A Patient Care Technician Checklist to Springboard Your Success

Have you ever considered working in a hospital or healthcare setting?

Patient care technicians (sometimes called Patient Care Assistants) work directly with patients in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. If you train to become one, you’ll find yourself helping patients with personal tasks that cover dressing, feeding and hygiene. On top of reporting to nursing staff, you’ll also monitor vital signs like blood pressure, pulse and heart rate.

If you’re interested in spending time with patients—to provide a more personal connection than busy doctors and nurses can readily offer—you might enjoy being a patient care assistant.

Could You Be a Good Fit for This Career?

Before you dedicate your life to a profession or change your career later in life, research the duties of a patient care technician to see if the work would suit you.

There are a few qualities excellent PCTs share:

• Caring about and enjoying helping people
• Having empathy and strong communication skills
• Demonstrating problem-solving skills and critical thinking
• Paying close attention to details and having good organizational skills
• Having good reading comprehension skills

Apart from the responsibilities outlined above, duties may extend to administering medication, pre-and post-operative care, diet therapy, EKGs, phlebotomy and physical therapy.

Ready to Begin Your Career, Here’s How to Start

A high school diploma or GED is required for this job. While regulations vary state to state, most employers also require certification before beginning your career as a Patient Care Technician.

You can get certified in just 23 weeks through an online career training program like MedCerts.

You’ll learn from industry experts, master techniques, take interactive quizzes and reinforce skills with virtual simulation. At MedCerts, students can also learn at their own pace. Whether you are a full-time student or changing careers, the program will fit your schedule.

Tuition is affordable and all-inclusive—courses, materials, books and personalized support are at your fingertips. When preparing for the certification exam, practice tests will be available. MedCerts is committed to your success. Your advisor will be there to answer any questions and guide you through your job search and placement.

MedCerts knows that experiential learning is important to your success. In our program, you will have support in finding ways to meet clinical requirements for certification. Options that often lead to full-time hiring include:

• Paid positions with employers

• Job shadowing that allows students to observe professionals on the job

• Volunteer work

• Internships where students are recruited for lower pay to gain experience

• Externships where students are placed to gain experience without pay

These Experiential Learning Services help you get hands-on training, prepare for certification, allow you to be hired immediately and give you more experience for other positions.

What Does Success Look Like for a Patient Care Technician?

Working as a Patient Care Technician can be a springboard for a lifelong healthcare career. If you decide to continue your growth, you’ll have many options to choose from. You may want to further your education with a nursing degree. Or expand into a medical front office environment with a medical assistant certification.

Whether you are beginning your career or are looking for a change, entering the healthcare arena as a patient care technician could be the start of a rewarding career. Certification is the first step to lead to success, and MedCerts will be by your side throughout your journey.