Patient care technicians (PCTs) are crucial healthcare professionals who play a vital role in assisting nurses and other medical staff in providing care to patients. With the occupation demand at an all-time high, after successfully completing this patient care technician program and certification exam, you can become a technician primarily focused on direct patient care and support within a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility, or home health care.
This patient care technician certification course will give you a comprehensive overview of working as a patient care technician. During this asynchronous training course, you will learn how to demonstrate your knowledge of the healthcare delivery system. You will learn how to apply knowledge and skills to provide individualized basic nursing care to a diverse population of patients and how to problem solve and use critical thinking skills within the PCT scope of practice while fostering a positive patient outcome.
This patient care technician training course will also provide you with comprehensive, all-inclusive training, which will assist you in pursuing a new career as a patient care technician and includes a complimentary voucher to sit for either the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), or the Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam through American Medical Certification Association (AMCA), upon eligibility.
The medical terminology course introduces key concepts of medical language and human anatomy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body systems in health and disease. Students with prior knowledge can optionally test out by achieving a minimum score of 80%, replacing course content if desired. It is important to understand that this course feature only applies to the online Medical Terminology course.
Funding Disclaimer: For Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded students, please consult with your funding source representative before taking advantage of the Medical Terminology test-out feature. Different funding programs may have specific requirements and/or restrictions. If you attempt the test-out feature(s) in the Medical Terminology course without getting approval, your funding benefits may be jeopardized.
Instructor(s):Rox Ann Sparks
Rox Ann Sparks, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CMHIMP, LNC, is an experienced nurse who has cared for patients and students in nearly every healthcare setting, with 35 years of practice in emergency medicine. Her nursing career has led her from obtaining her CNA, LVN, RN, and MSN to a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).
Dr. Sparks has experience in being a floor nurse to a chair of nursing. She has developed many different healthcare programs, from PCT to BSN. She has also consulted in accreditation for nursing programs and presented numerous educational programs from natural health to chronic diseases. These experiences led her to become a Certified Nurse Educator.
Dr. Sparks is currently the CEO of Sparks Nursing Consulting, which helps patients become healthier by coaching them to better health. She works with multiple law firms on the defense of nursing standards. She also developed an RN NCLEX review book and app to use the questions and multiple online courses for nurses and healthcare support staff.
Sandra Isaak
Sandra Isaak, MSN, BSN, RN, FNP-C, is an ANCC-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) who currently works as a nurse practitioner in the emergency room at a local hospital. She has worked in this role for over 14 years, and she has spent the past 16 years teaching theory courses and clinical rotations for Certified Nursing Assistants, LVN to RN, RN, BSN, and MSN students. She has also taught and mentored students as program director of the FNP program at a local private university.
Medical Terminology Instructors
Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See here for a full list of these instructors.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 10 or later.
- Mac: macOS 12 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Microsoft Word Online
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following digital textbook will be provided via links in the classroom after enrollment in the Medical Terminology course:
- Medical Terminology for Health Professions (eBook)
The following textbook will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the Patient Care Technician course:
- Fundamental Concepts and Skills for the Patient Care Technician
Hide Syllabus
Lesson 1
- Medical Terminology
- Getting Started
- How to Take This Course
- Test-Out Exam 1: Lessons 1–Midterm Exam
- Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body in Health and Disease
- The Musculoskeletal System
- The Cardiovascular System
- The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
- The Respiratory System
- The Digestive System
- The Urinary System
- Midterm
- Test-Out Exam 2: Lessons 8–Final Exam
- The Nervous System
- Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
- The Integumentary System
- The Endocrine System
- Mental Health
- Male and Female Reproductive Systems
- Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine
- Final Exam
- Patient Care Technician
- Becoming a Patient Care Technician
- Law, Ethics, and Healthcare
- Soft Skills in Healthcare
- The Art of Communicating
- Infection Control and Safety Precautions
- Workplace and Patient Safety
- Organization of the Human Body
- The Chief Complaint, Patient History, and Vital Signs
- Preparing for and Assisting with the Complete Physical Examination (CPE)
- Pharmacology
- Patient Care and Comfort: Part 1
- Patient Care and Comfort: Part 2
- Patient Surgical Care
- Patient Positioning and Bed Mobility
- Transfer Techniques and Wheelchair Use
- Range of Motion, Gait, and Assistive Devices for Mobility
- Restorative Care and Rehabilitation
- Phlebotomy
- Non-Blood Specimen Collections
- Cardiology Procedures and ECGs
- Special Care: Pregnancy, Postnatal Care, Pediatrics, and Mental and Emotional Health
- Special Care: Older Adults, Chronic Conditions, and Palliative and Postmortem Care
- Certification Exam Preparation
- Preparing for Your Career
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