PATIENT CARE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
This certificate program is designed to educate and train individuals to function as nursing support personnel who
are above the level of a nursing assistant but below the level requiring licensure. The major focus is the role of
the PCT in the hospital setting. The student will be trained to support the nursing staff by performing duties that
may be safely and legally delegated. Included in the courses are the role and scope of practice of the PCT, cross-
training in basic health care skills, ethical and legal concepts, and alterations in various body systems. Also
covered are principles of infection control, safety, activities of daily living, vital signs, professionalism, meeting
nutrition and elimination needs, providing skin care, communication skills (written and verbal), and consideration
of growth and development and grief and loss concepts. Lecture and skills laboratory practice and evaluation are
used to prepare the student to meet the objectives. Skills such as tube feedings, Foley catheter insertion,
collection of specimens, enemas, colostomy care, sterile dressing changes, oxygen therapy, pulse oximetry,
obtaining an EKG, basic phlebotomy skills, monitoring telemetry skills, and blood glucose monitoring are included.
Clinical experiences are provided to give the student the opportunity to administer basic nursing care and
practice selected skills for patients in all age groups. Graduates of the PCT program are eligible to take the
national exam to become a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT).
PATIENT CARE TECHNOLOGY CURRICULUM
Courses
Credit Hours
Fall or Spring Semester (One semester only)
NURA
1301
Nurse Aide for Health Care
3
NURA
1407
Body Systems
4
HPRS
1105
Essentials of Medical Law/Ethics for Health
Professionals
1
HPRS
1106
Essentials of Medical Terminology
1
NUPC
1320
Patient Care Technician/Assistant
3
NUPC
1164
Practicum – Patient Care Technology
1
ECRD
1111
Electrocardiography
1
NUPC
1291
Special Topics in Patient Care Assistant/Aide
2
Total Hours
16
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