Patient Care Technician
Patient Care Technicians play a vital role in patient care, whether you’re working in a hospital, doctor’s office, nursing home, or long-term care (LTC) facility. You’ll be working directly with patients, and hand-in-hand with nurses.
The type of care you provide patients includes (but is not limited to):
- Serving meals
- Changing bedding
- Assisting with restroom needs
- Measuring and monitoring vital signs
- Managing food and liquid intake
- Drawing blood
- Performing CPR
- Administering IVs
- Handling safety checks
- Offering emotional support to patients and families
The patient care tech program provides students with the training needed to provide basic care to patients in a hospital or nursing home setting. Upon completion, students will be eligible to take the national certification exam.
Jackson College Offers the following program options:
Pay
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018 the average pay for a PCT is $28,530 a year (or $13.72 an hour). There is also an encouraging growth rate for this position: it’s expected to grow by 11%, which is faster than average. This is due to an aging population whose healthcare needs will only increase as they grow older.
Certification
Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for the Patient Care Technician (PCT) exam through American Medical Technologists.