What Are the Requirements to Become a Nurse Technician?
Nurse technicians are classified as nurse assistants or aides because they are responsible for performing basic patient care under the direction of nurses, such as bathing, dressing and eating. However, they are called “technicians” because nurses entrust them with more advanced duties such as administering medication or performing electrocardiograms to measure electrical activity in patients’ hearts. Receiving formal training and certification as a nurse technician increases your chances for entering the field. Education In the United States, nurse assistants are required to complete a minimum of 75 hours in formal training, as well as pass a competency evaluation. To this end, community colleges, technical and high schools, and hospitals provide certificate/diploma programs, which can last from six months to a year. Coursework usually involves subject areas such as anatomy and physiology, communication skills, and patient care. Students will also have to do some clinical coursework t
