What Does PCT Stand for?
The full form of PCT is Patient Care Technician, and it is an essential career in the medical industry. It requires a candidate to pass an examination if they’d like to study the course and practice it in the future.
What are the Qualifications and Eligibility?
The PCT examination follows certain eligibility criteria. It starts with having a GED/High school diploma, completed anytime in the last five years.
There is also a training assessment that consists of one year of supervised experience in the last three years, and a thorough understanding of the sciences involved.
What are the Categories Covered?
There are different categories that the PCT course covers. These include -
48 questions on Patient Care
Ten questions on Safety
Five questions on Professional Responsibilities
Four questions on Infection Control
23 questions on Phlebotomy
Ten questions on EKG Monitoring
What Skills Does a PCT Require?
A PCT should have the following abilities in addition to the required licences, qualifications, and registrations:
Communication Skills: These are required to handle the individual requirements of patients or residents, as well as to communicate properly with coworkers in the healthcare field.
Compassion: In a career where you're caring for the ill, injured, and old, compassion goes a long way.
Patience: Taking care of patients can be exhausting. PCTs are frequently cleaning, feeding, and/or washing patients or residents, thus you must maintain your composure.
Physical Stamina: You'll be on your feet a lot, much like many other medical professionals. You should be able to do bodily tasks with ease (like moving patients).
Where are the Test Locations and When are the Dates?
If your school does offer this examination, you can check with them to determine the exact test dates. If you take the exam at a centre, then you need to have an account set up online and then choose the date for the same.
What Needs to be Done on the Examination Day?
You need to be present at least 15 to 30 minutes before the scheduled examination and bring a valid ID that includes your name, photo and signature. An excellent example of these consists of a driver’s licence and passport.
When are the Results Announced?
Within two days of the exam, your score will be posted online. You can also receive your certificate within two weeks after passing.
Role of a Patient Care Technician
Direct support to patients during hospital stays and medical visits is provided by Patient Care Technicians and this is done under the supervision of nursing professionals and a broader care team.
Patient Care Technicians are responsible for a variety of tasks, including:
Providing high-quality patient care, including emotional support and direction
Collect samples, run tests, and keep track of the results
Regularly check your blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse.
Monitor the patient's condition and keep the care team informed.
Keep an eye on the patients' food and liquid consumption.
Patients should be escorted to X-rays and other diagnostic imaging procedures.
Patient Care Technicians speed the delivery of medical care and improve the patient's overall comfort and experience by providing this critical assistance to patients and medical professionals.
Patient Care Technician's Day-to-Day Routine
If you're the sort of person who thrives on assisting others, working as a Patient Care Technician might be great for you. Patient Care Technicians help doctors and nurses satisfy the day-to-day requirements of a wide range of patients.
Starting the Shift
The majority of Patient Care Technicians work in nursing homes and hospitals, which are open 24 hours a day. This means that shifts can start at any moment, giving you the freedom to work whatever schedule suits you best.
PCTs spend more time with patients one-on-one than physicians and nurses, and they will help with bedding and bandage changes. They also ensure that patients are prepared for any upcoming operations or procedures. Bathing, shaving, changing clothing, and rolling patients to and from x-rays and other appointments within the hospital or medical institution are all examples of this.
As a Personal Care Technician, you are responsible for the majority of patient contacts, including asking questions and getting to know your patients on a personal level, as well as noting any changes in their requirements or condition on the record for physicians and nurses to address.
During the Time of Shift
Patient Care Technicians' daily activities will differ widely between job listings, and each institution will bring its own set of difficulties and possibilities for on-the-job development. PCTs ensure that patients get the right food at the right time and keep track of their food consumption and nutrition. PCTs will also give drugs and take any blood or stool samples that doctors want for testing.
End of the Shift
Finally, the Patient Care Technician's goal is to establish a warm, personable, and professional connection with patients to make a difference in their lives. PCTs are also responsible for ensuring that each patient's room is clean, well-organised, and fully stocked with everything the patient and physicians require for optimal treatment. The Patient Care Technician is responsible for maintaining clean sheets and clothes for patients, as well as the overall care and tidiness of the patient's room.
Patient Care Technicians must be sympathetic, respectful, and able to form personal connections with people who are going through tough situations. The PCT, being the initial point of contact, is an essential member of every medical facility's team.
Conclusion
Patient Care Technician (PCT) is an essential career in the medical industry. PCTs operate in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, doctors' offices, and long-term care facilities. You'll be interacting with patients and nurses on a daily basis.
FAQs on PCT Full Form
1. What is the PCT unit?
Unit. PC stands for pica and Unit. PCT for percentage. A percentage is a relative unit while pica is an absolute one. For more information read this article about units in CSS.
2. What is PCT in a blood test?
Procalcitonin (PCT) is a blood test frequently performed if there is a suspicion of bacterial sepsis, a severe systemic infection that can become life-threatening. The procalcitonin test is an easy way to make the diagnosis quickly and potentially save lives.
3. What does High PCT mean in a blood test?
A procalcitonin test measures the level of procalcitonin in your blood. A high level could be a sign of a serious bacterial infection, such as sepsis. Sepsis is the body's severe response to infection.
4. What is the difference between a PCT and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
There is some overlap between the PCT and the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) positions. They're both capable of washing, transferring, and feeding patients, as well as keeping track of their vital signs. While a CNA can only offer basic care while under the supervision of a registered nurse or medical doctor (such as answering phones and documenting drink and food intake), a PCT can also perform basic treatments. A PCT, for example, may be able to do EKG readings and phlebotomy (blood drawing) procedures that a CNA is unable to. Keep in mind that the amount of responsibility for each function is determined by the legislation of particular states.
5. Are PCTs able to work as registered nurses?
If you're a PCT who wants to develop in your career, you can go back to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN). You'll be a step ahead of other aspiring RNs owing to your certificates and expertise as a PCT. You’ll have several benefits if you become a registered nurse. Because the need for healthcare in the United States is increasing, the increased medical duties that come with becoming an RN also result in a higher income.
