Log inSign up
Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) · Lessons

Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) lessons

5 sections · 50 skills · work through the full outline skill by skill — read the long-form lesson or flip through the slide-style version.
Long-form lessonsSlide-style lessons

Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A)

Practice 50 skills across this outline.

Recommended next
Follow OSHA and NIOSH workplace safety guidelines
Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility · Workplace Safety and OSHA
Long-form lesson
Weighting distribution
18 categories
Infection Control · Precautions and PPE
9%
Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility · Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
8%
Infection Control · Chain of Infection and Prevention
8%
Phlebotomy · Collection Techniques
7%
EKG · Patient Preparation and Lead Placement
7%
Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility · Workplace Safety and OSHA
6%

Skills

The comprehensive taxonomy of certified patient care technician/assistant (cpct/a) — drill into a card to work its skills.

Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility · Workplace Safety and OSHA

3 core skills6% total weight
0/3 completed
3 skills to mastery
1
Follow OSHA and NIOSH workplace safety guidelinesRecommended
Long-form
2
Report and document workplace accidentsAvailable
Long-form
3
Follow emergency preparedness procedures (e.g., RACE, PASS)Available
Long-form

Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility · Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

3 core skills8% total weight
0/3 completed
3 skills to mastery
1
Adhere to Patients’ Bill of Rights and ethical standardsAvailable
Long-form
2
Practice within defined scope of patient care technician roleAvailable
Long-form
3
Identify and report abuse or neglectAvailable
Long-form

Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility · Patient Identification and Documentation

3 core skills6% total weight
0/3 completed
3 skills to mastery
1
Use two patient identifiers according to safety goalsAvailable
Long-form
2
Follow chain of command and operational standardsAvailable
Long-form
3
Maintain HIPAA compliance when handling PHIAvailable
Long-form

Patient Care · Mobility and Transfers

4 core skills4% total weight
0/4 completed
4 skills to mastery
1
Transport patients safelyAvailable
Long-form
2
Assist with ambulation using gait beltAvailable
Long-form
3
Transfer weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing patientsAvailable
Long-form
4
Apply immobility splintsAvailable
Long-form

Patient Care · Basic Care and ADLs

5 core skills5% total weight
0/5 completed
5 skills to mastery
1
Provide bathing, oral, and perineal careAvailable
Long-form
2
Assist with ADLs using adaptive devicesAvailable
Long-form
3
Operate and prepare patient bedsAvailable
Long-form
4
Apply proper body mechanicsAvailable
Long-form
5
Perform catheter and Foley careAvailable
Long-form

Patient Care · Monitoring and Reporting

5 core skills4% total weight
0/5 completed
5 skills to mastery
1
Obtain and document vital signsAvailable
Long-form
2
Monitor and report changes in conditionAvailable
Long-form
3
Measure intake and output accuratelyAvailable
Long-form
4
Recognize wound infection and skin breakdownAvailable
Long-form
5
Recognize edema and impaired circulationAvailable
Long-form

Patient Care · Critical Response and Delegation

3 core skills3% total weight
0/3 completed
3 skills to mastery
1
Prioritize patient care based on acuityAvailable
Long-form
2
Follow Five Rights of DelegationAvailable
Long-form
3
Perform healthcare provider CPR and first aidAvailable
Long-form

Patient Care · Equipment and Support Devices

3 core skills4% total weight
0/3 completed
3 skills to mastery
1
Assist with incentive spirometry and TCDB exercisesAvailable
Long-form
2
Apply sequential compression devices and antiembolism stockingsAvailable
Long-form
3
Set up oxygen and suction equipmentAvailable
Long-form

Infection Control · Precautions and PPE

2 core skills9% total weight
0/2 completed
2 skills to mastery
1
Select and use PPE appropriatelyAvailable
Long-form
2
Apply standard and transmission-based precautionsAvailable
Long-form

Infection Control · Equipment and Biohazards

2 core skills3% total weight
0/2 completed
2 skills to mastery
1
Disinfect equipment according to protocol and dry timesAvailable
Long-form
2
Dispose of biohazardous materials and follow exposure control plansAvailable
Long-form

Infection Control · Chain of Infection and Prevention

2 core skills8% total weight
0/2 completed
2 skills to mastery
1
Recognize and prevent healthcare-associated infectionsAvailable
Long-form
2
Identify chain of infection and methods of interruptionAvailable
Long-form

Phlebotomy · Collection Techniques

3 core skills7% total weight
0/3 completed
3 skills to mastery
1
Perform capillary puncture according to protocolAvailable
Long-form
2
Follow order of draw for capillary and venipunctureAvailable
Long-form
3
Perform venipuncture using appropriate equipmentAvailable
Long-form

Phlebotomy · Specimen Handling

3 core skills6% total weight
0/3 completed
3 skills to mastery
1
Avoid preanalytical errors such as hemolysis and QNSAvailable
Long-form
2
Label specimens at bedside correctlyAvailable
Long-form
3
Handle and transport specimens based on time, temperature, and lightAvailable
Long-form

Phlebotomy · Special and Advanced Procedures

2 core skills5% total weight
0/2 completed
2 skills to mastery
1
Perform blood culture collections using sterile techniqueAvailable
Long-form
2
Adhere to chain-of-custody guidelines when requiredAvailable
Long-form

Phlebotomy · General Skills

1 core skills2% total weight
0/1 completed
1 skill to mastery
1
Identify and respond to adverse reactions during collectionAvailable
Long-form

EKG · Acquisition Quality

2 core skills6% total weight
0/2 completed
2 skills to mastery
1
Identify and resolve artifacts from tracingAvailable
Long-form
2
Verify machine paper speed and sensitivity settingsAvailable
Long-form

EKG · Patient Preparation and Lead Placement

2 core skills7% total weight
0/2 completed
2 skills to mastery
1
Apply electrodes correctly for 3-, 5-, and 12-lead EKGAvailable
Long-form
2
Prepare patient including positioning and skin prepAvailable
Long-form

EKG · Rhythm Recognition and Emergency Response

2 core skills6% total weight
0/2 completed
2 skills to mastery
1
Recognize and report dysrhythmiasAvailable
Long-form
2
Respond appropriately to life-threatening arrhythmiasAvailable
Long-form