For patient care technicians across the health system, learning opportunities abound at every career stage.
When a patient arrives for surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH), one of the first people they may meet is Darnell Mullins. As a patient care technician (PCT) in Perianesthesia, he greets each patient in their room, answers any questions they may have about their procedure, and transports them from the pre-operative unit to the operating room. He will also crack some jokes to put a patient at ease.
“I break the ice. Going into any surgery could feel scary at first, so I try to make the patient laugh and take their mind off of it,” he said. “The patient isn’t as tense anymore when it’s time to meet their nurses and physicians who will perform their surgery.”
Think of a PCT like Mullins as the opening act of a concert. Just as an opening act livens up an audience and gets them ready for the rest of the night’s performances, a PCT will provide a warm welcome and prep patients for their appointments and procedures. Ultimately, they are some of the first health care professionals who set the expectations for a patient’s visit.
A PCT holds certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification in addition to PCT-specific certifications that allow them to take on additional responsibilities such as medical testing procedures. They assist patients with everyday needs, including monitoring vital signs, drawing blood and samples for testing, and assisting patients with feeding and hygiene.
Upon starting their new roles at a hospital, PCTs are typically oriented to their units by an experienced PCT who walks them through the workflows and processes of the hospital. But the training doesn’t end after orientation.
Whether PCTs are on their first day of the job or seasoned pros with decades of experience, Penn Medicine offers opportunities to continue learning at every stage in their career.
Standardizing Clinical Skills and Compassionate Care
All health care professionals must complete annual competency-based training to stay up-to-date on their clinical knowledge. But in recent years, PCTs have had more special training opportunities curated to their unique roles in patient care.
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) holds an annual Nursing Education Enhancement Day (NEED) Skills Fair, comprised of interactive stations that showcase various clinical skills. Staff can learn how to properly use walkers and other equipment to assist patients with mobility, or participate in an “I Spy” game to point out safety risks in a mock patient room.
In the past, both nurses and ancillary staff, including PCTs, would attend the Skills Fair together, but some skills did not apply to both groups. To address this challenge, PPMC launched its first NEED Skills Fair solely for PCTs, CNAs, and ED technicians in March 2023.
According to Brian Hall, MBA, BSN, RN, clinical nurse educator at PPMC and one of the coordinators for the Skills Fair, “This is an opportunity to apply those skills in hands-on training, show your strengths, and how we can work together to further them. It’s to standardize care and get all staff on the same page.”
Darnell Mullins teaching an orientee how to take vitals at PAH
Maria Anderson, a PCT in PPMC’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), learns something new every year at the NEED Skills Fair, she said. Anderson enjoys how each station is set up like a game. She described how she correctly identified how a Foley catheter bag was touching the ground in the mock patient room when it should have been securely attached to the side of a patient bed.
She passes down these techniques to new PCTs who shadow her when they arrive at the ICU. Anderson also teaches new hires communication skills and the importance of expressing empathy.
“Patients can read your body language and can tell if you’re stressed or frustrated. I tell new PCTs to always go in calm and friendly to make sure their patient is comfortable,” said Anderson. “You don’t know what someone’s going through. I try to show patients and their family members that I’m there for them, that I’m here to help.”
The Teacher Must First Be a Student
When they are in a position to teach others who are newer in their profession, a PCT must understand that everyone learns and acquires knowledge differently. What may work for one person, may not work for another, said Tyrone Foster, a PCT in PAH’s Medical/Surgical Unit with 10 years of experience. Foster appreciated this insight gained from the PCT Preceptor Course at PAH, geared toward helping experienced PCTs become more effective teachers. Mullins, the Perianesthesia PCT has also completed the course. Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital (CCH) has a similar offering, the Ancillary Preceptor Workshop. Both courses address employee learning styles and teaching principles.
The PAH course is led by clinical nurse education specialists Kristen Hallman, MSN, RNC-OB, and Alison Schlegel, MSN, RN, CCCTM, MEDSURG-BC. It is available to any PCT interested in developing their training skills.
Participants at PAH’s course first identify their own learning style. They then work together as a group to discuss how they would teach others how to complete tasks based on differing styles, such as how to use an EKG machine as an auditory, visual, or kinesthetic (a hands-on, tactile approach) learner.
As Lead PCT, Tyrone Foster serves as a guide on his unit to ensure smooth workflows.
“The moments where I failed have been the most impactful to my precepting skills,” said Patricia Ward, MSN, RN, RNC-OB, NPD-BC, CFRS, nursing professional development specialist and a coordinator of the CCH workshop, emphasizing the importance of adapting to another person’s learning style. She remembers training one employee and orienting her to all the tasks she would be managing on her floor, but then realized the new employee had not grasped most of what was shared. “It was eye-opening as a preceptor. We have to recognize that the way we learn may not work for everyone.”
In addition to learning styles, the PAH course also highlights the importance of time management and prioritization of tasks as a preceptor, as their units can be fast-paced environments.
“You’re moving quickly to take care of your patients while also teaching orientees. I take time out throughout the day to make sure [the orientees] are grasping everything,” said Mullins. “I also stress that there are other tasks beyond patient care, such as restocking materials on the floor and checking in on other PCTs who may need help. We’re all a team here.”
Shaping the Future of PCTs
In its various forms, PCT training across the health system empowers staff to gain new skills and advance their careers, which ultimately elevates patient care.
Mullins looks forward to his ongoing work guiding the next generation of PCTs at PAH. He enjoys fine-tuning their clinical skills and serving as an example for how to treat patients and colleagues alike. “It’s fun helping others,” he said. “I hope they carry on what I taught them.”
Based on her experience in the ICU, Anderson is now inspired to take another step in her career and enroll in nursing school – a common career trajectory for PCTs or CNAs interested in pursuing additional education and training.
Foster has been named a Lead PCT, a new role introduced as part of a pilot program in PAH’s Medical/Surgical unit. He serves as a bridge between PCTs and nurses, ensuring that workflows are smooth and stepping in to assist with care wherever and whenever needed. Foster also motivates his colleagues to continue developing their careers, whether by enrolling in extra certification programs to expand their skillsets, or attending the PCT Preceptor Course to help train others.
“I have a motto when training: Learn the system, learn the people, and let your gift work for you,” he said. In addition to all of his own clinical skills to provide care, Foster enjoys sharing his “gift” of singing with others, in which he has been able to connect with patients.
“Like how every employee has a different learning style, every patient is different. We have to find ways to connect with each one, whether that’s starting a conversation about what they like, or singing a little song to get them to open up,” he said. “We’re here to make a difference.”