Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Patient Care Technician

A Patient Care Technician's responsibilities include measuring and documenting vital signs. They also identify patient concerns and report them to their colleagues. PCT's duties also include moving, turning or relocating patients as required for their comfort and medical requirements. PCA's also help nurses by taking vital signs, drawing blood, administering medications, and collecting samples to be sent to labs for analysis. PCA's can work in a variety of settings but typically work at a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

Education/Requirements:

• High School education is required along with completion of a state approved formal training program.
• State certification sometimes required
• Phlebotomy Certification sometimes required

Required Certifications: BLS, PCT Cert via NHA, & one of the following De-Escalation Training Certifications: CPI, MOAB, Handle with Care, TRUST training, or Preventing and Managing Crisis Situations

- Must have Hospital Experience

- Is Security in-house 24/7? Housed in the ER?: Available in house 24/7.

- Nurse: Patient Ratios: Varies

- Common diagnoses: Patients with severe mental illnesses and behavioral issues including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, depression, trauma, and more; often patients will have multiple comorbidities, but are typically medically stable. Medically unstable patients are transferred out.

- Experience: Must Have Hospital Experience & phlebotomy & 12 Lead EKGs experience.

- Medications: No IVs. IM injections and PO medication administration. Psychotropics (Haldol, Zyprexa, Ativan, etc.).

- ED Physician/Mid-Levels: 3 physician on days, 1 physician and 1 resident on nights.

- Charge Nurse/House Supervisor? Does the charge nurse take an assignment?: Director oversees entire facility; Charge doesn't take a patient assignment; coordinates unit and assists staff as needed.

- Nurse aids/EMT/Paramedics/Patient Sitters? Ratios? Duties?: PCTs - Job Duties: Phlebotomy, 12 Lead EKGs, 1:1s, transport, ADLs, patient contraband search, property inventory, assisting physicians and nurses, and more.

- Is RT in the ER 24/7? Do they do ABG's, breathing Tx, & EKG's?: Yes, RT available.

- RT Equipment - Are RNs required to do anything with these besides trouble shoot?: RT available and will administer breathing treatments and assist in escalating any resp needs; Equipped to intubate patients when need but then would transfer them out.

- Do you have Monitor Techs in the ER? Are RNs required to read their own strips? What brand are the Tele monitors?: Cardiac monitoring available, Tele Techs oversee, RNs asked to be able to identify major rhythms, life threatening rhythms, and rhythm changes.

- X-Ray or CT in the ER? Transport?: Xray and CT available, PCTs transport.

- Does Phlebotomy draw labs or RN's draw?: PCTs do blood draws.

- Weekend Requirements: EOW

- Scrub Color: Eggplant

- Unit Specific Orientation: 3 weeks of orientation, 1 week of classroom, 1 week of inpatient units, and 1 week for assigned unit.