New to the forum, any advice on being a tech??

Meaganfn · Jul 29, 2014

I currently work as a tech in a hospital. Though my job has it's ups and downs I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoy it. I work night shift 12hrs. My title is a tech level III which allows me to draw blood, obtain urinalysis, blood sugar, INR readings, hemocult checks, bladder scans and EKG's.

technically I work two different shifts (due to working 12's). From 7-11 I'm responsible for 7 pts. From 11-7 that number goes up to 14 on average. Due to the shift in on there is a bit of down time. I take on various other duties such as stocking supplies, programming various medical machines, and any other things my nurses may need me to take care of.

working here I've learned some great skills. The environment may be faced paced but I wouldn't trade the opportunity for the world. Additionally the nurses I work under try to include me in a lot of their care to give me the exposure and experience. I've even been allowed to aide them in certain procedures that I wouldn't be able to do any where else.

owlnuggets · Jul 29, 2014

It sounds like the hospital you work for is pretty awesome. Was this your first time in a health care setting? How long did it take you to acclimate to the job?

I currently work as a tech in a hospital. Though my job has it's ups and downs I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoy it. I work night shift 12hrs. My title is a tech level III which allows me to draw blood, obtain urinalysis, blood sugar, INR readings, hemocult checks, bladder scans and EKG's.
technically I work two different shifts (due to working 12's). From 7-11 I'm responsible for 7 pts. From 11-7 that number goes up to 14 on average. Due to the shift in on there is a bit of down time. I take on various other duties such as stocking supplies, programming various medical machines, and any other things my nurses may need me to take care of.
working here I've learned some great skills. The environment may be faced paced but I wouldn't trade the opportunity for the world. Additionally the nurses I work under try to include me in a lot of their care to give me the exposure and experience. I've even been allowed to aide them in certain procedures that I wouldn't be able to do any where else.

Meaganfn · Jul 30, 2014

It sounds like the hospital you work for is pretty awesome. Was this your first time in a health care setting? How long did it take you to acclimate to the job?

Yes, this was my first time in a health care setting. It took me about a month to acclimate to the job and find my groove. Best part is everyone is very friendly+ patient and were/are willing to lend a helping hand. They understood that this was my first medical job post school so everyone took my under the wing during orientation and even after.

hopefully you'll get an awesome precept I as well. A good one makes all the difference in my opinion

Autymnfyres · Jul 30, 2014

Congratulations owlnuggets! I am getting out of an LNA program soonish and aspire to work eventually at a hospital as well.

May I ask either you and/or Meaganfn -- is the definition of PCA/Tech a little different in each state? I have seen posts here which were made by nursing students say in their first year of ns/after a couple semesters where they got a job as a PCA/Tech. I however don't recall any LNA's posts noting that.

I am in a rural area, and the one hospital locally looks for LNA's with two-ish years of experience and who already have 12-lead skills as well. I am not sure how I will obtain that tbh. A friend of mine who used to be an LNA learned 12-lead once she was actually working in a hospital.

I will work in an LTC for the first year to get experience I guess. I thought about also doing one day a week volunteer work at the hospital and that may help when I apply for any positions opening up. I've never seen that hospital put up any PCA/Tech positions but perhaps they call it something different here.

I get along great with older individuals (*was raised by my grandparents!) and like to get to know people's pasts/background; usually there are very interesting stories if you make time to listen to them ^-^. I did a few gen ed classes at a community college and now am starting a four year uni to work toward my BSN. However at mine, you are not 'pre-nursing' really, as you do not apply for the ns until you are a junior.

Anyhow I eventually hope to work in a hospital or something where I can practice/learn more clinical skills (*whatever of course is within my scope as an LNA). You get to do a broad spectrum of skills at LTC's, but the majority of my time is going to be more care-oriented I think.

Thanks very much!