Vocabulary
Role of the PCT
Legal and Ethical Issues
Communication and Diversity
Human Needs and Development
100

A healthcare setting where patients are admitted and stay overnight; example: a hospital.

Inpatient Facility

100

The tasks and procedures a healthcare worker is legally permitted to perform based on their training and certification.

Scope of Practice

100

Moral principles that guide a person's behavior and decision-making in professional situations.

Ethics

100

The exchange of information between a sender and receiver, involving encoding, transmitting, and decoding a message.

Communication Process

100

Basic biological needs required for survival, such as food, water, shelter, sleep, and air.

Physiological needs

200

A healthcare setting where patients receive care and return home the same day; example: a clinic or doctor's office.

Outpatient Facility

200

A healthcare worker who assists with patient care tasks in settings such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.

Patient Care Technician (PCT)

200

Rules established and enforced by governing authorities that define legal rights and obligations.

Laws

200

The transmission of messages without words, through body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and gestures.

Nonverbal Communication

200

Emotional and social needs, such as belonging, love, self-esteem, and a sense of purpose.

Psychological needs

300

A credential that validates a standardized level of competency, typically through a national exam.

Professional Certification

300

Licensed providers such as physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners.

Who can diagnose diseases and prescribe treatment?

300

A branch of law that deals with offenses against society as a whole, punishable by the government.

Criminal Law

300

The shared beliefs, values, customs, and practices of a group of people that influence their behaviors and worldview.

Culture

300

Phases of human growth and development from infancy through late adulthood, each with distinct physical and psychosocial characteristics.

Developmental stages

400

Ongoing learning activities that keep healthcare workers current in their field; different from formal certification.

Continuing Education

400

An approach to care that respects and responds to the individual preferences, needs, and values of each patient.

Person-Centered Care

400

A branch of law that deals with disputes between individuals or organizations, typically involving compensation.

Civil Law

400

Communication techniques used to support and understand patients, such as open-ended questions, active listening, and validation.

Therapeutic Communication

400

The ability to adapt to change, maintain healthy relationships, and take responsibility for one's own actions and feelings.

Emotional maturity

500

A legal document in which a person outlines their wishes for medical treatment if they become unable to communicate

 

Advance Directive

500

 Refuse the task and report the request to a supervisor.

What should a PCT do if asked to do something outside their scope of practice?

500

Taking advantage of a patient for personal gain; example: persuading a patient to change their will in a caregiver's favor.

Exploitation 

500

Information based on observable, measurable facts; not influenced by personal feelings or opinions. 

VS

Information based on a person's personal feelings, perceptions, or opinions rather than measurable facts.

Objective VS Subjective information

500

Approaches to treating mental health disorders, including psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication management.

Mental Health treatment