Online Patient Care
Technician Class Outline
Estimated Length of program:
4-5 months, self-paced
Certification Results:
Patient Care Technician Certification (CPCT/A)
Program Goal:
To prepare students to take the CPCT/A exam and gain entry-level employment as a patient care technician.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of this course will have the theoretical instruction and practical administrative skills to prepare them for entry-level patient care technician positions.
Rebecca Gayheart, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, DNP
Meet the Lead Instructor/Course Expert
Rebecca has been in healthcare for 25 years. In those 25 years, she has learned and seen a lot. She obtained a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s degree from Sacred Heart University, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master's degree from Wheeling Jesuit University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Aspen University. Her work history includes Internal Medicine, hospice/palliative care, and hematology and oncology. Her philosophy on education is to be a great teacher, one must be a great learner. She is originally from West Virginia, but currently resides in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Rebecca Gayheart, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, DNP
Meet the Lead Instructor/Course Expert
Rebecca has been in healthcare for 25 years. In those 25 years, she has learned and seen a lot. She obtained a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s degree from Sacred Heart University, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) master's degree from Wheeling Jesuit University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Aspen University. Her work history includes Internal Medicine, hospice/palliative care, and hematology and oncology. Her philosophy on education is to be a great teacher, one must be a great learner. She is originally from West Virginia, but currently resides in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The coursework trains students to:
- Describe the role and responsibilities of patient care technicians in the healthcare system.
- Apply medical terminology, anatomy and communication skills.
- Understand the use of charting and electronic medical records in a healthcare practice.
- Understand safe practices within the healthcare environment.
- Describe legal and ethical standards in healthcare environments.
- Assist patients with physical and mental well-being.
Curriculum
Instruction Pack I: Introduction to Patient Care
In Pack 1, students explore the roles and duties of patient care technicians and other healthcare professionals within the industry. They learn medical terminology using a unique word-building system to help them interpret new terms. Additionally, they discover how to chart medical records. This pack wraps up with the basics of electronic records.
Instruction Pack II: Anatomy, Ethics and Safety
In this pack, students learn to effectively communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals before gaining an overview of human anatomy. They learn about pathology, including the causes of abnormal human biology. Then, students discover medical ethics and legal responsibilities specific to patient care. Before diving into basic first-aid techniques, students explore infection control and universal safety precautions.
Instruction Pack III: Patient Care and Clinical Skills
Students recognize the body’s reaction to inadequate supplies of nutrients and vitamins and learn about feeding tubes. They explore the need for emotional support during grief and death. Students learn the process of obtaining, recording, monitoring and reporting the patient’s vital signs. Students examine patient therapy, which includes a range of motion exercises and modalities. They wrap up this pack by learning about EKGs, including preparing the skin and placing the electrodes.
Instruction Pack IV: Patient Positioning, Mobility and Care
Students discover the methods to assist patients with positioning and mobility issues and devices. The daily needs of patients are examined with swallow precautions when feeding patients and understanding devices used to prevent bed sores. After discovering how to assist patients when dressing and bathing, students learn to provide catheterization, ostomy and urinary care, and measure urinary output. Students also learn to perform capillary puncture and venipuncture and collect blood properly. Finally, students examine the organizations and certifications available to the patient care technician before taking the final quiz for the course.
Or call toll-free 866.250.6851 to learn more.