Patient care tech job describtion in Hospital

U.S.A. Florida

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I have been offered a job as a patient care tech and I have my cna license only so I never worked in a hospital so the hr department email me about a skill test before I be considered so now m not sure are my skills same as cna or I need to know more m nervous can someone explain if they work as patient care tech in a hospital and what they actually doing on a daily basic

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Specializes in Neuro, Trauma, and Psych.

Congratulations on your job offer! Do you know what area in the hospital you will be working?

In general a PCT begins the shift with report on the patients then gets all the AM vitals and AC accuchecks (blood sugars) around 730-800. Patients vitals are usually Q4 but can be Q1, Q2, or even Q shift. You may also be responsible for recording all the I&Os of your patients too. Some patients you will have to measure their urine others may be free to ambulate and you may just record that they voided or had a BM. After vitals you will help with breakfast. Help those that can't feed themselves. Then you give baths and and change sheets. After you do this its usually time for the 12pm vitals and another round of AC accuchecks. Again you help with lunch. Fill ice pitchers. After this you will probably take a lunch and then repeat the process for 4pm. 4-7pm you are getting everyone situated and ready for the next shift. At the end of your shift you will empty all the foleys and record the amounts. Then you give report to the next shift.

Depending on your hospital you may be responsible for obtaining 12 lead EKG, doing in and out catheters, blood draws, and assisting with other bedside procedures. You also will be responsible for preparing patients for discharge and setting up patient room for admissions by gathering all the supplies. Many times you will also help transport patients to CT and MRI, as well as other procedures. Also depending on your unit you may be responsible for some pretty gnarly drains such as J.P. and Davol drains and they generally need strict measurements of these drains.

I wouldn't worry too much about the skill test. Its stuff you most likely learned for your CNA. Good luck!

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Omg thank you so much the only thing is I can't do blood work so I guess I can do everything else that cna do I can do thank you very much for explaining how it works I guess that's 12 hour shift it looks long lol but yea thank you

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I am a brand new pct, no experience. I am orienting on a Med surg floor. I am really enjoying it and learning a lot. I was very nervous before I started but now I'm glad I made a great decision. Feel free to ask questions. I'm still getting used to the 12 hr shift. I'm also on the search for a great shoe insole my feet were killing me my first week!

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