How to Become a PCT in Oregon

Working in the medical field gives you the chance to interact with many people while also helping them.

one position you could consider is that of a patient care technician in Oregon.

Read this guide if this sounds like something that would interest you!

Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Oregon

Patient care techs, or PCTs for short, have a very similar occupation to nurse aides.

Nurse aides work under supervision while PCTs don’t.

PCTs are usually in charge of these tasks:

• 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 goes without saying that other tasks can be received throughout the duration of the shift, based on the needs of the patients.

Patient care techs help not only the other medical staff in the facility but also the patients themselves and their families.

Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Oregon

As you can probably imagine, it takes a special kind of person to work as a PCT.

This person needs to:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Have good communication skills
• Be detail-oriented
• Be compassionate
• Have a clean criminal background
• Be certified
• Have physical stamina
• Be listed on the Oregon Nurse Aide Registry

Patient Care Technician Education in Oregon

Formal education is important for anyone hoping to become a patient care tech in Oregon.

Unfortunately, these individuals will have to look at the schools and training programs offered in other states, as Oregon currently doesn’t have any.

Generally speaking, institutions offer these types of diplomas:

• Certificate
• Associates’ degree
• Bachelor’s degree

The majority of students choose a certificate course for under two years in duration.

However, when opting for a degree you open the doors for more career opportunities.

As a rule of thumb, all courses have a limited number of spots.

For this reason, you’ll have to meet some prerequisites upon enrolling, like the following:

• 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

All the schools require full attendance of the clinical practice hours included in the programs.

Look no further than this next lit if you’re curious to know some of the classes you’ll take:

• 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 Oregon

Once you graduate you have to sign up for the certification exam.

While there are several you could take, the one offered by the National Health Association is the best.

This test has national recognition and is the most prestigious.

For this exam you need to show you:

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

Candidates need to keep in mind two things:

• The exam fee can be included in the tuition for the training course
• NHA accepts the substitution of education with 1 year of experience in the field

The test itself lasts for 1 hour and 50 minutes and has 120 total questions.

Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Oregon

The healthcare field has a high demand for certified personnel, therefor getting hired will be rather easy.

You can easily find a job at these institutions:

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

While the average salary in Oregon for a PCT is around $34,000 a year, how much you’ll earn will depend on many things.

These include the city you work in, the number of shifts you work, and even your experience.

Regional Salary in Oregon

Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Oregon

All the patient care techs in this state use these resources when they need more help or info:

• Oregon Nurse Aide Registry
• Oregon State Board of Nursing
• National Health Association