Emergency Department Technician

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Oct 17, 2015

Just wanted to chime in from my experience with working with techs in the ER...I love them. But depending on staffing they oftentimes get stuck working as a clerk instead of being on the floor. That's what it's like where I am now. At my previous job, there was usually only 1 tech on nights after 11pm and they would almost always go out to triage to assist the RN with VS, EKGs for chest pain pts, checking pts in and bringing pts to the back. So it just depends on the ER you're working with. Same with the things you'll see. Obviously if you're working at a big level 1 trauma center with >100,000 annual visits, you're bound to see some gory stuff. I used to work in a level 4 and we would get some gory stuff once in a blue moon.

Have you thought about shadowing an ER tech to see if you would like it?

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Oct 18, 2015

Just wanted to chime in from my experience with working with techs in the ER...I love them. But depending on staffing they oftentimes get stuck working as a clerk instead of being on the floor. That's what it's like where I am now. At my previous job, there was usually only 1 tech on nights after 11pm and they would almost always go out to triage to assist the RN with VS, EKGs for chest pain pts, checking pts in and bringing pts to the back. So it just depends on the ER you're working with. Same with the things you'll see. Obviously if you're working at a big level 1 trauma center with >100,000 annual visits, you're bound to see some gory stuff. I used to work in a level 4 and we would get some gory stuff once in a blue moon.
Have you thought about shadowing an ER tech to see if you would like it?

I'd work 12PM-12AM and was told that I'd do everything, from work the registration desk to lab work. I was also told that it's the second largest ED in the state. I didn't have time to shadow the tech position but I was offered a position as unit coordinator at a different ED at a different hospital and I shadowed a unit coordinator and actually had to wait while a trauma patient was on their way because they didn't want me to see since I was just shadowing.

ETA: thanks for the chime :)

bvalerio23 · Jan 14, 2016

I've worked in a Level 1 and a Level 3 trauma center for a few years now and love it. Some pros would be the fast paced environment will never leave you bored at work, you generally have help with high volume days (meaning you aren't like a floor tech with 10+ pts), you get to see a wide variety of techniques, procedures, and people. Some negatives of the job is that most places at 12-hr shifts so you need to get used to that, you are faced with many patients that are rude/drug seekers, and you deal with loss more than the floor techs. I mean that in the sense that you will see a higher number of critically ill patients that will die while you are taking care of them than the floor would see (typically).

I reccomend the ED for a tech position to people who want a fast paced work environment, have a good sense of humor (sometimes dark humor), and do not get emotional very easily. You will connect with patients but not like you can on the floors. We aim to get pts in and out in the shortest amount of time so there is a lot of fake bedside manner that you have to master.

AshBuggin · Jan 14, 2016

I enjoyed the split shift (11a-11p) or (2p to 2a) when I worked in the ED.

I also really enjoyed the "dark humor" that a lot of the ED staff shared. It's a different, fast paced , exciting world.

I'm currently staffed on Med-surg but will take any opportunity to pick up shifts in the ED if they come available. I find that people either love it or hate it!

See if you can shadow a tech in the ED before you commit!

funtimes · Jan 24, 2016

The ER is generally a lot easier than the floors with a couple exceptions. If the ER techs start IVs and draw blood, you HAVE to be good at that. Most people can become proficient with practice, but occasionally its something people struggle with, both Nurses and techs.

You also have to be able to work under stress. Its one thing to start an IV on a stable patient, its another to start one on a patient whos crashing or coding(they'll usually just start an IO), that's why most ERs prefer techs with an EMT or Paramedic background. Working on the floors and ICUs is more of a constant low level stress from being under the gun to get everything done, whereas the ER can go from no stress to extreme stress quickly, which someone people don't like once they've experienced it a few times.

You do have to deal with drunks and psych patients in the ER, but to be honest on the floors so many patients are experiencing some sort of delirium or altered/diminished cognition that is no better there. On some heavy floors there are times when you can go a shift without having a single patient who is able to hold a normal conversation.

ER tech jobs are usually highly sought after and often getting one involves networking(or nepotism).

kateee · Jan 24, 2016

I absolutely love it! I have never seen exposed brains haha! And I love that there are so many things you can learn, it's not the same old same old like on other floors! Cons are definitely crisis (psyc) patients though.