Best way to get a transfer to an E.D Tech?

Specialties Emergency

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Im just starting a job as a PRN PCT in the hospital float pool (the only positions they were actively hiring for), but my goal is to be an Emergency Nurse, and I REALLY want to get tech experience there.

Can you guys toss some advice on the best way to get the transition?

Should I work a few months in float before asking for a transfer, should I ask right away, or should I just forget it? Difficulty: I'm a 2nd semester nursing student, I dont have an EMT/Paramedic or a CNA license or anything.

Thanks!

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I believe you should wait at least a little it does not look good that u just got hired and want to "leave" some how. Just focus in your nursing school you don't need to work in an ER as a tech to get hired after as en ER nurse. trust me, when i got hired as an er nurse there was a tech working there that had just graduate too unfortunately for her they hired me. If what you are looking is for er experience like iv and EKG you will get it believe me. When i started i had only put 3 ivs in my life, today i get the ones EMT miss sorry if a sound cocky is not the intention just trying to give good feedback.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

Wantoknow-rn: grammar makes posts readable. Please use it.

OP: If you want to work as a tech in the ED, get your EMT-Basic certification. CNAs are next-to-useless in the ED, since I need a tech who can think, which CNAs aren't trained to do. Nursing students...can be hit or miss, but if you want to improve your chances of getting hired, get your EMT.

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Specializes in Pediatric emergency medicine.
Wantoknow-rn: grammar makes posts readable. Please use it.OP: If you want to work as a tech in the ED, get your EMT-Basic certification. CNAs are next-to-useless in the ED, since I need a tech who can think, which CNAs aren't trained to do. Nursing students...can be hit or miss, but if you !want to improve your chances of getting hired, get your EMT.
Great advice but before you take on the additional burden of an EMT class let me offer the following. One thing that will help you the most in the ED is the abilty to develop and use critical thinking skills. CNA's and other non emergency trained providers are not taught this skill but field providers if they are good will develop it over time. Over the years I have seen some very competent RN's wash out of the ER because they just could not develop this skill. They were very educated but could not function in the fast paced setting. CNA's make great techs if they can be taught to think like an ER nurse or an EMT. Having trained CNA's from the floors I can tell you some will never be able to learn the skill of multi tasking in an often hectic and fast paced environment.

Many ER managers when looking to fill tech positions will look for applicants with field experience because they know they have the abilty to apply critical thinking skills. Being able to stay two steps ahead of your nurses is a skill that will be greatly appreciated and is an example of critical thinking. Anticipating a need and being able to follow thru is another example.

Being a nursing student is great and may work in your favor but many managers would rather have someone that can jump in and help the department than someone who really wants to work in the ER but might be more student than provider.

The best advice for you is to concentrate on doing well in school this is your job for now and should be your number one focus. Get your face known in your ER,as an employee you have a huge advantage and should be able to get by on a regular basis and talk to the techs and RN's. Do not dissapper from your current assignment to hang in the ER but get by on your lunch or after work. If your interested in working as an RN you should be networking and learning the culture of your ER anyway and as an employee you have a great opprutunity to make contacts that may be helpful in the future.

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Specializes in Pediatric emergency medicine.
I believe you should wait at least a little it does not look good that u just got hired and want to "leave" some how. Just focus in your nursing school you don't need to work in an ER as a tech to get hired after as en ER nurse. trust me, when i got hired as an er nurse there was a tech working there that had just graduate too unfortunately for her they hired me. If what you are looking is for er experience like iv and EKG you will get it believe me. When i started i had only put 3 ivs in my life, today i get the ones EMT miss sorry if a sound cocky is not the intention just trying to give good feedback.
Of course you do not have to work as tech to get hired in the ER but it sure cant hurt. I know several ER nurses that were techs prior to being hired as nurses and they without a doubt are among the best nurses I have worked with. Having experience and knowing how the ER works will get you noticed when it comes time to wade thru the yearly conga line of freshly minted nurses with the goal of joining the ER team. As you know most ER managers are looking for at least one year of experience for a new hire. Having the proven abilty to function and perform in the ER is going to always help not hurt.

"The ones EMT's miss"....not cocky but Im thinking just possibly a little shot at our hard working brothers and sisters in the field. Feel the need to share a negative experience you have had with one of your field providers...having supervised many field providers over the years I might be able to help you out.

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Hey i did not meant anything bad about EMT they are awesome with IV that is why i use them as a point of comparison.

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Specializes in Pediatric emergency medicine.

Just checking you know there are some ER folks that look down on the out side providers. Might have even been a thread or two on the whole rivalry thing. No worries.

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got it, i guess the way I said it did not sound good at all!:cheers:

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