If you’re one of the many people wanting to work in the healthcare industry, perhaps we could have your attention for a few minutes!
This article will present the steps needed by future patient care technicians in the State of Connecticut!
Read on!
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- Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Connecticut
- Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Connecticut
- Patient Care Technician Education in Connecticut
- Patient Care Technician Certification in Connecticut
- Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Connecticut
- Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Connecticut
Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Connecticut
The job of a PCT is very similar in description and responsibilities to those of nurse assistants and home health nurses.
These are positions that are ranked closely below doctors.
They don’t only help other medical staff and the patients, but their families as well.
Patient care techs can perform most of their job tasks without supervision.
These tasks include:
- Bathing and feeding the patients
- Catheter care
- Maintaining patient rooms clean
- Vital sign monitoring
- Performing phlebotomy procedures
- Talking to the patients’ families
- Escorting patients to various places for further investigations
Being registered with the Connecticut Nurse Aid Registry is a job responsibility of a PCT that shouldn’t even be mentioned.
It’s also possible that depending on the facility one works, they’ll receive additional duties.
Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Connecticut
Perhaps you’re wondering what type of person you must be to become a PCT in this state.
Here are the most valuable assets for the candidate for this position:
- Having a high school diploma or GED
- Having good communication skills
- Being detail-oriented
- Being reliable
- Being compassionate
- Having a clean criminal background
- Being certified
- Having physical stamina
- Being listed in the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry
Employers can be picky and can ask for additional characteristics.
Patient Care Technician Education in Connecticut
Not many people know that to be listed in the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry, they need to receive some training.
Luckily, there are quite a handful of schools in this state that can offer appropriate PCT training programs.
The schools are listed in the next table.
Top 30 Schools in Connecticut
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Academy of Medical Training | 521 Wolcott Street Waterbury, CT 06705 |
| American Institute of Healthcare and Technology | 480 Lordship Boulevard, Stratford, Connecticut 06615-7149 |
| Asnuntuck Community College | 170 Elm Street Enfield, CT 06082 |
| Branford Hall Career Institute | 155 Main Street, Suite 302, Danbury, CT 06810 |
| Capital Community College | 950 Main Street, Hartford CT 06103 |
| Care Training Center LLC | 142 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06510 |
| Charter Oak State College | 55 Paul Manafort Drive, New Britain, Connecticut 06053 |
| Connecticut Training Center, Inc. | 1137 Main Street East Hartford, CT |
| Danbury Training Center | 155 Main Street Danbury, CT 06810 |
| Griffin Hospital School of Allied Health Careers | 300 Seymour Ave. Ste. 206 Derby, CT 06418-1343 |
| Harris School of Business | 155 Main Street, Suite 302 Danbury, CT 06810 |
| Housatonic Community College | 900 Lafayette Boulevard Beacon Hall, Room 274 Bridgeport, CT 06604 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | 200 John Downey Dr, New Britain, Connecticut 06051 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute | 8 Progress Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484 |
| Middlesex Community College | 100 Training Hill Road, Middletown, CT 06457 |
| Naugatuck Valley Community College | 750 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT 06708 |
| Naugatuck Valley Community College | 183 Main Street Danbury, CT 06810 |
| New Haven Adult Education | 580 Ella T. Grasso Blvd. New Haven, CT 06519 |
| Northeast Medical Institute | 270 Amity Road Suite 131 Woodbridge, CT 06525 |
| Northeast Medical Institute | 29 Bank St Stamford, CT 06901 |
| Northwestern Connecticut Community College | Park Place East, Winsted, CT 06098 |
| NVCC | K402, Kinney Hall 750 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT 06708 |
| Quinebaug Valley Community College | 742 Upper Maple Street, Danielson, CT 06239 |
| Stone Academy | 745 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford, Connecticut 06108 |
| Stone Academy | 101 Pierpont Road, Waterbury, Connecticut 06705 |
| Stone Academy | 560 Saw Mill Road, West Haven, Connecticut 06516 |
| Stone Academy | 1315 Dixwell Avenue Hamden, CT 06514 |
| Three Rivers Community College | 574 New London Turnpike Norwich, CT 06360 |
| Tunxis Community College | 271 Scott Swamp Rd. Farmington, CT 06032 |
| Valley Medical Institute | 4637 Main Street Bridgeport, CT 06606 |
When having a look at the programs these schools offer, you’ll see that duration and credentials are different.
If you want just a certificate, you’ll enroll in a program that is barely 1 year long.
However, if you hope to get a degree, you’ll need to study for at least 2 years.
For instance, you can get an Associates’ and a Bachelors’ degree from Charter Oak State College.
The majority of the other schools offer only certificate-level programs.
All the courses also include some practice hours that require 100% attendance.
Spots in these classes are usually limited to the individuals that can meet these prerequisites:
- A clean criminal record
- A passed drug screening test
- A passed TB skin test
- Had vaccinations done for:
- MMR
- Varicella
- Hepatitis B
- Flu
- Tetanus
This list shows just a few of the subjects you can expect to study:
- Providing patient safety
- Providing basic care
- Medical terminology and abbreviations
- Basic infection control procedures and techniques
- The structure and function of body systems
- Identifying and reporting changes in the patient’s condition
- Monitoring and recording bodily functions
- CPR
- First aide techniques
- Drawing blood
- Inserting catheters
Patient Care Technician Certification in Connecticut
As you graduate from your training program, you’ll have to pass the NHA exam.
You can sign up for this test only if you:
- Are at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Graduated from a specialized training program
- Paid the exam fee – $149
- Show proof of citizenship or nationality
- Submit a set of fingerprints
NHA accepts in some cases 1 year of related experience au lieu of the program.
Keep in mind that some of the schools may cover the exam fee if you choose this training route.
You’ll have 1 hour and 50 minutes to answer a total of 120 questions.
Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Connecticut
Once you passed your examination, you’re ready to get employed.
You can apply at these facilities:
- Hospitals,
- Clinics,
- Rehabilitation centers,
- Long term care and assisted living facilities,
- Hospices
- Home care
Knowing how much can you earn as a patient care tech is oftentimes important when making a decision.
As you can see from this next table, the salaries are higher in Denver, Westminster, and Thornton.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Patient Care Technicians in Connecticut
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $38,736 |
| New Haven | $36,952 |
| Stamford | $39,239 |
| Hartford | $36,649 |
| Waterbury | $36,758 |
| Norwalk | $39,239 |
| Danbury | $37,854 |
| New Britain | $36,826 |
| West Hartford | $36,649 |
| Greenwich | $39,239 |
Regional Salary in Connecticut
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 3,930 | $43,040 | $20.69 | $48,500 | $37,530 |
| Danbury, CT | 830 | $41,580 | $19.99 | $47,960 | $37,300 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 7,400 | $43,430 | $20.88 | $50,630 | $36,970 |
| New Haven, CT | 3,960 | $42,810 | $20.58 | $50,330 | $36,750 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | 1,110 | $44,040 | $21.17 | $53,120 | $37,690 |
| Waterbury, CT | 1,050 | $41,810 | $20.1 | $47,670 | $35,690 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Connecticut
These resources can be of help in several instances:
- Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry
- CT Department of Public Health
- National Health Association
