Advanced CNA (PCT)

An Advanced CNA is a nursing assistant who has additional training for the faster-paced hospital environment. While a Basic CNA course teaches the foundational skills needed to provide safe personal care, Advanced CNA training builds on those skills with a greater focus on acute care, recognizing changes in condition, hospital equipment, procedures, and patient flow.

Advanced CNAs may also be called Patient Care Technicians (PCTs), Patient Care Assistants (PCAs), or Nurse Technicians, depending on the employer.

Basic CNA training focuses on foundational nursing assistant care, including activities of daily living, mobility, hygiene, vital signs, safety, infection control, and caring for residents in settings such as long-term care.

Advanced CNA training builds on that foundation and prepares CNAs for the hospital environment, where patients may be more medically complex and their conditions can change quickly.

Advanced training includes topics such as:

• Recognizing and reporting changes in condition 
• Abnormal vital signs and respiratory distress 
• Admissions, transfers, discharge, and patient care flow 
• Preoperative and postoperative care 
• Oxygen and pulse monitoring 
• IV complications and what CNAs should report 
• Specimen collection 
• Ostomy care 
• Heat and cold applications 
• Drainage systems and hospital equipment 
• Care of specialized patient populations

All Health Tech Associates caregivers are carefully screened, background checked, and trained to provide high-quality care that meets our clients' unique needs.