Patient care technician

Patient care technicians (PCT) work with doctors, nurses and other healthcare professional to provide direct patient care in a variety of healthcare environments. PCTs often have more contact with the patient than any other health care member including doctors and nurses. PCTs are an important factor in patient recovery, because their close contact with the patient allows them to monitor developing signs of distress. They are sometimes known as PCAs, or patient care assistants.

Duties
PCTs work under the supervision of nursing or medical staff to provide basic patient care
 * Recording vital signs, height, weight
 * Collect and test specimens,
 * Report and record patients condition and patient treatments.
 * Help patient with nutritional needs assist with feeding the patient if necessary, and refill water and ice.
 * Assist patients with their mobility turn and positioning do range of motion exercises, transferring patients to and from wheelchair, assist with walking
 * Bathing, dressing, grooming and assisting with personal hygiene
 * Monitoring and recording vital signs temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration rates
 * Observing, recording and reporting a patients’ physical, mental, and emotional condition.

Work environment
Principally job opportunities will be prevalent in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing and assisted living facilities.

Salary range
Salaries for patient care technicians, including patient representatives and admitting clerks, range from $18,748 to $35,982.