OBJECTIVE: Advanced Patient Care Associate assists nursing staff with routine patient care needs in a typical clinical setting. Such an associate provides communication, comfort, and safety to the patient. Patients care associates must provide basic patient care, such as bathing, bed making, skincare, incontinence care, and toileting duties. Patient Care Associate program prepares a graduate to work as an entry-level job in a patient care technician, dialysis technician in a private clinic, hospital, nursing home or long-term care facility. Successful completers of the program will be able to check basic vital signs, CPR and first aid, assist in medical examinations with a physician, perform EKG (electrocardiograms), basic laboratory procedures, phlebotomy and operate a dialysis machine. APCA program is taught with a combination of lecture, practical exercises and with real-world experience during the 180 clinical hour internship portion of training conducted off-campus at a nursing home or hospital and part in a private clinic. Also, this program will prepare completers for Pre-LPN Entrance preparation (Basic Math & Science, Basic English Reading & Writing). Successful graduates will be eligible to take exams to become a NACT Certified Patient Care Technician/Associate (CPCT/A), NACT Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), NACT Certified EKG Technician (CEKGT), and NACT Certified Dialysis Technician (CDT).