Care + Career

We are passionate about keeping our materials and certifications relevant and meaningful to help empower allied health professionals reach their career goals. Before we made the recent updates to NHA's Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam, we spoke to employers and current patient care technicians, and would like to share some of the information and insights we discovered. Knowledge is power, and we hope this information will help you — whether you're currently working in healthcare or aspire to one day!

 

If you're wanting to start a healthcare career, it can be a challenge to figure out which path is right for you. If you've considered becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA), patient care technician (CPCT/A) or a medical assistant (CCMA), a common misconception is that they are all the same thing.

They are not.

In fact, they are quite different. Everything from the training to the job tasks varies. In this post, we'll break down those differences to help you decide which choice is right for you.

The holidays are here and it's time to show that special healthcare professional in your life how much you appreciate them. But what do you give to someone who gives so much to others every day on the job? We've compiled a list of a few of our favorite ideas we're sure any healthcare provider on your list would love.

Certification is more than a piece of paper. It's the beginning of a better future — one where you feel empowered to make a difference, not only in your life, but also in the lives of others.

Authored by Denise Propes, CPhT, Pharmacy Technician Coordinator at University of Michigan Medical Center and NHA Pharmacy Technician Advisory Board Member

Based on the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, growth in the pharmacy technician field is expected to be above the national average for all careers over the next 10 years. There are a couple of well-known causes for this growth:

Sickness doesn't take a holiday ... which means many healthcare professionals can't take one, either.

How does an arrangement where you have the opportunity to get paid while also learning career-advancing skills sound to you? Too good to be true? Well it’s not.

Does your team look to you for answers? Do patients seek and trust your expertise? Have you ever thought of yourself as an information pioneer, trailblazer or market disruptor? If you answered yes, chances are you could be seen as a thought leader on your team or within your organization.

Working on Halloween? Transform your scrubs into a fun Halloween costume! We scavenged the web and found our favorite costume trends you can make using your scrubs.

When you think of customer service, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

A long line of customers waiting to return retail items? A complaint to a manager of a restaurant for a long wait? 

How about healthcare?

If healthcare doesn't quickly come to mind when you think of customer service, it will after you read our newest addition to the Continuing Education (CE) Content Library: "Why Customer Service Matters in Health Care".