How to Become a PCT in Delaware

PCT stands for patient care technician, and this is one of the many types of medical personnel out there.

If you want to learn how can a person become a PCT in Delaware, read this guide!

Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Delaware

If you don’t know what the job of a PCT consists of, first you should know it’s very similar to those of nurse assistants and home health nurses.

While they work closely with doctors, patients, and their families, patient care techs can perform their duties without supervision.

Here are their most common duties:

• 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

All PCTs must ensure they’re listed on the Delaware CNA Registry before searching for a job.

It’s good to be aware that the duties assigned to patient care technicians may vary between facilities and patients.

Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Delaware

OK, so you know what’s expected of you as a PCT, but are you really made for this job?

The candidates for such a medical position need the following:

• 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 Delaware CNA Registry

Additional requirements might be added by some employers, but the list above mentions the most important prerequisites.

Patient Care Technician Education in Delaware

For starters, the Delaware CNA Registry has its own requirements to accept individuals.

These include graduating from a training course and then passing an exam.

Delaware has only a few schools offering specialized training to those who want to become patient care technicians.

These can be seen below.

These schools offer only training programs at the certificate level.

These usually last for under a year.

You’ll have to look for other institutions if you want a degree.

Usually, courses from other states are also accepted by the Registry.

The Associates’ degree is the lowest degree you can get and it takes about 2 years to obtain.

You’ll have to attend all the clinical practice hours included in your chosen program.

Because there are limited spots available in any given course, you’ll have to meet certain criteria to be accepted:

• A clean criminal record
• A passed drug screening test
• A passed TB skin test
• Had vaccinations done for:
  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Flu
  • Tetanus

Once you’re in, you’ll usually learn:

• 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 Delaware

In Delaware, you’ll have to obtain certification through the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

The exam you should pass is for a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

You’ll need the following to sign up for the CNA examination:

• 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

In some cases, the NHA accepts candidates that can prove at least 1 year of experience in the field.

Some schools include the fee for the exam in their tuition, but you need to ask about it from the start.

Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Delaware

So, where can you work as a PCT?

These facilities need patient care techs the most:

• Hospitals,
• Clinics,
• Rehabilitation centers,
• Long term care and assisted living facilities,
• Hospices
• Home care

Remember that the more experience you have, the more you’ll earn.

Additionally, salaries are also influenced by your location, as you can see from the table below.

Regional Salary in Delaware

Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Delaware

At times you might need more resources for various purposes, and the following are the best ones to use:

• Delaware CNA Registry
• National Health Association