Patient Care Assistant (PCA)
Patient care assistants are some of the main team members responsible for taking care of a patient’s basic needs, whether they’re in a hospital, nursing facility or assisted living facility. They use strong communication skills, compassion and patience to address any patient need. Patient care assistants are also sometimes referred to as patient care technicians or nursing assistants. Patient care assistants provide basic patient care, and patients usually see them more than other team members. They are also responsible for helping patients with a number of basic hygiene tasks.
Average Annual Salary
Where can I train to become a PCA?
Shelton State Community College
Patient Care Technicians work in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, long term care facilities, physician offices and assisted living facilities. These professionals must possess the technical skills necessary to service complex patient care issues including: rehabilitation services, diagnostic tests, basic bedside care, collection of laboratory specimens, Phlebotomy and EKG’s. In addition to labs requiring a student to practice and demonstrate EKG, Phlebotomy and base line nursing skills, lecture topics of this program include: medical terminology, anatomy and physiology and miscellaneous patient care concepts. Other topics include: HIPAA; vital signs; patient care; personal hygiene and grooming and aseptic technique among others.