How to Become a PCT in Hawaii

If you want to work as a patient care technician in Hawaii, read on!

Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Hawaii

You should be aware that PCTs and CNAs have similar job duties.

However, the former doesn’t need supervision, while the latter does.

On the job, you will aid the patients, their families, and the remaining staff of the facility they work for.

Your main job duties will include the following:

• 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

In Hawaii, you need to appear in the Hawaii Nurse Aide Registry.

Depending on the facility you work for, you may have extra job duties.

Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Hawaii

The most important job requirements for a PCT position are:

• Having a high school diploma or GED
• Having good communication skills
• Being detail-oriented
• Being compassionate
• Having a clean criminal background
• Being certified
• Having physical stamina

However, you might need additional skills to work as a PCT.

You also have to pass an exam in order to appear in the Registry.

Patient Care Technician Education in Hawaii

The Hawaii Nurse Aide Registry requires candidates to attend training before passing the licensing exam.

This happens because you will work unsupervised while performing certain tasks.

Hawaii currently has just 4 schools that offer specialized training, and they’re listed below.

You can also look at the classes offered in other states, for more options.

Most of the courses last for several months or a year.

When you complete the program, you will receive a certification.

But, you should consider pursuing an Associates’ degree or even higher, for better career opportunities.

For that, you will need to study at least a couple of years more.

No matter what you choose, you will attend hours of theory but also lab practice.

To enroll in the program, you need to:

• Have a clean criminal record
• Passed a drug screening test
• Passed a TB skin test
• Have the following health immunizations done:
  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Flu
  • Tetanus

As a PCT, you need to know:

• 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 Hawaii

Getting a license in Hawaii as a patient care technician is not difficult.

You just have to finish your training and then take the test.

To register for the NHA test, you need to:

• Be over the age of 18
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Graduate from a specialized training program
• Pay the exam fee – $149
• Show proof of citizenship or nationality
• Submit a set of fingerprints

NHS requires 1 year of experience in the industry as a replacement for an educational program.

But, you may wish to join a training program as the tuition might cover the exam fee.

This certification exam lasts for almost 2 hours and has 100 questions.

Before the exam, you need to answer 20 pre-test questions.

Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Hawaii

In Hawaii, the medical industry is in need of staff, including PCTs.

Once you have your certification, you can apply for a job in:

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

In Hawaii, a patient care technician makes about $35,000 a year.

How much you will earn also depends on your experience and location.

The more populated areas usually offer higher salaries for patient care techs.

Regional Salary in Hawaii

Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Hawaii

If you need additional career resources, you could check out the following:

• Hawaii Nurse Aide Registry
• National Health Association