Patient Care Technician (PCT) Resume Sample & Writing Guide for 2024
It might be advertised as a patient care technician job, but it’s much more than that. To you, it’s a career with a calling and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.
Sometimes called medical assistant or nursing assistant, patient care technicians are involved in the direct care of patients daily living requirements.
Caring for patients at their most vulnerable in a way that empowers them calls for specific skills, including compassion and patience. But how do you express these qualities in your patient care technician resume?
This article tells you how to perfectly convey your excellent interpersonal skills and professional experience for each job application. We share vital info, expert hints, and resume tips on what hiring managers want. There’s also a complete PCT resume sample from our resume builder, which is updated regularly to match current hiring trends.
Let's see how to do it!
Patient care technician resume writing guide: Where to start?
While jobs may appear similar, each has significant differences since no two environments are alike. Patient care technicians work wherever medical professionals and patients need assistance. They can work in hospitals, nursing homes, home healthcare services, residential care facilities, and government agencies.
Not every job seeker understands what happens behind the job hunting scenes or that there are requirements for submitted resumes. Part of this is knowing your career goals and understanding what a prospective employer needs. Successful hiring is based on the employer and employee meeting each other's job expectations and needs.
Naturally, this involves some upfront evaluation, such as recognizing what matters to you in a job. This type of self-knowledge happens almost unconsciously as we draw on our existing skills and experience to evaluate our current situation.
Before starting your job hunt, identify your talents, strengths, weaknesses, and what you want from a future employer. This sets parameters to work in and allows you to plan each job application.
Determine what you like and don’t like about your job by reviewing your career history from when you were a beginner to today. What aspects do you enjoy, what do you put off until later, and what do you avoid? Usually, things we put off are areas we find tedious or doubt our abilities. In contrast, we tend to avoid what we don’t like doing. With this in mind, you can choose job opportunities that meet your career goals and where you’ll be happiest.
Remembering each job's details becomes challenging, though, depending on your years of work experience. Get around this by creating a master resume for patient care technician upfront. That way, when you see a fantastic job opportunity, you can apply in minutes by referring to your master resume.
And there, we’ve identified your starting point.
An all-inclusive master resume that’s readily accessible is essential to meet today’s fast-paced hiring processes, which brings us to another critical issue. Most job applicants don’t know modern hiring methods or that AI in HR tech plays a significant role initially.
Here’s how it works –
Hiring managers compile a list of crucial skills required for an employee to succeed in doing the job well. These skills are tagged as keywords and written into the job description given to recruiters. As the job post gets loaded to job boards and websites, keywords are flagged and rated in order of importance.
Applicant tracking systems, or ATS, are used to upload job posts to various media. All inbound applications are re-routed to the ATS and scanned immediately by parsing software for keyword content. Resumes with a high keyword ratio get moved to the recruiter’s inbox. Those with a low keyword ratio don’t make it through to recruiters' folders, making it unlikely they’ll be read.
Illustrations of typical patient care assistant resume keywords include:
- Care for patients
- Medical equipment
- Patient safety checks
- Personal Care
- Relationships with patients
- Specimen collections
Importantly, if your resume reaches a recruiter, don’t expect it to be reviewed for more than a few seconds. Recruiters know what they’re looking for; your resume moves to the interview list if they find it. If not, it’s removed from the screening process.
That’s the reality of modern recruitment.
While it seems harsh, it works very well, considering the number of applications each job post receives. Your task is to understand the role of AI in ATS and knowing how to get around it.
How you do it is straightforward. Submit a short, sharp, targeted, job-specific, and keyword-focused patient care tech resume with only relevant experience and skills. Not only will this get you past ATS, but it will also impress hiring managers. Seeing a candidate say you can do the job and do it well meets a need and compels a reaction. The perfect response is a callback and a spot on the interview shortlist.
Submitting lengthy resumes full of irrelevant information is a common mistake. Instead of impressing, the resume gets overlooked as no one has time to wade through it in the hope there’s something valuable.
So, back to the starting point. A master PCT Resume to reference and ensure your job-specific resume is always on point.
Expert hint
Focus on what extensive experience, skills, and value you bring. That’s the only thing recruiters and hiring managers want to know when they first read your resume. Only if they think you can do the job will they continue reading.
Master patient care technician resume
A master resume details all your jobs, including responsibilities, education, courses, notable achievements, technical skills, and soft skills. Include study dates, education institution names, qualifications, certifications, employer names, tenure dates, and job titles with job descriptions. List any accomplishments or awards under the relevant study or work section, too.
Your master resume provides an expanded view of your career and is essential for successful job applications. By comparing job post requirements to your master resume, you ensure nothing relevant is omitted from your job-specific resume.
There’s no specific format for a master resume since it’s for your use only. However, a reverse-chronological order starting with the most recent and continuing in descending order makes referencing and finding details easier.
Take time to compile your master resume; it must be faultless and detailed. Ultimately, time spent compiling it will be saved with each application, and you’re assured nothing important is left out.
Save your master and all supporting documents to an easily accessible folder like Google Docs. Aside from job applications, use it to update your LinkedIn profile and other business socials. If your resume makes the interview list, recruiters and hiring managers go straight to your online presence, so keep it updated.
Never apply for a job with your master resume, even if you’re in a rush. Only use it as the foundation for each job-specific resume.
Job-specific resumes for patient care technicians
Approach every job application as a clean slate and avoid generic applications.
Establish whether you’re a good fit for the job and if it will move you closer to your career goals. Visit prospective employers’ websites and search online publications for more insight. Likewise, social media can give you an understanding of their patient care services, health care team, and medical environment.
If it appeals to you, compare the job posting to your master resume and extract matching skills and experience. Don’t forget transferrable skills, also known as portable skills. As the name implies, these soft skills are transferred from one job role to another. Typical examples include exceptional customer service skills and excellent communication skills.
Once you’re sure you meet most of the critical requirements, it's time to write a targeted, job-specific patient care technician resume. While taking relevant skills and experience from your master, remember to edit the words to echo the keywords in the job ad. That’s to ensure parsing software picks up the keywords and your resume moves through to the interview process. Additionally, list your professional experience in the same order as the job description; hiring managers often list job duties in the order of importance. In that way, you instantly cast light on your value and potential.
Crucially, your job-specific resume for patient care technician jobs must only include the requirements detailed in the post. Anything else is irrelevant information that could hamper your application. A concise job-specific resume hooks readers in and gets you shortlisted. You can provide additional details once you’re engaging with the hiring team.
Avoid self-destructive practices like keyword stuffing, dishonesty, or exaggeration on your resume. Things like this can cost you opportunities.
Format for a patient care tech resume
Reverse-chronological order is the most popular format and works best for PCT resumes. But other resume formats might work better, depending on your circumstances.
Irrespective of the format, all job-specific resumes have required and optional sections. Your resume must include the following:
- Resume objective
- Personal details
- Work experience
- Education/certifications
- Skills
Optional sections depend on the job requirements, or you can include them if they add value. They include:
You’ve possibly seen resumes with and without profile photos and are wondering what you should do. Including a professional resume image depends on the country where the potential employer is based. English-speaking countries in the West, including the UK and the USA, mostly legislate against resume photos to prevent hiring bias. In some of these countries, resumes with a picture are deleted without being read to promote hiring transparency. The lines are vaguer across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, where some countries expect a resume image and others don’t. A quick online check on labor legislation in the specific region will guide you.
Action verbs
A positive attitude, patience, empathy, attention to detail, and active listening are essential for PCTs. Since your resume precedes you, the language and tone of your resume express your personality and attitude.
Including compelling action verbs is an excellent way of engaging readers and demonstrating your qualities. Skillfully weaving action verbs into your resume objective, work experience, and cover letter can persuade readers to take action. A quick response gets you into the interview process ahead of other candidates and improves your chances of getting hired.
Patient care action verbs include:
- Administering
- Collaborating
- Evaluating
- Identifying
- Overseeing
- Resolving
Finishing touches
First impressions count as much for your resume as they do for you in person. As there’s an acceptable interview dress code, certain things are also expected from resumes.
Your resume background must be white with a black business-style font. Use bullet points where necessary and have white space between sections. You want an ATS-friendly resume that’s reader-friendly, scannable, and saved in PDF format. Using a resume builder sorts these issues, allowing you to focus on quality content, making it the best option.
Draw readers in with a dash of tasteful color on your resume, but only as borders and in resume headlines. Avoid color kaleidoscopes by selecting one color that enhances your resume and possibly reflects your personality or role.
Finally, limit your job-specific resume to one and no more than two pages. The critical job requirements must excite readers and get you on the interview list. Wordy, irrelevant details are a waste of time, and will likely see your resume deleted.
Expert hint
Include only relevant skills, work experience, and qualifications in your resume. What’s not in the post is irrelevant. Show you’ve got more to give by adding “detailed resume available on request” at the end of your resume.
Patient care technician resume sample
These two patient care technician resume samples show the difference between an experienced PCT versus the patient care tech description for a patient care technician resume no experience. In the first PCT resume sample, Aja focuses on her skills and experience. Conversely, in the second of these PCT resume examples, Ravi uses his education and training to promote his application. Both applicants have opted for blue-trimmed resumes, with Aja opting for our Otago resume template and Ravi preferring the Oxford template.
What to include in a resume for patient care technician? Writing tips and examples
The job posting dictates what information to have in all sections of your PCT resume. A strong resume includes all your skills and experience that match the job requirements and possibly other details that can enhance your application. Don’t add anything just for the sake of it, though; if it doesn’t add value, it doesn’t belong.
Look for mentions in the vacancy like “added advantage” or “nice to have.” While not essential, these experiences or skills will boost your application. For example, multilingualism might not be a prerequisite, but it enhances your application if you serve patients in a diverse community.
Effective resume writing is a delicate balance. Too much attention makes reading tedious, while too little can give the impression you lack experience. Keep assessing if including optional enhancements, like accomplishments, add or take away from your application.
How to write a personal profile on a patient care technician resume
Your resume for patient care technician applications must have a brief opener to give readers an idea of what you bring. This is known as a personal profile, resume summary, or resume objective, and it’s the first thing anyone sees.
A resume objective comprises around 80 to 100 words, giving insight into your relevant qualifications, certifications, work experience, skills, and notable achievements. Considering it’s placed at the top of your resume, it’s your only chance to impress. So, an objective makes or breaks your application.
Usually, it’s best to write your resume objective once you’ve completed your job-specific resume. That way, you ensure it’s relevant to the role and aligns with your resume. Include specifics, statistics, and numbers where possible for greater word count and impact. Don’t forget vital keywords, and write in a confident and persuasive tone. Your resume summary must be interesting enough to generate curiosity, so recruiters keep reading.
Significantly, a resume objective isn’t a cover or motivation letter. Every resume wants an objective statement, but not every job application needs a cover letter.
Patient care tech resume objectives are part of targeted, job-specific resumes. It briefly summarizes your relevant experience, skills, and qualifications related to the job. Conversely, a care technician cover letter is separate and more detailed, providing background details, intentions, and ambitions. Write it in 300 to 400 words, broken into three to six paragraphs on a single page. Usually, a cover letter is addressed to someone specific by name, much like a business letter. Cover letters are also targeted to individual job applications. Avoid generic cover letters sent with every application. They’re pointless and can damage your chances of getting hired.
A cover letter motivates a job application, articulating why you’re the best candidate to prospective employers. They aim to provide information backed up on the resume for deeper insight into your application.
ATS can be confused by the length of cover letters, reducing your keyword ratio. Therefore, include keywords from the post in your cover letter, too.
Only include a cover letter if:
- It’s a specification of the job posting.
- You’re applying directly to a company without replying to a job ad.
Care technician resume sample personal profiles
Patient care technician resume nursing student objective statement example
Dedicated, caring nursing core nursing assistant handling core nursing assistant responsibilities while studying towards qualifying as a professional nurse. Basic patient care activities in high-quality patient care facility called XYZ Medical Center. Assisted patients in clinical setting per each care plan. Basic knowledge of patient assessment while helping healthcare professionals. Preparation of patients for patient examinations and updating medical records. Sharing details with registered nurse if a patient requests assistance. Keeping accurate records of laboratory specimens. Assisting medical center staff with clerical duties. Keen to secure a patient care technician position while I work towards my licensed nurse qualification.
PCT resume with no experience objective sample
Aspiring nursing core nursing assistant with no previous experience. High school graduate with a high school diploma. Currently registered for a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) qualification. St John Ambulance volunteer for 5+ years, offering first aid services at public events. Supporting emergency medical technician in the field and creating medical records for patient examinations and diagnostic procedures. Ensuring patient safety by maintaining a safe environment. First Aid Level 3 certified, including CPR. Eager to share my passion for patient care and nursing to positively contribute to the community.
Patient care associate resume summary statement example
Devoted, empathetic patient care associate with 5+ years of expereince and a diploma in patient care. Working alongside registered nurse in the acute care nursing section of ABC Healthcare Facility. Providing assistance in planning patient care, maintaining patient care equipment, and building trusting relationships with patients. Delivering support when licensed nurse or health care team members request assistance with patient procedures, such as patient examinations, preparation of patients for vascular access cannulation, collecting blood samples, and specimen collections. Quality care and considerate communication with patients while helping with daily living needs, including personal hygiene, oral hygiene, and taking meals.
Skills to list on a patient care technician resume
PCT resume skills are essential to get hired. The skills section is the first place ATS, recruiters, and hiring managers scan through.
In a job-specific resume, you want only the patient care skills for resume listed in the job post, irrespective of how many additional skills you might have. Healthcare industry skills include soft and technical skills in the job description.
Soft skills are inherent or developed personality traits gained from family or social interactions. They’re not taught through traditional learning, but we can acquire them through career coaching. Active listening is a perfect example. We’re not all born great listeners, but we can learn listening skills from our social surroundings. Even in later life, if we choose to develop active listening skills, we can. It’s a necessary skill in customer service as it helps you recognize consumer pain points.
On the contrary, we learn technical skills through education, training, and hands-on experience. Initial foundational training continues developing through practice and continuous use. Take advanced clinical skills, for instance; initially, it can be a little daunting. With regular practice, however, your skills improve, and soon you’re an expert.
The more PCT experience you gain, the more you accumulate. While all skills must be in your master resume, they don’t all belong in your patient care technician skills resume section. A targeted, job-specific resume only lists skills stated in the advert.
List skills individually, written exactly as they appear in the posting. Give a rating next to each skill from beginner to expert.
Typical PCA skills for resume include:
- Patient procedures
- Medical records
- Dialysis patient care
- Care testing
- Plan of care
- Patient care equipment
Expert hint
Include a brief list of your PCT skills for resume and a proficiency rating per skill. Mirror the job post’s wording exactly, and don’t elaborate. Resume skills are always tagged as keywords for parsing software.
How to write work experience on a patient care technician resume
The patient care technician job description for resume section is second in importance only to the skills section. It becomes even more critical during the interview stage. Hiring teams base their interview questions on info from this section.
Here’s where you showcase your in-depth knowledge of providing exceptional care to patients. In this section, you convince employers you’re the perfect candidate by expanding on your relevant experience.
In hiring, it’s not necessarily the most experienced or cost-effective applicant who gets the job; it’s the first candidate most likely to succeed in the role. Employees who excel enjoy their jobs and stay. Staff retention equates directly to excellent customer service and improved direct patient care.
Make your PCT job description for resume convincing enough to get a callback and an interview. Keep your resume authentic so you’re a perfect fit when you meet the hiring team. Write honestly and confidently, using strong action verbs and listing your work experience in the same order as the job description.
Use a business font, bullet points, clear headings, and white space to make this section reader-friendly. Fit each core responsibility into a single bullet point, including exact keywords. Various people will likely view your resume when you apply to large establishments. Ensure it’s easy to follow, comment on, and share.
Patient care experience examples
Dialysis patient care technician work experience example
- Support and care for patients throughout dialysis treatment.
- Checking blood glucose levels and preparation of patients for dialysis.
- Point of care testing, including drawing blood samples and collecting lab specimens.
- Providing medical assistance during in and outpatient dialysis patient care.
- Acute care nursing support to healthcare professionals if necessary.
- Monitoring patients’ response to dialysis therapy and reporting findings to nurse supervisor.
Cardiopulmonary patient care tech job description for resume
- Support and basic patient care activities throughout various cardiopulmonary therapies.
- Core nursing assistant responsibilities and full accountability for actions.
- Checking treatment plans and keeping accurate records of medical procedures.
- Ensuring a comfortable environment for patients and communication with patients.
- Labeling laboratory specimens, blood cultures, and other specimen collections.
- Recording blood pressures and vascular access cannulation in emergency situations.
Patient care technician responsibilities for resume
- Providing quality care and helping patients with daily living activities.
- Assisting medical staff and nursing staff with patient examinations, diagnostic procedures, patient procedures, or universal unit activities as required.
- Updating medical records and patient records, completing clerical duties, and maintaining patient care equipment and other medical equipment.
- Checking patients’ plan of care and ensuring a safe environment to guarantee patient safety.
- Taking action when a patient requests assistance with issues like personal care, oral hygiene, personal hygiene, catheter care, wound care, etc.
- Reporting unusual findings to charge nurse, emergency medical technician, or unit director, depending on who is immediately available.
Expert hint
Fit each core responsibility into a single bullet point, including exact keywords. Not only does this make your job-specific resume reader-friendly, but it’s also ATS-friendly.
How to list education on a resume for patient care technician
PCTs' qualifications vary from country to country and may even differ between states. In almost all instances, though, PCTs must pass a certification examination. Some clinics and care institutions allow high school graduates to work as aides or assistants to nursing staff while studying for an accredited certification.
Patient care courses range from online to in-class diploma courses of up to one year. Many universities also offer associate’s degrees in preparation for a Certified Nursing Assistant credential. Research accredited training institutions in your area to gain a strong patient care technician qualification with clinical experience.
When listing education, training courses, and certifications on your PCT resume, create a separate section for each. An associate’s degree goes under the education section. It includes the full name of the university, dates attended, and qualification name.
With courses, list only the most recent. Add the training institution, dates, and course title. Certifications with professional healthcare industry bodies include the name and code, year achieved and validity details.
Key takeaways on writing a patient care technician resume
So there you have it!
Follow this resume writing guide and expert hints to get your patient care technician resume on the interview shortlist.
Let’s revisit the most essential points:
- Create a detailed master resume for patient care technician upfront.
- Read job posts thoroughly before applying.
- Research the organization to ensure it’s a good fit for you.
- Match the job requirements to your master resume.
- Review patient care technician resume samples for inspiration.
- Compile a job-specific resume targeting the role.
- Keep your resume concise and no more than two pages.
- A professional PCT resume template works best.
- Proofread and re-check your resume before submission.
- Save your resume in PDF format to Google Docs.
- For absolute professionalism, use a resume builder.
- If in doubt, opt for a professional resume writing service.
Next steps?
Find your best patient care tech resume
In the early screening stage of hiring, first impressions are crucial. The recruitment process is fast-paced, and resumes get scanned for suitability in seconds.
Presentation plays a massive role in making an excellent first impression. Even if parsers move your resume on, recruiters won’t spend much time on an untidy, difficult-to-read resume.
Select a modern, user-friendly, and ATS-friendly template from our vast CVMaker library of resume templates. Each template comes with color options, and you can change templates and colors with a single click while making your resume or on completion.
One of job seekers' most common errors is designing DIY resume templates. It’s a bad idea unless you know exactly what ATS and recruiters expect. Rather, deliver an impressive PCT resume with perfect layout, style, and content with CVMaker's resume builder.
Resume writing service
Don’t miss out on patient care opportunities because you doubt your resume writing skills. Use a resume expert. Our amazingly talented professional resume writers are a click away. They’re at the top of their game regarding optimizing keywords and following current hiring trends. A well-written resume builder resume is more likely to land in front of the hiring manager. We want you to succeed and can’t wait to start writing your winning resume.
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FAQs
Are patient care technicians and CNAs the same?
While similar, and a certified nursing assistant (CNA) qualification can suffice for a PCA, job duties differ. In addition to core nursing assistant responsibilities, patient care technicians have more advanced tasks and crucial skill, such as dialysis patient care, point-of-care testing, and cardiopulmonary therapies.
Can patient care technicians work in hospitals?
PCTs can work in various clinical settings, including hospitals, ambulatory healthcare services, government health services, home healthcare services, nursing homes, and residential care facilities. All PCTs begin offering generalist services, but they can choose to specialize in clinical fields, such as dialysis patient care, cardiopulmonary therapies, and phlebotomists.
Is being a patient care technician hard?
Patient care technicians have many job duties and high responsibility towards patients. Since patient care is a 24/7/365 commitment, PCTs must be willing to work shifts and weekends. Customer service orientation plays a vital role since building good relationships with patients is essential. That said, if you’re inclined to caring professions, you’ll find it an enriching career.
What does a patient care technician do?
Patient care technicians assist patients with their daily living needs and provide medical assistance to healthcare professionals. They usually report to a professional nurse or unit director. Their job duties encompass universal unit activities, updating patient and medical records, patient assessment, reporting unusual findings, and building trusting relationships with patients.