Are you looking for a career that is in high demand? Do you want to ensure that your education will lead to a well-paying job when you graduate? Is it important that you choose a career that helps people? If your answer to all of these questions is “yes,” then maybe it’s time to consider looking into patient care technician jobs.
What is the job outlook for patient care technicians?
Employment in the health care field is growing at a much faster rate than other fields. As the baby boom population ages, more people are seeking medical care than ever before, and they often need more extensive care than previous generations due to a higher life expectancy.
There is a rapidly-growing demand for skilled medical professionals to assist in medical offices, hospitals rehabilitation centers and laboratories to help meet these needs.
Patient care technicians fill important roles in the medical industry, from obtaining vital signs to preparing laboratory specimens.
Where do patient care technicians work?
As a patient care technician, you can have options when it comes time to finding the perfect job.
Patient care technician jobs can be found in almost every health care-related setting, including:
- Physician and dental offices
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Behavioral health facilities
- Community health centers
- Medical insurance companies
- Public health departments
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Laboratory departments
Do patient care technician jobs pay well?
The average wage for a patient care technician is approximately $12.75 per hour, according to Indeed.com. This rate varies from state to state, ranging from $11.79 per hour in Georgia to $14.58 per hour in New York.1
What determines how much patient care technician jobs pay?
- Experience is important, which means your earning potential will increase over time.
- Certain shifts, such as the night shift, may be less desirable. These shifts will often pay better than more desirable shifts.
- Location! Location! Location! Patient care technician jobs will typically pay more in areas with a higher cost of living.
- Not all facilities pay the same. Hospitals and clinics typically pay better than nursing home facilities.
- Patient care technicians who have training in specific specializations or who have obtained additional certifications often score the highest-paying jobs.
What are the job duties of a patient care technician?
With so many options for places to work, there also comes a wide array of job duties that can be expected of a patient care technician. While daily duties are specific to the employer, common duties include:
- Assisting patients with daily care
- Obtaining vital signs
- Keeping records
- Collecting and preparing specimens
- Performing electrocardiographs (EKGs)
- Phlebotomy
- Laboratory procedures
Patient care technicians are also often the primary daily care providers in nursing homes and other residential facilities. They typically have the most daily contact with patients and develop important relationships.
How can you become a patient care technician?
The best patient care technician jobs are going to go to the individuals with quality training. The Patient Care Technician program at Helms College is designed to prepare you to help meet the growing needs of the medical field.
Classes are designed to give you both the technical knowledge and the practical experiences needed to enter the field as a competent professional. Classes in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, basic nutrition, fundamentals of nursing and phlebotomy provide the technical knowledge needed to be an asset to any medical team.
The program also includes a 132-hour externship experience which allows you to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting. The externship is the perfect opportunity to gain a better understanding of the actual inner workings of the healthcare field and to make contacts with potential employers.
If you think you have what it takes to make a difference in patients’ lives as a patient care technician, apply today! Our one-page application takes very little time to complete, and will set you on the fast track to a career in the booming healthcare field!