Patient Care Technician (5707)
The Patient Care Technician program is a cluster of planned, sequenced instruction to cross-train students for positions as advanced patient caregivers under the supervision of the registered nurse. The program consists of the following components and exit points:
- Health careers core (HCP 0001) — This introductory health course is a corequisite for each of the following components.
- Articulated nursing assistant (HCP 0001 and HCP 0102C) — Nursing assistants are educationally trained to provide patient care services under the supervision of physicians and nurses in the hospital, nursing home and home health settings.
- Advanced Home health aide (HCP 0001 and HCP 0311) — A home health aide is one of the fastest growing occupations and educationally prepared to assist patients in the home environment under the supervision of nurses and home health care agencies.
- Patient care assistant (HCP 0001, HCP 0102C or HCP 0311 and HCP 0620) — Patient care assistants are multi-trained and the field is rapidly growing. Minimal education requirements will help prepare graduates for entry-level employment. Certification and experience as a patient care assistant are beneficial for entry into other nursing professions.
- Allied health assistant (HCP 0001 and HCP 0781) — An individual who has acquired a variety of nursing related skills through formal education and laboratory training. Completers of this program assist with patient care in a variety of health care facilities working with registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.
- Patient care technician (HCP 0001, HCP 0102C, HCP 0311, HCP 0620, HCP 0780, HCP 0781, and HCP 0796) — Patient care technicians are multi-trained individuals who have been educationally prepared to provide patient care services under the supervision of physicians, nurses and home health agencies in hospitals, nursing homes and home health settings.
Following the core, each component is completed sequentially, through the patient care assistant course, although the allied health assistant and advanced allied health assistant courses can be taken in any sequence. All courses must be completed in order to enroll in the patient care technician course. This program expands the traditional role of the nursing assistant, providing a broad foundation of knowledge and skills to be applied to the care of the patients in hospitals, nursing homes and in their homes.
The program includes 12 weeks of clinical experience in nursing homes,
sub-acute/long-term care hospitals, home health agencies, community assisted
living facilities, hospitals and ambulatory clinics.
The Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) is a major criterion in a student’s completion of the program. Students who fail to meet the State of Florida’s designated exit score will be required to complete the Vocational Preparatory Instruction (VPI). In order to complete the program successfully, students must achieve or surpass the designated exit score(s). See Standards of Academic Progress.
The need for qualified PCTs is growing rapidly. Job placement rate for graduates
of this program is currently 96%.
Patient Care Technician graduates are eligible to take the National Nurse Aide
Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination in order to become certified as a
nursing assistant in the State of Florida.
The PCT may have the option of flexible hours, full or part time at an average
hourly rate of $9–$12 and as high as $14 with experience.
Estimated cost of tuition is $1,164 (tuition rated for Florida residents, as of 7/06). Contact the program manager for additional costs (textbooks, fees, materials).
Course Number and Title
Professional Courses |
Contact
Hours |
Workforce Credits |
| *VPI 0100 |
Basic Reading Skills |
|
|
| *VPI 0200 |
Basic Mathematical Skills |
|
|
| *VPI 0300 |
Basic Language Skills |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| **HCP 0001 |
Health Careers Core |
90 |
3.00 |
| HCP 0102C |
Articulated Nursing Assistant |
75 |
2.50 |
| HCP 0311 |
Advanced Home Health Aide |
50 |
1.50 |
| HCP 0620 |
Patient Care Assistant |
75 |
2.50 |
| HCP 0780 |
Allied Health Assistant |
150 |
5.00 |
| HCP 0781 |
Advanced Allied Health Assistant |
100 |
3.50 |
| ***HCP 0796 |
Patient Care Technician |
60 |
2.00 |
| |
Total Contact Hours |
600 |
20.00 |
*Students who have satisfactory test scores are not required to take these courses.
**All courses must be completed prior to enrolling in this course.
Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screening and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.
The cost of the background check and drug screen is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline. Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into selective access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition. A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program.
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