Curriculum
Instruction Pack I: Introduction to Patient Care
In Pack 1, students explore the roles and duties of patient care technicians and other healthcare professionals within the industry. They learn medical terminology using a unique word-building system to help them interpret new terms. Additionally, they discover how to chart medical records. This pack wraps up with the basics of electronic records.
Instruction Pack II: Anatomy, Ethics and Safety
In this pack, students learn to effectively communicate with patients and other healthcare professionals before gaining an overview of human anatomy. They learn about pathology, including the causes of abnormal human biology. Then, students discover medical ethics and legal responsibilities specific to patient care. Before diving into basic first-aid techniques, students explore infection control and universal safety precautions.
Instruction Pack III: Patient Care and Clinical Skills
Students recognize the body’s reaction to inadequate supplies of nutrients and vitamins and learn about feeding tubes. They explore the need for emotional support during grief and death. Students learn the process of obtaining, recording, monitoring and reporting the patient’s vital signs. Students examine patient therapy, which includes a range of motion exercises and modalities. They wrap up this pack by learning about EKGs, including preparing the skin and placing the electrodes.
Instruction Pack IV: Patient Positioning, Mobility and Care
Students discover the methods to assist patients with positioning and mobility issues and devices. The daily needs of patients are examined with swallow precautions when feeding patients and understanding devices used to prevent bed sores. After discovering how to assist patients when dressing and bathing, students learn to provide catheterization, ostomy and urinary care, and measure urinary output. Students also learn to perform capillary puncture and venipuncture and collect blood properly. Finally, students examine the organizations and certifications available to the patient care technician before taking the final quiz for the course.
