 Lone Star College-Conroe Center is doing its part to offer Montgomery County the most qualified health care professionals through its one semester, non-credit Patient Care Technology (PCT) program, which includes certified nurse aide (CNA), phlebotomy, fundamentals of EKG, medical terminology and healthcare in professionalism courses. |
and the unstoppable growth of an aging population comes an increased demand for individuals interested in a career working with patients in a medical setting. And Lone Star College-Conroe Center is doing its part to offer Montgomery County the most qualified health care professionals, thanks in part to its Patient Care Technology (PCT) program.
Through this one semester, non-credit program, a PCT certificate can be acquired upon completion of the certified nurse aide (CNA), phlebotomy, fundamentals of EKG, medical terminology and healthcare in professionalism courses.
“Upon completion, this is the starting point to determine if the students want to pursue additional training for more advanced careers in healthcare,” said Erica Jordan, director of heath occupations at LSC-University Park. “Many students that have completed our program are now pursuing a career as a licensed vocational nurse or registered nurse.”
Going beyond the role of a nursing assistant, patient care technicians (PCT) are prepared for employment as a patient care assistant, phlebotomist, home health aide, electrocardiograph aide and more.
Lone Star College-Conroe Center student Briana Blaylock, who recently took the CNA state exam, is on her way to becoming an emergency room nurse.
“The program is an awesome way for people to see if they really like nursing,” said Blaylock, who found the hands-on work experience of the program’s professors’ to be most beneficial, allowing students a bird’s-eye view into what happens in each medical setting.
PCTs, who are often employed in hospitals, labs, doctor’s offices, long-term care and assisted living facilities, monitor patients, take vital signs, create daily reports of their status, conduct tests and obtain specimens for testing under the direction of nursing staff. They may assist in the care of outpatient or inpatients as well as assist in mobility of patients, set up patient treatment equipment, and many other duties.
“This program benefits the healthcare community in regards to the nursing shortage,” Jordan said. “These individuals are the eyes and ears in the medical setting, being the first person that a patient sees. PCTs are a very viable point of contact for patients.”
Grants, such as the Accelerate Texas Projects grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and loans are also available to interested students that meet the qualifications.
For more information on the patient care tech program, visit www.LoneStar.edu/Patient-Care-Certificate.
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community college systems in the nation. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball andLSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.