Advice about working in the Emergency Room

[cacnkrm]

hello, i am currently looking for a job as a cna, i seen a opening at a local hospital in the emergency room. i asked a friend that currently works at this hospital what a cna would do in the er, she told me that they transport, draw blood, clean poo, something else i don't remember. but anyway i was wondering if this sounds right? is this really all they can do? i don't know if this is an area i could work in. just looking for any advice from someone who has worked in the er. thanks.

[CoffeemateCNA]

Yep, that's about right. They occasionally do EKGs and discontinue Foleys and IVs as well.

The great thing about working is a CNA/PCA in the ER, though, is the experience you will get and seeing so many diverse and interesting cases.

[cacnkrm]

give Caths that was the other thing. Is it fun, and interesting. Because I did work in a nursing home and although I loved my residents. Doing the same old thing everyday was kind of boring. I love Adrenalin rushes.

[delilas]

It is fun, and you will inevitably learn a lot.

If you're looking just to be involved and around new and exciting situations, it doesn't matter if you're cleaning poo or doing cath removal - you'll be able to absorb it all. Just make sure you aren't expecting too much of your actual duties - you will be low man on the totem pole (here, stnas/cnas didnt even do blood draws, but I'm sure that is something that differs by state).

Good luck!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I was a patient care tech in an ED for a few years before I became an RN. A tech's scope depends on your facility, or what RNs are able to delegate. Our techs start IVs, d/c IVs, do blood draws, strep screens, flu tests, EKGs, vital signs, Foleys, in & out caths, splints, irrigation, wound care/bandaging, assist with ADLs, and the inevitable poo cleaning. :) In code situations, techs typically do chest compressions or bag patients. In between all that, they also clean beds and stock supplies. My days were a lot of "stick, stock, and scrub." LOL. I loved it, though.

[cacnkrm]

Wow, Sounds like they trained you to do a lot. Yes I know Cna's in any place are low man on the totem poll. that may just be something I will look more in to. That way I would know if I want to go on and just get my RN. thanks for all the info.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

As a paramedic, I knew how to do a lot of it already; but yes, much of the ER-specific stuff (like Foleys -- we certainly don't do those in the prehospital setting!) was learned during my orientation as a tech. Good luck to you! :)

[cacnkrm]

I have never done any of that except the Vital signs and the ADL's. Is poking someone just something to have to do and practice to get over the fear of hurting them, because I think if I could get over the fear and do it well they would like the fact that I understand it is scary and sometimes painful. I didn't learn anything new while working in the nursing home, the only new things I did learn were how to transfer a pt. with a mechanical lift by yourself (I know you aren't suppose to do this, but they made us) and I learned with the help of the resident how to change a bag (I'm not sure the name of it, he was paralyzed from the wast down and for some reason they did a surgery that was kind of like having a colostomy bag but it was for urine and it was on his stomach) anyway he liked to twist the bag for what reason I don't know but he would twist that darn thing off every day sometimes twice a day. So with his help I learned how to put the new one on. Nothing as exciting as IV's and blood draws.

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

wow i wish our techs/nurse externs were allowed to start IVs! they are able to butterfly though and i think draw blood off peripheral lines (i've seen a ton of em do it but not sure if they're technically supposed to lol)

[czechchickieeRN]

I was a patient care tech in an ED for a few years before I became an RN. A tech's scope depends on your facility, or what RNs are able to delegate. Our techs start IVs, d/c IVs, do blood draws, strep screens, flu tests, EKGs, vital signs, Foleys, in & out caths, splints, irrigation, wound care/bandaging, assist with ADLs, and the inevitable poo cleaning. :) In code situations, techs typically do chest compressions or bag patients. In between all that, they also clean beds and stock supplies. My days were a lot of "stick, stock, and scrub." LOL. I loved it, though.

Yep, that sounds like the scope of our ER-techs (called PMRs - patient medical representatives), plus transfering patients and Lab runs. Ours, however, aren't able to do any draws or IVs. Our PMRs are great - I don't think we could function without them! I worked as a CNA through school, but looking back I would have been a PMR if I knew how much I was going to love ER.