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Patient care technicians support a patient’s care team—including doctors, nurses and specialists—to provide care for physical and mental health conditions. As a patient care technician, you would have the option to work in many different healthcare settings, from hospitals to nursing homes, long-term care facilities, assisted living communities and more.
Patient Care Technician Job Duties
Because they’re working directly with patients, a patient care technician’s day is often busy. Under the supervision of another care provider, they provide patient care that includes emotional support and guidance. Job duties may include:
- Obtaining specimens, conducting tests and recording results
- Checking blood pressure, heart rate and pulse
- Monitoring a patient’s condition and keeping the care team updated
- Monitoring how much a patient is eating and drinking
- Taking patients to get x-rays or other diagnostic images
You’ll do well as a patient care technician if you enjoy working directly with people. Patient care technicians often report that their job is most rewarding when they can see the real impact of what they do. When patients get better as a direct result of their efforts or in the little moments when patient care technicians are able to provide comfort for someone going through a hard time.
Career Outlook for Patient Care Technicians
Patient care technicians are in high demand. By 2030, there will be 8% more jobs for patient care technicians in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With more than 1.4 million patient care technicians already working in the U.S., this is significant growth.
How to Become a Patient Care Technician
In Florida, you need to complete an approved educational course to become a patient care technician. During your program, you’ll complete a wide range of courses on healthcare, including home health, phlebotomy, and patient care basics.
You’ll also need to pass the Prometrics exam and a certification exam before the National Healthcare Association. This can be done in as little as nine months.
Your employer may also require you to pass a background check and complete continuing education credits or training. You’ll learn about these requirements as part of the employment process.
Thinking About Becoming a Patient Care Technician?
Get started on the path to becoming a patient care technician in the Miami area. Talk with one of our representatives about your interests and options. Give us a call at 877-206-4279 or send us a message.
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