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Working as a patient care technician can be rewarding because it involves helping people. This type of job is when someone provides basic care for a patient in the hospital or a long-term healthcare facility. While doctors and nurses focus on testing and treatment, a patient care technician focuses more on the needs of the patient and helping them in their daily life.
Being a patient care technician requires some basic medical knowledge as well as knowledge of patient care. That means a person working in this position needs some education or training. Below, you can learn about the general education requirements for patient care technicians as well as any continuing education requirements this position might have.
Education Requirements for Patient Care Technicians
Different states have different requirements for patient care technicians and their level of education. However, in general, it can be a good idea to attend a patient care technician program so that you have the knowledge and skills you need to perform daily tasks and duties in this job.
In the state of Florida, someone who wants to work as a patient care technician in a hospital has to pass the Certified Nursing Assistant exam. This exam has both a written and practical portion, and it will test people on their medical knowledge as well as their ability to provide proper patient care.
Attending a patient care technician school in Florida can prepare you for passing your Certified Nursing Assistant exam. It can also help you feel confident in your ability to care for patients when they need it. A patient care technician school will teach you the basics of patient care and the philosophy behind proper patient care. However, this schooling will also help you build your medical skills. For example, patient care technician school can teach you how to properly draw blood, perform catheterizations, care for wounds, perform an ECG, remove sutures and staples, and more. This schooling will give you the knowledge and hands-on experience with this type of work so that you are ready for your career.
After you have completed your patient care technician school and passed your Certified Nursing Assistant exam, you might want to think about certification and continuing education. Learn more about that below.
Certification and Continuing Education
Now that we have discussed the general education requirements for patient care technicians, we can dive into certification and continuing education. Learn more below.
Most employers do not require certification for patient care technicians, but this is something that can help you get a job, or help you get a salary increase. There are different organizations that offer healthcare certifications, and these organizations usually require a person to pass an exam in order to be certified. For example, the National Patient Care Technician Association has a Certified Patient Care Technician option. This certification option requires a person to have certain training as well as on-the-job experience. Then, the person must pass an examination to achieve the certification from the National Patient Care Technician Association. Once a candidate achieves certification, they have to be recertified every two years. To be recertified, they must complete continuing education courses.
Continuing education for certification programs like the one from the National Patient Care Technician Association will involve courses related to specific areas of study. Continuing education courses have to meet certain criteria to qualify. If you have questions about a specific continuing education course for certification with an organization like the National Patient Care Technician Association, you can always reach out to them for more information. However, in general, continuing education courses will cover things directly related to your work. You may take courses related to basic anatomy and physiology, long term care, patient care principles, advanced nursing skills, medical terminology, phlebotomy, and more. This continuing education will make sure your skills stay sharp, and it will make sure you can keep your certifications.
Patient Care Technician School in Miami and Fort Lauderdale
Working in the medical field requires skills and expertise. A patient care technician can work in a hospital setting or a long-term healthcare facility like a nursing home. However, before they start their work, they need education and training. If you are in Florida looking for a patient care technician school, you have a great one with FVI.
You can find patient care technician school in Miami with FVI School of Nursing and Technology or FVI. We will provide you with the training you need to succeed in this field. Check out our website for more information.
For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website:
https://fvi.edu/consumer-information/.
