Last semester of NS, hired as ED Tech, what to expect?

VCullen · Sep 15, 2011

While we didn't call it a nurse extern, I was essentially a paid nursing student in an ED for about a year before I got my RN. I know that in Ohio, I wasn't permitted to start IV's because I wasn't allowed to give meds (and saline was considered a medicine.) I would check your job description closely and ask any questions regarding your scope of practice from management only! When i asked questions about what I should be/could be doing from fellow staff members, I got an similar answer to your "pretty much anything you can handle." Not all medics/RN's I worked with were familiar with my job description and after I was oriented I found myself educating a lot of them on the boundaries of what I could do.

As for what my job entailed, I did A LOT of transporting patients to other floors. I also worked in the ED laboratory running stat Troponins and UAs. I got very familiar with labs in the process. I brought people a lot of snacks, answered call lights, notified nurses of beeping IV pumps (since I was not permitted to silence or restart them), changed diapers/beds, placed foleys, did blood draws, accu-checks, vitals, inventoried clothing and provided constant supervision to patients who needed it. I also occasionally held/opened (while maintaining sterility) supplies for doctor's doing lumbar punctures or gynecological exams. I did my share of running to blood bank. Expect a LOT of EKG's and hooking patients up to monitors. I did some restocking of cabinets too.

Hope that helps...

lucky_shamrock · Sep 15, 2011

Congrats on the new job!

I was hired as an ED tech just as I was finishing nursing school. It was an amazing experience - I only wish I had started sooner! The experience that I got there was invaluable.

As far as duties - you're basically the nurses' ****** (as an RN, I've been promoted to doctors' ******!).

As the previous post mentions, expect a ton of EKGs, vital signs and BGTs. Transporting patients to the floors/tests. "Chaperoning" on pelvic exams. Assisting with suturing, lumbar punctures, etc (i.e. opening sterile equipment, erm...retracting certain bits, setting up, cleaning up). Stocking. Also, a whole lot of "fetching" - fetching snacks, drinks, the nurse...that ever elusive 30cc catheter tipped syringe.

As the ED I worked in was a trauma center of an inner city, I saw a lot of GSWs and stabbings, as well as a lot of critically ill patients. For those patients, we did compressions, acted as "gophers" and assisted in whatever way we could.

Use the time wisely - ask questions whenever appropriate and really look at all those EKGs! I saw literally hundreds and it helped develop my "eye." And though it is a thankless, exhausting job, remember that someday you will miss the days of being able to say, "I don't know, let me just get the nurse."

EmergencyNrse · Sep 15, 2011

You can expect that if you work hard, learn a bunch that you will probably have a job offer after you graduate and you pass boards.

What I expect is that you will work hard, learn a bunch and get hired in the ER and not come back here whining about being a new grad that can't get a job...

Congrats!

happyinillinois · Sep 15, 2011

You will do all the above but most importantly, in our ER, tech's perform CPR during codes. The experience you gain will be invaluable and provide a "foot in the door" when you graduate.

srobb11 · Sep 15, 2011

What I expect is that you will work hard, learn a bunch and get hired in the ER and not come back here whining about being a new grad that can't get a job...

This post above made me laugh. :) Thanks everyone so much for all your responses and advice! Believe me, I know this is a great opportunity and I consider myself very lucky to have my foot in the door prior to graduation. The dept manager stated that I have a great chance to move into an RN position once I pass NCLEX, so I will be sure to do a great job and prove myself while I can. I had volunteered for a while in the ED at a different hospital, so I had somewhat of an idea of what the techs did, but I rarely saw them except when they were doing vitals in the triage area.

When I started nursing school, I wanted to work in the OR and was sure that is where I wanted to be. Then I volunteered in the ER of a level 1 trauma center and loved the atmosphere. So, now I'm torn and I'm hoping this experience will give me a good indication of whether the ED is for me. Time will tell :) Thanks again!

flyingchange · Sep 15, 2011

srobb11, I am in a similar position. I work alongside the nurses in a quasi-nurse kind of role, so my experience may differ from yours, but basically I have a few defined jobs...

- helping at triage to reassess pts in the waiting room, run stat ECGs, or gopher between the triage nurse and the charge nurse if we need to find a bed quick-quick

- bringing pts back into rooms and doing initial assessments & chart write-ups

- processing orders for anything within my scope, which is most things except for central line access and drawing labs. Usually this means IV starts, med passes, or discharging

- helping transfer or restrain patients as needed. Usually pt restraint involves the little kids, and wow are they strong!

- discharging patients home and cleaning the rooms

The best part about working in my ED is that once the nurses knew I was a student, they started to pull me in to new procedures or interesting cases whenever we have them. So I've seen a lot more than I ever saw in clinicals because there's no one I have to "share" the good stuff with. I help out as much as I can and the nurses have rewarded me with lots of learning opportunities and taken the time to teach me.

I've also gotten to know some of our first responder professions too, and given/taken report from them, which has been interesting!

Good luck, I wouldn't trade the experience for the world :)

srobb11 · Sep 16, 2011

The best part about working in my ED is that once the nurses knew I was a student, they started to pull me in to new procedures or interesting cases whenever we have them. So I've seen a lot more than I ever saw in clinicals because there's no one I have to "share" the good stuff with. I help out as much as I can and the nurses have rewarded me with lots of learning opportunities and taken the time to teach me.

I'm hoping I will have the opportunity like you described. You can only do and see so much in clinicals and hopefully this will provide me with more insight. Thanks so much!

srobb11 · Dec 2, 2011

Well, I've been in the ER since the end of September and I LOVE IT!!! I only wish I had the opportunity to do this sooner. I'm amazed at how much I have learned in the short time I've been there. I work my booty off every day I'm there, but the 12 hour shift flies by and I actually kind of find myself not wanting to leave when it's time to go. (I know this "honeymoon" phase won't last). I graduate in a couple of weeks and I'm both excited and scared to death, but we have fabulous nurses and I know I will learn from the best.

If any other students are reading this and you are interested in the ER, I highly recommend you try to get a tech/nurse extern position. Even volunteering in the ER would be helpful. Just being around the ER gives you such an insight.

Thanks again to everyone who provided advice!

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2011

Our techs do IVs and lab draws, transports, splints, orthostatics, road tests, and generally help with patient care, bringing extra blankets and pillows, water, etc.

Prettyladie · Dec 3, 2011

I started as a tech in the ER because I knew that's where I wanted to end up after school. I think the experience I acquried was so amazing. I love the ER, and now I have accepted a position in the ER at a Level I trauma facility. I believe my tech experience has taught me to be more confident within myself, my IV insertions and Foleys, EKG, etc. Just being comfortable with patients all around. I'm so excited to make this transition from student/tech to ER RN :) 7 days til graduation. Good luck to you. Keep us updated!