients in daily activities
- Collecting blood samples
- Keeping and recording information entered into the patient’s medical records
- Assisting patients with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, walking, and getting in and out of bed.
Patients are monitored by patient care technicians during treatment, such as physical therapy. They also monitor them while they recover. They listen to the concerns of patients and check vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital indicators. The results are then recorded in patients’ charts. Technicians take samples, such as urine, and transport them to the laboratory.
Their major duties have been summarized below:
- Basic Care
Patients are often cared for by patient care technicians. Patients with mobility problems are assisted by them. They can help them get in and out of their wheelchairs or assist them while they exercise. They may also assist in feeding, water refilling, and toileting. In some states, patient care technicians are allowed to administer medication.
- Companionship
Patient care technicians are often a companion for their patients, as they spend many hours with them. They may develop caring relationships with their patients, act as a liaison between family visits and provide emotional and mental support to patients.
Requirements
The education required for a patient care technician starts with a high school diploma. In addition to general nursing studies, patient care technicians should focus on elective courses in science, physical education, and communications. During their training, they should practice their communication skills and participate in collaborative activities. The educational requirements for becoming a patient care technician vary by state, but typically, they require a high school diploma and a year of postsecondary education.
Other important requirements include:
- Experience as a patient care technician
- Excellent understanding of patient assistance procedures and care procedures
- Knowledge of the relevant equipment (catheters and needles, etc.)
- Experience in phlebotomy and vital signs measurement, as well as dialysis treatment
- Must be approachable and sympathetic
- It is necessary to have complete the PCT training program and receive certification
- Must be CPR certified
Essential Skills
Before you can become a patient care technician, there are some skills and qualities that you must possess This is not an easy job by any means, but it can be one of the most rewarding you will ever do if you are an aspirant.
We’re going to go over some skills and qualities you need to have if you want to have any measure of success, and it all starts with being adaptable.
- Adaptability
After attending any patient care technician school, and proceeding to look for a job, you will have to adjust; there is simply no way around it. You will find yourself in a changing industry and, in that case, you must be prepared for any changes that occur or new things that come your way. Changes could include the way patients are treated to the technologies that are in demand. Be prepared to listen and learn things that go far beyond what you learned during your training.
- Assistance
Some people are born with skills for people and others need to learn to develop them. No matter what category it belongs in, you should be more than ready to perfect it. You are going to deal with hundreds of people every week, if not every day, and they will all have different personalities. You need to remember that when a person enters a doctor’s office or hospital (especially), they are sick and may need to calm down. You may very well be the first person they see, and it will be your job to make sure they feel comfortable. Bedside misbehavior won’t get you very far in this industry; They may not fire you, but it certainly won’t help you enjoy your job, so remember that.
- Working under pressure
The last item we are going to mention is working under pressure? you need to be able to do it, there is no doubt. One thing we mentioned earlier, at the beginning of this blog post, was the ever-changing, fluid environment you’ll be exposed to and it can get quite off-putting at times. With that said, you should be ready to handle just about anything thrown at you, especially if it is an emergency room setting. If you’re not someone who can handle this kind of pressure, this may not be the job for you.
How to Become a Patient Care Technician
To become a patient care technician (PCT), you must have a high school diploma, or a general education degree (GED). To acquire the skills required to work in this field, you’ll need to complete a PCT training course. You may need certification through organizations such as the National Healthcareer Association. This depends on where you live and what you plan to do. You may need a certification if you’re based in the United States. The requirements can vary from one state to another, so make sure to verify before beginning any training.
You must be a high school graduate or have a GED to become a patient care technician. Experts recommend that you take subjects such as Biology, Science and Mathematics. However, it is not necessary. If you’re enrolled in an accredited school or taking part in an approved GED program, provisional certification can be applied for up to one year before graduation.
Next, you will need to register for a PCT course. In this case, the length of the course will vary depending on what subjects are covered. However, a PCT course can usually be completed within six months. The classes include both theories as well as practical instruction. Students are required to do practical training or internships at a health center or medical institution. Many training institutions offer both beginner and advanced training. You may be unable to attend full-time classes. However, it is possible to study online.
Although certification is not required for certain areas, it is highly recommended to take a certification exam. This will increase your chances of getting a job and your earning potential. You can obtain PCT certification through the NHA. To qualify, you will need a high school diploma, GED or relevant education, and at least one year of work experience. You must register with the NHA, then pass a written exam. The certification is only valid for two years so renewing your certificate before it expires is a good idea. You may have to take the exam again if your certification is expired.
You should be familiar with the requirements for becoming a patient care technician if you’re based in the United States. Some states do not regulate this profession, while others require you to be certified by the PCT. To be eligible for this job, some states will require you to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Where to Work
- Homes
There is a probability that the demand for nursing assistants in long-term care facilities like nursing homes and assisted living centers will rise due to an aging population. A nurse will supervise patient care technicians, who work in this role. They may assist residents or patients with their hygiene and grooming, as well as transport them to the dining area and help with toileting and other needs. The patient care technician will also report to the director for nursing any changes in behavior, eating habits, or output. Light housekeeping may be necessary depending on the size of the facility.
- Hospitals
Some may prefer working in hospitals because they have more administrative and medical responsibilities. The patient care technician in a hospital may report to a nurse or doctor. They may be responsible for taking patient histories, as well as ensuring that medical supplies are readily available. Sometimes, however, they might be able to assist patients with everyday tasks like brushing their teeth, combing their hair, or just getting dressed. A patient care technician might also be able to work in specialized departments such as those that offer dialysis, stroke recovery, treatment for cancer, or infant care.
- Home Health Care
Home health care also requires the skills of patient care technicians. This includes patients with disabilities and the elderly. The patient care technician can assist with everyday living tasks such as laundry, meals, and grooming. Other tasks include driving patients to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, and running errands.
- Clinics
Some patient care technicians, although less common than others, may be able to find work in doctors’ offices or clinics. The patient care technician will not be caring for patients but will have to display office skills, such as answering phones and filing patient records. Technical and medical knowledge will be required to perform vital checks, such as taking blood pressures, height, and weight, or to help the doctor with wound care and blood drawing, or other tests like electrocardiograms.
Patient Care Technician Salary Scale
Different career paths in health care can lead to the position of patient care technician. These workers may work in long-term care facilities, but they must first obtain a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential in their state of residence. The average salary for patient care technicians is about $36,000 per year. Depending on the education and training level, this occupation can be worth as much as $60,000 per year.
The median pay for a patient care technician in the United States is $27,520 per year. This means that only half of the nation’s patient care technicians make more than the median salary. The lowest-paid patient care technicians earn below $20,240, while the highest-paid earn over $38,630.