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Patient care techs play an important role in providing care to patients in a variety of settings. If you’re thinking of becoming a patient care tech, you may be wondering what kind of qualifications you need. Here’s a quick overview of the skills and training you’ll need to succeed in this career.
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The Qualities You’ll Need
Patient care techs work in hospitals and other healthcare settings, providing direct patient care under the supervision of nurses and other medical staff. They must be able to perform a variety of tasks, including taking vital signs, collecting blood and urine samples, and providing basic bedside care. To be successful in this role, patient care techs must possess certain qualities, including compassion, physical stamina, and attention to detail. Let’s take a closer look at some of the qualities you’ll need to excel in this role.
To Be a Successful Patient Care Technician
A patient care technician (PCT) is a vital member of the healthcare team. PCTs work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and are responsible for providing direct patient care.
PCTs must be able to multi-task and maintain a calm demeanor in high-pressure situations. They must possess excellent communication skills and be able to work effectively as part of a team. Above all, PCTs must have a genuine interest in helping others and a strong commitment to providing quality patient care.
If you are interested in becoming a patient care technician, there are a few qualities you will need to be successful in this role.
The Personal Qualities You’ll Need
When deciding if a career as a Patient Care Technician is right for you, it’s important to consider not just the job duties, but also the personal qualities and attributes that are necessary for success. PCTs must have certain soft skills, or interpersonal skills, in order to be successful.
Patient care technicians need to be compassionate and patient, as they will be working with patients who are sick, injured, or dying. They need to have excellent communication skills so that they can communicate effectively with patients and their families. They also need to be able to work well under pressure and handle stress in a health care environment. Finally, PCTs need to be detail-oriented so that they can accurately follow instructions and provide quality care to their patients.
The Skills You’ll Need
Patient care techs (PCTs) provide basic bedside care for patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They work under the supervision of nurses and other medical staff. PCTs need to have good people skills and be able to work well under pressure. They also need to be physically fit, as the job requires a lot of standing and walking. In this article, we’ll cover all the skills you’ll need to be a successful PCT.
The Hard Skills You’ll Need
To become a Patient Care Technician, you will need to have certain hard skills. Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities that can be defined and measured. These are abilities that you learn in school, through training programs, or on the job.
Some of the hard skills you’ll need to succeed as a Patient Care Technician include:
-Basic medical terminology
-Anatomy and physiology
-Medical charting and documentation
-Patient vitals monitoring
-Patient transfers
-Mobility assistance
-Infection control
-Basic computer skills
The Soft Skills You’ll Need
In addition to the required technical skills, there are a number of soft skills that are essential for success as a patient care tech. These include:
-Compassion: As a patient care tech, you will be working with patients who are ill, injured, or simply in need of medical attention. It is important that you be able to empathize with their situation and offer them the compassion and care that they need.
-Communication: You will need to be able to communicate effectively with patients, their families, and your medical team. This includes being able to understand and explain medical procedures and terminology, as well as keeping everyone updated on the status of the patient’s care.
-Critical thinking: There will be times when you will need to make quick decisions in order to provide the best possible care for your patients. This requires being able to think critically and make sound judgments under pressure.
-Interpersonal skills: As a patient care tech, you will be interacting with people on a daily basis. It is important that you have strong interpersonal skills in order to build positive relationships with your patients and their families, as well as your co-workers.
The Education and Certification You’ll Need
Patient care techs work in hospitals and clinics to provide basic patient care under the supervision of nurses and doctors. They might take vital signs, draw blood, and perform other routine tasks. Most patient care techs have at least a high school diploma, though some positions may require postsecondary education, and most programs include some on-the-job training. Certification is also available and may be required for some positions.
The Education You’ll Need
Most patient care tech programs last about a year, although some hospital-based programs may last up to 18 months. You can expect to take courses in human anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection control, and other topics related to patient care. Many programs also include a period of clinical training, during which you’ll have the opportunity to work with patients under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional.
Once you complete your training, you’ll need to obtain certification from the National Healthcare Association (NHA). To be eligible for certification, you must have completed an accredited patient care tech program and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Once you’re certified, you’ll need to renew your certification every two years by completing continuing education credits.
The Certification You’ll Need
To work as a patient care tech, you’ll need at least a high school diploma, though some employers may prefer or require you to have completed a postsecondary certification program. You can find these programs at community colleges, technical schools and some hospitals. Common courses in these programs include basic patient care, medical terminology, infection control, CPR and first aid. You’ll likely need to complete a clinical component in which you’ll work under the supervision of licensed health care professionals to gain hands-on experience.
