If you’re interested in an entry-level position in health care, becoming a patient care technician (PCT) might be the right path for you. These professionals support nurses and doctors while providing direct patient care and assistance. The work PCTs do makes patients more comfortable and helps ensure the best possible outcomes. One of the job duties of PCTs is taking patients’ vital signs. For those interested in joining the healthcare field, here’s a look at what PCTs do, how to become one, and where this career can lead.
What a Patient Care Tech Does Day to Day
Taking vital signs and reporting to nurses and doctors about the patient’s condition is one of the most common daily responsibilities of a patient care technician. Vital signs measure basic body functions and act as an indicator of general health. Blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate are all vital signs.
- Measuring blood pressure is done using an inflatable cuff with a pressure valve and a stethoscope to manually check the pressure of blood running through the arteries, or by using an electronic monitor. Manual blood pressure checks are generally more accurate.
- Temperature checks use a thermometer. Depending on the type of temperature doctors need, this could mean taking a patient’s temperature through the mouth, rectum, armpit, ear, or forehead.
- Pulse is a measure of how many times the heart beats per minute. As a PCT, you might count manually or record information displayed on monitoring equipment such as a pulse oximeter.
- Respiratory rate is the number of breaths a patient takes per minute. Simply counting breaths while a patient is at rest can give you that information.
Taking vital signs is one of the core tasks because it provides critical information about a patient’s condition. For example, a sudden spike in temperature might indicate infection, while changes in heart rate might need immediate evaluation. PCTs collect accurate vital signs periodically throughout the day, along with helping patients with daily tasks like hygiene and eating.
How to Become a Patient Care Technician
Landing patient care tech jobs starts with the right education. Enrolling in the Healthcare Career College Patient Care Technician program gives you the skills needed to practice phlebotomy, collect usable samples, administer an EKG, and take vital signs. Our program lasts for 11 months, combining both classroom and clinical instruction.
Career Paths for Patient Care Technicians
Becoming a PCT gives you the opportunity to experience healthcare jobs without investing multiple years in the required education. You’ll get to practice in a clinical setting to see if healthcare is the industry for you. A PCT can advance their career by continuing their education and earning certification as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN). LPN programs typically involve an additional year of study, while an RN program might require two or four years.
Start Your Career with Healthcare Career College
If you’re ready to begin a meaningful career that combines technical skill with compassionate care, consider training to become a patient care technician. At Healthcare Career College, students receive hands-on education designed to prepare them for the realities of the job, from taking vital signs to supporting patients in their daily needs.
Enroll in the Patient Care Tech program at HCC today and take the first step toward a fulfilling future in healthcare.