Technical Standards
The goal of the Patient Care Technician (PCT) program is to prepare students for patient care practice in an entry-level setting. Safe and competent patient care practice requires that graduates demonstrate competencies in knowledge, skills, and attitude guided by adherence to ethical and legal principles.
The Department will consider any applicant who demonstrates the ability to learn to perform all the competencies listed and does not present any safety hazard towards self or recipient of care. These competencies are required skills in order to render safe patient care to patients in various healthcare settings.
Some chronic or recurrent illnesses and problems could interfere with patient care and safety, and may be incompatible with patient care education and practice, since they may lead to a higher chance of absences. Students in the PCT program are not required to disclose any chronic or recurrent illness and/or disability; however, those with concerns about meeting these technical standards are strongly encouraged to discuss the issues with the Department Chair. Deficiencies in knowledge, skills, judgments, integrity, or professional attitude may jeopardize patient care and, as a result, may be grounds for course failure and possible dismissal from the PCT program.
Students must have the aptitude and abilities in six areas: sensory ability and skills; fine and gross motor skills; strength, mobility, and physical endurance; the ability to communicate, comprehend, read, and write in English; behavioral stability; and cognitive ability and critical thinking skills.
It is the student’s responsibility to understand the duties, responsibilities, skills, and abilities required to be a patient care assistant. In addition to the technical standards described below, students are encouraged to review the information regarding patient care assistants at the O*NET website.
Functional Ability | Standard | Examples of Required Activities |
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Visual | Optical ability to sufficiently observe a patient and gather data accurately from a distance as well as close up |
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Hearing | Auditory ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of patient healthcare needs |
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Smell | Olfactory ability sufficient to detect significant patient and environmental odors |
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Tactile | Tactile ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of healthcare needs |
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Communication | Oral communication skills sufficient to communicate in English with accuracy, clarity, and efficiency with patients, their families, and other members of the healthcare team, including non-verbal communication such as interpretation of facial expressions, affect, and body language |
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Gross Motor Skills | Gross motor skills sufficient to provide the full range of safe and efficient patient care activities |
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Fine Motor Skills | Fine motor skills sufficient to perform manual psychomotor skills |
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Physical Endurance | Physical stamina sufficient to remain on task continuously for a six-, eight-, or 12-hour clinical shift while standing, sitting, moving, lifting, and bending to in order to perform various patient care activities |
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Physical Strength | Physical strength sufficient to perform the full range of required patient care activities |
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Mobility | Physical ability sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces; full range of motion to twist, bend, stoop, squat, reach above shoulders and below waist and move quickly; manual and finger dexterity; and hand-eye coordination to perform nursing activities |
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Emotional/ Behavioral |
Emotional stability and appropriate behavior sufficient to assume responsibility and accountability for actions |
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Professional Attitudes and Interpersonal Skills | Present professional appearance and demeanor; demonstrate ability to communicate with patients, supervisors, and other members of the healthcare team to achieve a positive and safe work environment. Follow instructions and safety protocols |
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Cognitive/Quantitative Abilities | Reading comprehension skills and mathematical ability sufficient to understand documents written in English and solve problems involving measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis |
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Conceptual/Spatial Abilities | Conceptual spatial ability sufficient to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships |
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Clinical Reasoning | Ability to logically reason across time regarding a patient’s changing condition |
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Flexibility | Adapt to College’s course schedule policy |
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