Becoming a Tech

I was told a lot of hospitals will take students as CNAs with one semester of clinical experience, but I noticed in all my applying (it took me six months after my first semester was over to get my current job) that only one hospital system in my area actually stated that nursing student experience counted. However, many hospitals have nurse externships, which is what I am. I have a very comparable role to CNAs and techs, but obviously there are differences. I can do things under supervision of a nurse (trach care, foley insertion, etc) that a tech isn't be allowed to do, and likewise, they can do things I am not allowed to do (phlebotomy, etc). In practice, of course, lines get blurred. Several nurses on my unit had worked as externs and then were hired on as nurses upon graduation; unfortunately, due to hiring freezes, I am not assured that, but I know regardless having this on my resume gives me a leg up.

I should also mention the differences in extern programs. A friend of mine got an externship in a different health system and they trained her in phlebotomy. Another friend in a different health system didn't do an independent work at all; she shadows a nurse and helps that nurse specifically. Just something to keep in mind.

I found that most units require one semester of clinical. On the applications I was filling out, there was always a spot where you checked off whether you were an MA, CNA, or were currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program.

I landed a tech job in the ER, which requires 2 semesters of clinical. We do blood draws, foley's, wound care, splints, suture/staple removals, traumas (cutting off clothing, chest compressions, getting anything and everything the RNs or MDs yell out for), all sorts of stuff. I hadn't had the opportunity to do any of those things in my clinical rotations. We had one day of skills lab as new techs, then 72 hours of orientation shifts (6 12 hour shifts), paired with a tech trainer who checked us off on skills as we completed them on pts.

Now, how I GOT the job. I, and all of my classmates who are techs, landed jobs either by recommendation from faculty who were personal friends of those who do the hiring, or they had family working at that hospital. Get to know everybody on the units where you have clinical and befriend a faculty member who has connections.

Good luck!

Our hospital requires us to complete 3 quarters of clinical(so that's our Fundamentals and 2 medsurg classes). the techs here do not do IV's(but can d/c them), can do catheters, accuchecks, vital signs, etc. I am a tech and LOVE it! Not only do you get good experience assisting with procedures, but you also get experience performing procedures/watching procedures by the doc/nurse, and really a great chance to get comfortable with the hospital and unit. You can evaluate if this is a unit you are interested in working on and they can evaluate you (if you are a worker they are interested in).