How to Become a PCT in Iowa

Perhaps you always liked to make sure everyone is well around you.

Have you considered a career as a patient care technician in Iowa?

Read on to find out more about this job!

Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Iowa

PCTs have very similar job duties as nursing assistants.

These usually are:

• 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

It’s quite normal for these professionals to receive extra tasks throughout their shifts.

Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Iowa

You perhaps want to know if you’re really cut for this job or not.

All you have to do is to check you meet these prerequisites:

• 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

Asking for additional skills or attributes is rather normal for employers, though.

Keep in mind that in this state you can’t work if you’re not listed on the Iowa Direct Care Nurse Worker Registry.

Patient Care Technician Education in Iowa

In Iowa, The Registry requires PCTs to graduate from a training program designed for nursing assistants.

After graduating, individuals must also pass the exam offered by the NHA.

The schools below offer courses that qualify.

While obtaining a certificate from these programs is the most common option, you should consider a degree instead.

Degrees open the doors for better career opportunities.

Make sure to attend all the clinical practice hours.

It’s very common for schools to accept candidates that:

• 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

Here are some of the classes you’ll attend:

• 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 Iowa

The test organized by the NHA has 2 parts, practical and written.

Only the candidates that show the following can sign up for the exam:

• 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

Prometric is the testing center proctoring this exam.

Many schools cover the exam fee in their tuition, so make sure not to pay for it twice.

You’ll have 1 hour and 50 minutes to answer 120 questions.

20 of these are pre-test questions.

Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Iowa

The healthcare industry has a strong demand for PCT.

This is why this occupation is a promising one to consider.

You’ll be working in places such as these:

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

In Iowa, patient care techs earn around $32,600 per year.

You have better chances of earning a higher salary in cities like Des Moines and West Des Moines.

Regional Salary in Iowa

Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Iowa

Whenever you need some help, you could refer to these resources:

• Iowa Direct Care Nurse Worker Registry
• National Health Association