title: Design and implementation of a health care technician program.
abstract: The article describes the design and implementation of a practice model for unlicensed assistive personnel. Key elements of the health care technician (HCT) program include the concept of registered nurse-HCT partnering and the nurse manager's role in facilitating the partnership. After 4 weeks of classroom activities and guided clinical practice, the HCT receives 2 additional weeks to work directly with the registered nurse for orientation to the new role. Cross-trained in a variety of activities, the HCT enhances the level of service provided to key customers.
authors.affiliation: Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kuhlman
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Esselman
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007587:Job Description; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D000078329:Workforce