Embarking on a healthcare career can be incredibly rewarding, and a vital role within this field is that of a Patient Care Technician (PCT). At Franciscan Health, the Patient Care Assistant Program offers a comprehensive pathway to enter this profession. If you’re considering becoming a PCT and are curious about the Franciscan program, you’ve come to the right place. This guide addresses frequently asked questions to provide you with a clear understanding of what the program entails and how it can jumpstart your healthcare career.
Understanding the Patient Care Technician Role
What Exactly Does a Patient Care Technician Do?
Patient Care Technicians are essential members of the healthcare team, working closely with nurses and therapists to deliver direct patient care. Their primary focus is to assist patients with their daily needs, ensuring comfort and well-being. The duties of a PCT are diverse and depend on the specific work environment and assigned responsibilities. Common tasks include:
- Assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): This encompasses helping patients with personal hygiene such as bathing and dressing, assisting with feeding, and ensuring safe patient mobility through transferring and transportation.
- Monitoring Vital Signs: PCTs are trained to accurately measure and record vital signs like blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature, providing crucial data for patient monitoring.
- Reporting Patient Status Changes: A key responsibility is to observe and report any changes in a patient’s condition to the nursing staff promptly, ensuring timely intervention and care adjustments.
- Maintaining Patient Privacy and HIPAA Compliance: PCTs are trained to uphold strict patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA guidelines, fostering a secure and respectful environment.
- Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment: Promoting a positive and safe atmosphere for patients is paramount, contributing to their overall healing and comfort.
- Collaborating within the Healthcare Team: Effective communication and teamwork are vital, and PCTs actively collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide holistic patient care.
- Performing Point of Care Testing (POCT): This may include tasks such as checking blood glucose levels and managing drainage systems and bags.
- Documentation and Shift Reporting: Accurately documenting patient care activities and providing detailed reports to the oncoming shift ensures continuity of care.
Patient Care Technician vs. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): What’s the Difference?
While Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) share similarities in their roles, particularly in assisting with ADLs and ensuring patient safety in settings like home health and hospitals, there are key distinctions. Both roles are crucial in patient care, but PCTs often possess a broader skillset. A significant difference lies in the expanded scope of practice for PCTs, who are typically trained to perform additional tasks such as blood glucose monitoring, which may fall outside the CNA scope of practice in some settings.
The Franciscan Health PCT Program is specifically designed to equip individuals to care for patients within a hospital environment. Successful completion of the program requires participants to demonstrate competency through skills evaluations, tests, and simulations, culminating in a certificate of completion from Franciscan Health. In contrast, becoming a CNA typically involves passing a state-administered exam to obtain certification and licensure, which is governed by specific state regulations.
Franciscan Health PCT Program: Your Path to a Healthcare Career
Is Job Placement Guaranteed After Completing the PCT Program?
Yes! One of the significant advantages of the Franciscan Health PCT Program is the job guarantee upon successful completion. While the program ensures job placement, it’s important to note that specific area or shift preferences cannot be guaranteed. Acceptance into the program signifies a commitment to fulfilling a full-time Patient Care Technician 1 (PCT 1) position within Franciscan Health. Full-time employment is defined as three 12-hour shifts per week. This provides graduates with immediate entry into the healthcare field and a stable career path.
What Are the Standard Shift Hours After Program Completion?
Franciscan Health’s standard shift structure for PCTs includes:
- Day Shift: 7:00 am to 7:30 pm
- Night Shift: 7:00 pm to 7:30 am
These 12-hour shifts are common in hospital settings to ensure continuous patient care.
Is a Patient Care Technician Role Right for You?
If you are someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, possesses physical stamina to be on your feet for the majority of a 12-hour shift, and are driven by a desire to positively impact people’s lives, then a career as a Patient Care Technician could be an excellent fit for you. The PCT role offers a unique blend of challenges and rewards, providing the opportunity to make a tangible difference in patient care every day.
How Long Does the Franciscan PCT Program Last?
The Franciscan Patient Care Assistant Program is a 6-week intensive education and training program. This program is meticulously designed to prepare students to effectively collaborate with nurses and therapists in delivering essential patient care within a hospital setting. Furthermore, the program provides opportunities for participants to pursue advanced training and responsibilities to progress to a PCT-2 role, fostering career growth and skill enhancement. The program is offered multiple times throughout the year, typically 4 to 5 times annually, and mandatory attendance is a crucial requirement for successful completion, highlighting the program’s rigorous and comprehensive nature.
What Are the Prerequisites for Enrollment?
While not strictly mandatory, a High School Diploma or equivalent is preferred for enrollment in the Franciscan Patient Care Assistant Program. This preference ensures that candidates possess a foundational level of education necessary to succeed in the program’s curriculum and the demands of the PCT role.
What is the Dress Code for Classes?
During the program’s classroom sessions, the dress code is business casual or scrubs. This flexible approach allows participants to be comfortable while maintaining a professional appearance conducive to a learning environment.
Could you Describe the Program Structure?
The Franciscan PCT Program employs a blended learning approach. Participants can expect lectures in the morning sessions, providing theoretical knowledge and foundational concepts. Afternoons are dedicated to hands-on practice, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in a practical setting and develop essential skills. After the initial 2.5 weeks of classroom and lab training, the program transitions to a hospital clinical setting. This immersive experience allows participants to apply their skills in real-world patient care scenarios under supervision. To reinforce learning, homework assignments and daily quizzes are given, covering the previous day’s material. A comprehensive skills checklist is completed at the conclusion of both the didactic (classroom) and clinical portions of the program to ensure competency in all required areas.
What Are the Class and Clinical Days and Hours?
The Franciscan Patient Care Assistant Program is a full-time commitment during its 6-week duration. Classes and clinical sessions are held Monday through Friday. While the specific times may vary from week to week, participants should expect sessions to begin as early as 7:00 am and potentially extend until 5:30 pm. The clinical schedule may also be adjusted based on the assigned shift to provide exposure to different aspects of hospital operations. Flexibility and commitment to the schedule are essential for program participants.
What Costs Are Involved in the Program?
A significant benefit of the Franciscan PCT Program is that the program itself is free of tuition costs. However, participants are responsible for providing their own scrubs. To maintain uniformity and adhere to Franciscan Health’s dress code standards, scrubs must be purchased through Franciscan Health to ensure compliance with color and logo requirements. This minimal cost ensures that all participants meet professional appearance standards within the healthcare setting.
Will I Receive a Certificate or License Upon Completion?
Upon successful completion of the Franciscan Patient Care Assistant Program, you will receive a certificate of completion issued by Franciscan Health. It’s important to note that this program does not result in a professional license. The certificate signifies that you have successfully completed the Franciscan Health-specific PCT program and are qualified to work as a Patient Care Technician within their healthcare system. For roles requiring state licensure, such as a CNA, additional steps would be necessary beyond this program.
Can I Work PRN After Program Completion?
No, working as a PRN (as needed) employee is not an option immediately after completing the Franciscan PCT Program. Graduates are required to commit to a minimum of a regular part-time position, which is defined as two 12-hour shifts per week. A full-time position (three 12-hour shifts) is preferred. This requirement ensures staffing stability and allows new PCTs to gain consistent experience and further develop their skills within Franciscan Health.
Is it Possible to Transfer to a Different Unit?
Yes, transferring to a different unit within Franciscan Health is possible after 6 months of employment in your initial placement unit. This policy allows PCTs to gain foundational experience and become proficient in their initial role before exploring opportunities in other specialized units within the hospital.
Can I Change to a Different Shift?
Switching to a different shift within the same unit may be possible with manager approval. However, if you wish to transfer to a different shift in another unit, you must wait for 6 months before initiating a transfer request. These guidelines are in place to ensure unit stability and allow managers to effectively manage staffing and patient care needs.
