Housatonic Community College

Course Description: This 95 hour, 15 week program prepares students to work in long term care facilities, hospitals, and private duty. This program is taught with a combination of lecture, hands-on practical lab exercises and real-world clinical experience conducted off-campus at an actual medical facility. This program is 95 hours in length: Lecture 45 hours, Lab 24 hours, and Clinical 26 hours.

This program is designed to prepare Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) to function as multi-skilled care providers in a variety of health-care settings, and to increase employers’ abilities to meet their workforce needs. It is designed to prepare an individual to work in a hospital, long-term care setting or a skilled nursing facility. The patient care technician is a multi-skilled health care worker who initially earns a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification and then gains additional skills to be prepared to perform routine patient care treatments including simple lab tests, EKG’s, simple dressing changes, phlebotomy, current technology, and Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy safety. The technician will receive education on standard and universal health care precautions; therapeutic communication techniques, English and math skills, customer service, and patient care delivery systems. Prerequisites: CNA Certification, State Registered CNA, CPR Certification, Placement in college 100 level English and Math.    

Program Objectives: At the completion of the program the participant will:

1.  Utilize principles of math, English, and medical terminology in the routine care of the patient.
2. Perform routine patient care safely, effectively and with technical competence.
3. Perform technical skills such as electrocardiograms, phlebotomy and care of medical equipment accurately and competently.
4. Employ effective interpersonal communication skills when caring for patients.
5. Provide routine care for groups of hospitalized patients safely and effectively under the direction of the registered nurse.
6. Integrate accountability, responsibility, customer service and practice within the legal and ethical standards of the health care arena in the role of a patient care technician.

PCT Program Entrance Requirements:

1. All interested students who wish to enroll in the program must go through the registration, testing, and selection process. Your first step is to contact the Continuing Education department at (203) 332-5057. You must complete a Continuing Education registration form. Here, you will be assigned a student Banner ID Number.
2. Submit proof of CNA certification, and be current as a state registered CNA.
3. Submit proof of current CPR certification
4. All students must pass both the English and Math placement Test and place into college level English and Math (100 Level). Contact the college’s Placement Test Center to schedule an appointment for the English and Math placement test (203) 332-5019.  Do not tell them your program. Simply tell them that you would like to schedule an English and Math placement test. If you passed HCC’s CNA program, you may be waived from this step. 
5. All students must schedule an interview with the instructor. Call the Continuing Education department to schedule your interview with the PCT Coordinator (203) 332-5057.
6. All students will be notified by mail as to whether they have been selected into the program or not. All students will be selected based on their CNA status, test scores, interview, interest as a PCT, and personal commitment to attend, complete, and pass the program. Students will be randomly selected into the program. This makes the selection process fair.   

Official Acceptance into the PCT Program:

Students who received an official letter stating that they are officially accepted into the program, can now register for the actual course. Your first step is come in person to the Continuing Education department (Lafayette Hall, Room C107) at (203) 332-5057. You MUST bring your acceptance letter and Photo ID with you! The CE staff will register you into the program. No one will be registered into the program without a photo ID and official acceptance letter. No exceptions.

Tuition:

The tuition is free for the fall 2009 semester only. 8 applicants shall be selected into the program. Registrations are limited, and all applicants will be selected on a random basis.

Clinical:

Once students are registered at HCC, and are officially enrolled in the PCT program, the college (HCC) will assign students to the clinical site. The clinical site will be at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, CT. Students must have their own transportation to the clinical site. The clinical will be at least 8 weeks of the course. The clinical is one half day a week. Students must complete their clinical every week. Uniforms are strictly enforced.

Uniform:

Uniforms are required at all times. Maroon pants with Maroon shirt with white nurse shoes or plain white sneakers. Name badges are also required. Name badges can be purchased at the college’s bookstore. The college will provide additional information about the dress code once students are accepted into the program. This information will be sent along with your acceptance letter.