Rappahannock Community College (RCC) and Germanna Community College (GCC) are working together to create a refined program combining the Nurse Aide and Medical Assisting curriculum into one Patient Care Technician (PCT) program. The 10-week course includes online lectures and in-person labs and clinicals through RCC and GCC to train providers in an advanced level of patient care.
The program will prepare students to perform tasks such as foley catheter insertion and care, phlebotomy, EKGs, vital signs, nutritional mechanical feeding, history taking, assist patients with activities of daily living, and more. The PCT program will lead to two certifications, the Certified Nurse Aide license and Certified Medical Assistant. These credentials meet the hiring requirements of the region’s hospitals and allow the PCT to work in a wide variety of clinical and healthcare settings.
Tuition and fees, books, scrubs, supplies, background check, credentials and testing fees are all covered by a grant from GO Virginia and matching funds from RCC and GCC. Sessions begin in February, April, and September.
“Our region, like others around the country, is experiencing a shortage of nurses. This program will produce about 120 PCTs this year and will help fill vacancies at area hospitals,” said Ellen Koehler, Interim Dean of Health Sciences at RCC.
For more information on this program, contact RCC at (804)333-6730 or email advisor@rappahannock.edu.