PATIENT CARE TECH - CTU

Position: Patient Care Tech

Department: Cardiac Telemetry Unit

Facility: Upper Valley Medical Center

A Patient Care Technician, or PCT, works with nurses and doctors to care for patients. Some of the tasks they do are

• Check things like temperature, heartbeat, and breathing.
• Help patients move around, get dressed, and eat.
• Collect samples like urine.
• Report any changes in a patient's condition to a nurse.
• Help with patient walks, hygiene, weighing patients, vitals

The PCT works under the supervision of a nurse, who ensures they are performing tasks safely and correctly. Sometimes, the PCT may also be referred to as a Patient Care Technician/Unit Clerk (PCT/HUC). Like HUC, they assist with the paperwork and other tasks that keep the hospital running smoothly, which also helps patients receive the best care possible.

So, even though PCTs don't wear capes, they are essential members of the healthcare team who help patients feel better and recover their health.

Education: You'll need a high school diploma or GED.

Training: you'll need to get a BLS CPR certificate. If you don’t already have it, they can teach you how to do CPR at your orientation too (so you don't need to do it beforehand).

Experience: No previous job experience is required, but you should have one of the following:

• Finished STNA, CNA, or Patient Care Technician/Assistant training.
• Helped care for patients in the past 5 years (like taking their temperature, bathing them, or helping them use the restroom)
• Currently in nursing school and finished one clinical rotation.

Other Skills:

• You can handle doing many things simultaneously, even when people interrupt you, and still be nice.
• You know how to use a computer.
• You're good at organizing things.
• You can talk and listen well to others.
• Bonus points: You've worked in a hospital before