I'm still taking my prereqs for nursing school and hope to be accepted by next fall. My interest is working in an ER. My question is this, a few months ago, I had to go to the ER for something. I noticed I didn't come into contact with an actual nurse until the nurse came in with my aftercare instructions and billing information.

The guy who did the triage, and the girl who came in to treat me were both "ER Techs" according to their name badges. What exactly is an ER Tech and what kind of training do they have? Sorry for sounding so dumb lol

Tim

I don't know where your hospital is, but in our ER triage is done by RNs only, and our ER techs responsible for doing EKGs, blood draws, and one touch blood glucose tests. If there is any treatments to be done or medications that have to be done, it is done by a nurse. Discharge is also done by the nurse.

In our ER you see the nurse at triage, being checked into your room, treatments, meds, and discharge. You only see the tech if you have blood drawn or an EKG done. I just can't imagine why you didn't see a nurse until you were discharged.

Pam

At my hospital, ER techs are paramedics. RNs do triage though.

i think it kinda depends what you are treated for - many fast tracks/ expediant care parts of the ED utilize techs very strongly -

our techs draw labs/iv's/foley's/ekg's/transport... they are very helpful... it is a strong background to have if you are wanting to be an ED RN!!

In our small rural ER we have ALL triage completed by RN's.

Our ER techs draw bloods, start IV's, do EKG's, Transport pts' to xray, clean and stock rooms.

They are life savers for us but they can not do triage.

I am currently an ER tech, however, I am also a graduating nursing student. My job responsibilities include blood draws, EKG's, splinting, CBG's, transporting, simple dressings, and assisting the physicians and nurses as needed (i.e. holding a screaming child still...that's about all it amounts to). I do work in triage at times. When I do work in triage, my job duties consist of taking vital signs, escorting patients to the ER rooms, and helping to defend the triage desk when the angry hordes attempt to storm the place.....

Anyway, although the ER techs where I work are very skilled and assist with a great deal of the workload, we in no way, shape, form or fashion take the place of an RN.

have a great one,

Kacie

in our hospital an RN triages you and an RN or LPN can discarge you. an RN must sign off on discharge instructions given by an LPN though

xo jenni

I think the ER tech position has different duties if your Er techs are paramedics. Ours are not, they draw blood, do ekgs, splinting, strapping, bandaging, transporting to ancillary departments and vitals.

It is an EMTALA regulation that an RN (not a paramedic) do the initial triage/health screening. I only know that because JCAHO was here a few months ago and they were adamant about it.

In our ER an RN does the intial triage, initial assessment and discharge. AND whatever RN duties in between.

As an EMT I did my clinical rotation, and often transfer patients to one of the top 10 largest hospitals in the country.

In that hospital, like in many others, ER Techs have varying levels of training. In this hospital, all ER Techs were EMT-Basics, or EMT-Paramedics. All could start and maintain IVs per additional inservice training if needed. Triaging was handled by two ER Techs.

You must remember that EMTs are the masters of triage. My ability to diagnose illnesses is limited, but with great confidence I can label that patient a priority.

In general, ER Techs work alongside and with RNs, but by no means have the same responsibilities. ER Techs start IVs, take vitals, get basic patient information, move patients around the ER and hospital, and help work full traumas. The RNs do most of the drug, consulting, and discharge work. While many ER Techs have ACLS certification, all nurses in the ED do.

During a code, the ER Tech will usually do compressions or bag, attach electrodes, and start IVs. The nurses will intubate, push drugs, and carry out the more difficult treatments. The doctors will facilitate and monitor the whole process, stepping in where assistance is needed.

The ER Techs are part of a team, and depending on your illness, they may be in charge of more or less of your treatment.

I hope that helps!

Ditto Pam's post.

EMTs are not the masters of triage. Triage is taught by MDs and RNs in NY and most other states. There is a difference between triage in the field and triage in a clinical setting. I have taught and done both. Seen it from almost all sides. I have worked as an EMT, Paramedic, Army 91C and RN.

It is an EMTALA regulation that an RN (not a paramedic) do the initial triage/health screening. I only know that because JCAHO was here a few months ago and they were adamant about it..

so very true .... we literally had to redesign our ED so that a nurse saw the pt first, all triage done before registration etc. We used to have registration right by the door, and JCAHO had fits. If your facility is using techs for triage, admin. may be in for a rude awakening.

I am an ER Tech, and have worked in two different ER's. In both of them, the nurses had to do the initial triage, however, when I worked at one of them, they had one of us techs in there helping get vital's while the nurse interviewed the patient/family. In the one I work at now, the nurse is in the triage by herself because 9 times out of 10 there is only one or two techs in the back. We do blood draws, EKG's, splints, transports, and we respond to all the codes for CPR, as well as helping with IV's and such when the nurses need. Depending on how busy the nurse is, and what kind of things are ordered, it is possible that you do see the tech more than the nurse, at least in my experience.