Can I get some advice?

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Thank you guys for taking the time to read thise, I have been lurking on this forum for a long time and I really appreciate the advice you give to us that are starting out!!

OK, I am NOT a nurse I am a EMT-I that is almost done with my pre-reqs and ready to get into nursing school. Problem is I work FT at a county jail, while the job is interesting I feel like I am not learning anything that is going to prepare me for what you all do daily. There is hardly ever any emergency care given, in the 3 years I have worked there MAYBE 5-6 incidents that were a true medical emergency. Mostly it is just dealing with people coming down off drugs and dealing with their withdrawl symptoms because I do intake.

I want to be a ER nurse, that is my goal. Would you guys suggest me maybe get a job as an ER tech? Would that prepare me more for the reality I will soon see? I am scared to DEATH to have all this student loans and not being able to get a job when I finally do graduate. Seems like that is a growing problem. Will I have a better chance of getting an ER job if I already work in the ER as a tech? Also can you all tell me if you could give a tech 3 things to know that is the most important things for a tech to do or to know to help you nurses out.

I would appreciate any feedback, and apologize for the length upfront. Oh, one more thing any books you guys could recommend that would help me during nursing school or while working as a tech...

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Thanks in advance,

Jenn

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Almost missed this one, but here goes:

Yes, working as a Tech in the ER will provide some valuable experience and insight from the other side of the ambulance, so to speak. I did the EMT/AEMT-CC thing for many years,... a few of those years before becoming a RN. What I found was that the roles are indeed different, especially while a student nurse :eek:. While I could run my own codes in the field, a code in a patient's room left student nurses to move stuff out of the way before the code team arrived.

Some ER nurses still look at EMT's as a sort of privileged character because EMT's can do things in the field that RN's cannot do - the scopes of practice are different, and that's just the way it is. Others do not like EMT's because we brought them those darned patients. :jester: Fortunately, most of the nurses who resent EMT's are retiring or otherwise gone, so the fields are becoming more accepting of each other.

If you work as an ER Tech, your facility may help you to pay for Nursing school... definitely a plus.

Keep in mind the differences in roles and scopes of practice, and you will do well. Best wishes for success to you.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

ER tech would be a great step. You will see the work flow, the patients, and the nursing care.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Tech is good. The hospital may even offer tuition reimbursement to help out with finances.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

i agree with above posters. er tech will definitely give you more insight into the role of ER nurse and hands on experience. our er techs are pretty amazing - things they do that really make a difference (since you asked for 3 things) are: knowing what pt's will need an ekg, iv with labs, to be put on the monitor, etc. and they just do it. that helps so much.

the tuition reimbursement is offered at a lot of facilities as well. good luck to you!

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Thanks for giving me such great advice!!

Jenn

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