Direct Patient Care

Direct Patient Care

Direct patient care experiences are different from observation and volunteering experiences in that, although you still observe healthcare providers at work, these experiences are ones in which you are directly responsible for a patient's care. Examples of activities included in direct patient care include, but are not limited to: prescribing medication, performing procedures, directing a course of treatment, working on patients as an active EMT, drawing blood, taking vitals or providing personal hygiene care.  Unlike observing, direct patient care experiences usually incorporate physical contact with a patient and, therefore, traditionally requires a certification or on-the-job training. Additionally, many direct patient care opportunities are paid (although this is not required to be considered direct patient care- for example a volunteer EMT is not paid but if they are performing the traditional EMT role they are gaining direct patient care hours)!

Many different opportunities could fall into the realm of direct patient care. Some common roles that incorporate direct patient care are below (but many more exist). Remember that it is the job duties that make a position count as direct patient care.