273 - A Day in the Life: Patient Care Tech (Karla Woodman)
Sep 20, 2023Episode 273
UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids
Karla Woodman, patient care tech at St. Luke's Hospital, joins Dr. Arnold to give listeners a look into a day in the life of a patient care tech. She shares daily routines, education and training, why she loves working as a patient care tech and so much more.
If you're interested in a career as a patient care tech at St. Luke's, visit unitypoint.org/careers.
Do you have a question about a trending medical topic? Ask Dr. Arnold! Submit your question and it may be answered by Dr. Arnold on the podcast!
Submit your questions at: https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/submit-a-question-for-the-mailbag.aspx
If you have a topic you'd like Dr. Arnold to discuss with a guest on the podcast, shoot us an email at stlukescr@unitypoint.org.
Karla Woodman, patient care tech at St. Luke's Hospital, joins Dr. Arnold to give listeners a look into a day in the life of a patient care tech. She shares daily routines, education and training, why she loves working as a patient care tech and so much more.
If you're interested in a career as a patient care tech at St. Luke's, visit unitypoint.org/careers.
Do you have a question about a trending medical topic? Ask Dr. Arnold! Submit your question and it may be answered by Dr. Arnold on the podcast!
Submit your questions at: https://www.unitypoint.org/cedarrapids/submit-a-question-for-the-mailbag.aspx
If you have a topic you'd like Dr. Arnold to discuss with a guest on the podcast, shoot us an email at stlukescr@unitypoint.org.
Speaker 1:
This is Live Well Talk on a day in the life of a patient care tech. I'm Dr Dustin Arnold, chief Medical Officer at Unipoint Health, st Luke's Today's episode is a continuation of a series of podcasts we've done where we've sat down with team members and discussed their roles on a day-to-day basis in the hospital. As we said before, the hospital is just not a building where doctors and nurses work. Medicine is a team sport and there's a lot going on in a given day. Joining me on today's episode is Carla Woodman, a patient care tech with St Luke's Hospital discussed the role of patient care techs and what they do on a daily basis. Carla welcome.
Speaker 2:
Thank you so much how long have you been here. It will be 30 years. That's what I wear.
Speaker 1:
I know you've been here as long as I have. I think youhave you always been on three-center.
Speaker 2:
No, we started. I started off on three-west.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 2:
We're working with the folks that just got out of heart surgery.
Speaker 1:
Okay, I think you were on three-center when I came here in 2005. Yes, well, I mean, I know what a patient care tech is, but just tell us what a patient care tech is, Basically we are hands-on with the patient.
Speaker 2:
We help them with their daily cares. As far as bathing, toileting depending why you're in the hospital, you might need a little extra help. Maybe you've had a pacer or something and you can't use that one arm for a little bit and we're not made to be with one arm.
Speaker 1:
So yeah, you need a little help.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so we help with that. Also, if the nurses maybe need an extra pair of hands for addressing change, we can certainly help with that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah and take vital signs.
Speaker 2:
Oh, yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Yes, what kind of education or training does one need to become a patient care tech?
Speaker 2:
I would highly suggest certified nursing assistant. Cna would be very helpful. That way you would kind of know pretty much if this is your cup of tea, sort of say.
Speaker 1:
Okay, and that would open doors not only for patient care tech, but other jobs as course, yeah. Well, just walk me through your typical day.
Speaker 2:
Well, let's see. Typical Every day is a little different. I try to, in the mornings, go in and put my name and the nurses' name that I'm assigned with. I'll put our names on the board, update the date on there. If they're awake, I'll greet them, introduce myself and tell them you know I'm here to help you and you know if you need anything at all, please call and, of course, be checking on them. You know hourly and just make sure everything's all right.
Speaker 1:
And how many patients on? I know this is a lot of people, I know that's a lot of people and I know this varies, but how many patients are you responsible for?
Speaker 2:
Anywhere from eight to maybe I've had as many as 12 before. I know it varies, it does.
Speaker 1:
You have four patient care techs or three patient care techs and you have 36 patients. Well, each is going to have 12. That's pretty straightforward. Now do you participate with ongoing learning and continuous education?
Speaker 2:
across that work, sort of it just kind of depends.
Speaker 1:
I mean, I know, we have in-services Right right.
Speaker 2:
That of course very important, I would say. You know, just, I did get on with the skin care team going through the hospital quarterly and that really opened up my eyes to a lot how to prevent, you know, because your skin is your first line of defense.
Speaker 1:
Well, and I also say it's the largest organ in the human body and nobody's paying attention to it Exactly, you know Exactly.
Speaker 2:
So here you have an organ that's at risk, right? You know what if you're brain you know your heart, your brain, your kidneys. Somebody's paying attention to that, but the skin is kind of an afterthought. It is and it really shouldn't be.
Speaker 1:
I will say that after 27 years of practice it's rare that you see a pressure ulcer like that someone has, I mean like a decubitus ulcer that needs to be debrided. It seemed like you always had one or two of those patients on your service back in the, you know the early 2000s, and I think we've just done a much better job of preventing those across the country.
Speaker 2:
I mean.
Speaker 1:
I think it's a better.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it just kind of depends on the situation. All folks different walks of life, you know. Some are more sedentary than others. It just kind of depends If you're sick so you're septic, like saying your blood pressure is low.
Speaker 1:
It takes about 90 minutes for the skin to break down with pressure.
Speaker 2:
Yes, absolutely, it's important, it is very important.
Speaker 1:
Tell us what do you like the most about doing your job?
Speaker 2:
Oh my, it's a patient interaction. It's just so wonderful to meet so many different kinds of people, and I love people I always have. So anything I wanted to do as far as a career, I wanted to make sure it was with people. I just really enjoy folks. It really makes me feel good to make them feel good, especially in a hospital setting where things are suddenly out of your you know, out of your norm.
Speaker 2:
Maybe you're not in control or don't feel the control of the situation and it's nice to be able to, you know, have a friendly face and say you know, hey, I know things are kind of hard right now, but we're going to do our very best to make you comfortable and help you as best we can.
Speaker 1:
Well, you're certainly good at it, that's for sure.
Speaker 2:
I thank you.
Speaker 1:
For the individuals listening in the podcast and they may be considering taking a position as a patient care tech, because I know we have slots available or positions available. Tell us, why they should choose that for their career.
Speaker 2:
Well, like I say, if you love people, one of the highest compliments I can have from a patient is if they have to come back to us and they remember me. That just makes it so worthwhile, because they'll. I mean, I'm an open book. I share everything with my patients. You know like, you know where do you live, or you know you have kids, and you know I just share everything.
Speaker 2:
And so they. You know I have a special needs son that lives with me, and they'll be like, how's that son of yours doing? How old is he now? Oh, my goodness, you know, I that just really thrills me. If I've made enough impact where somebody you know remembers me, that's like wow to me. That makes it worth it. That's really worth it.
Speaker 1:
I know, when my aunt was in the hospital, who she subsequently has passed away, but she had a lot of medical problems. But, the between the environmental services and patient care tech. She knew all their names. They knew everything about her.
Speaker 2:
I mean because she was in so frequently you know, and they really, she really did enjoy their company you know, and that was very nice Absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Carla, thank you for joining me and sharing about a day in the life of a patient care tech. Once again, this was Carla Woodman, a patient care tech with St Luke's Hospital. If you're interested in a career as a patient care tech or any other role at St Luke's, visit unipointorg backslash careers. Thank you for listening and live well. Talk on. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe. And if you want to spread the word, please give us a five star review and tell your family, friends, neighbors, strangers about our podcast. We're available on Apple podcast, Spotify, pandora or wherever you get your podcast. Until next time, be well.