In this section of free PCT Exam Study Guide , we covers Professional Responsibilities which is mention in domain 2 and represent 19% of PCT exam content. Professional Responsibilities includes three essential tasks that every Patient Care Technician must mastered to understand and follow healthcare regulations and standards, maintain patient privacy, and work only within their training and always putting patient well-being first , while upholding honesty, respect, and professional integrity in every action.
- Legal and Ethical Compliance
- Communication Skills
- Professional Practice
These are the main topics of Professional Responsibilities with detail explanation are given below:
2-A: Legal and Ethical Compliance
Incident Reporting and Safety
Adhere to incident regulations and report accidents, injuries or any mistake as soon as possible to your supervisor. This would be needle stick injuries, patient falls, medication errors, or equipment failures.
Incidentally, in case you end up accidentally with a used needle when disposing of it clean the area with immediate effect, inform your charge nurse and take the necessary exposure procedure advised by your facility.
You are required to document within 24 hours and possibly you may be required to take blood tests to ascertain whether you have infection or not.
Patient Privacy Protection (HIPAA)
Always keep patient health information confidential, by maintaining medical records, conversations and personal information. Do not talk about patient information in places where people can hear like elevators, cafeterias, and hallways.
As an illustration, when a colleague inquires about a diagnosis of a patient in the break room, to be polite, imply that we discuss it at the nurse station. Share information only with the members of the healthcare team who require it in order to provide care to patients.
Scope of Practice
Work only within your training and state-approved duties as a PCT. This implies that you must subscribe to your job description and should never do duties that are the preserve of nurses or doctors.
You can, e.g., take vital signs and assist with personal care, but not administer medications by injection and/or make medical diagnoses. In case any patient inquires about their test results, clarify to them that their doctor or nurse will explain that to them.
Patient Rights and Consent
Always uphold the Bill of Rights that entitles the patient to refuse care, ask questions, and be treated respectfully. Give them permission before you begin any procedure, by explaining what you are going to do.
As an example, prior to obtaining a blood pressure reading, state that you need to check the blood pressure. May I put this cuff on your arm?” In case of no, they should be allowed to make the decision and inform the nurse.
2-B: Communication Skills
Therapeutic Communication Techniques
Avoid unhelpful communication: be a good listener, open-ended questions, and empathy. This earns confidence and makes patients at ease.
As an example, rather than asking: Are you okay? attempt “So how does that feel? or “Tell me about your pain.” Eye contact, nod to indicate that you are paying attention, and silence when patients are talking.
Fitting Communication to Varied demands.
Vary your communication approach according to the age, culture, language and mental status of a patient.
- In the case of pediatric patients, use plain-language, talk with low tones, and possibly illustrate procedures with pictures or toys.
- In the case of elderly patients who are hearing impaired, speak directly to them and face them.
When language is an issue, get hospital interpreters or translation services instead of family to provide medical information.
Professional Medical Communication
Reporting to doctors or nurses, speak clearly and in factual language using the appropriate medical terms. Use SBAR format (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) when possible.
Or, e.g.,: Mrs. Johnson in room 302 (situation) has diabetes and is post-op day 1 (background). She has 250 sugar in the blood, and she complains about nausea (assessment). Should I alert the doctor and test ketones? (recommendation).
2-C: Professional Practice
Chain of Command and Team Work
When you need help or have any concerns follow your organizational structure at the facility. Begin with your immediate supervisor or the charge nurse and then go upwards as required.
As an example, in case you have a safety issue concerning equipment, inform your charge nurse first. Unless the problem is remedied, then discuss with the unit manager. Do not jump levels unless there are some emergency cases that need urgent assistance.
Task Prioritization and Time Management
Prioritize your tasks with urgent and safety need first, then routine care activities. Apply ABC priority system: Airway, Breathing, Circulation problems are priority.
As an illustration, when one of the patients has to be assisted to the bathroom and another is experiencing chest pains, assist the patient with the chest pain first and request a fellow worker to assist the patient who has to be taken to the bathroom. Make a written task list and cross out the ones that have been done.
Documentation and Record Keeping
Chart all care accurately and on time in the electronic health record (EHR). Record the actions, time and manner of action and the reaction of the patient. Use objective language and avoid opinions.
See, e.g., write “Patient ambulated 50 feet in hallway using walker, no shortness of breath observed,” instead of writing “Patient well with regard to walking. Always make sure you sign your notes with your name and credentials.
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