Ed Techs

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Aug 2, 2005

This is often the case, they get bitter because they want to be a RN but for some reason not go to school.

Considering the way some techs are treated, i could understand the fear of going back to school. They're probably afraid of catching a bad attitude that is sometimes inflicted to them from nurses.

nursejennie76 · Aug 3, 2005

Well I have worked as a tech, and worked my way up to LPN and then to RN, I respect techs, CNA's etc.. But I also know that I showed the nurses that worked above me respect and I believe I am at least owed some respect by non-licensed personell, when I give respect to them!!! I never demand anything of them and always ask nicely, and I never ask them to do a task I can do myself, whether its cleaning a room, or cleaning up a dirty butt!!

student4ever · Aug 8, 2005

i work as an ed tech, and neither i nor my fellow techs (well, most of them) get a chance to sit down at all unless we're charting or entering orders. we are always running around doing things, and i feel really bad when i get tied up with a patient or i'm helping another tech with a patient who isn't mine and i see the nurse i'm assigned to cleaning dirty beds or other things that are in my scope of care. i would never contradict a nurse or tell her she's doing something wrong - she went to school for a long time to get her degree, and i want to have that kind of respect given to me when i get done with my degree. my job is to do what i've been trained to do, and to help the nurses get their job done and to work as a team for the best care of the patient.

now of course if something was compromising pt safety, of course i would say something, though not in front of a patient! i actually had to go to the manager a couple weeks ago because my preceptor was constantly breaking sterile technique when doing catheters :angryfire , and it was driving me crazy - i had done the tactful "wow, that's different than so and so showed me - i thought you weren't supposed to touch that after you touched the pt with your sterile gloves?" which didn't work, so i went to the manager about it. i hate "tattling" on people with seniority and experience or with a higher degree than myself, but i won't let pt safety be compromised in any way shape or form. and to the op, you are justified in your frustration and rant about these techs who are acting as though your degree means nothing. let nursing school eat them alive - they'll see! :chuckle

allnurses Guide · Aug 8, 2005

As you say, it depends on the person. Most of my techs are great, and I would rather have them put on a splint than do it myself because they are experts at it! Several folks I've worked with have gone on for more education, one is now a police officer, several are paramedic/EMTs, and at least 2 are nurses. Love it!

On the other hand, had one tech with just a little EMS training under his belt telling off the ER doctor that a patient had a certain type of fracture and needed just this one splint because that was the algorithm he had learned and there was NO stepping out of the box. He absolutely refused to hear me tell him what other things could be wrong, and even turned his back on the doctor explaining things. He no longer works here. :uhoh3:

(but it took while longer before he was gone).

trueschatzi · Aug 12, 2005

I just started working as a ER tech, and I've already seen them doing things that make me worry.

I've seen tech's insert IV's (who ARE NOT IV certified) and even insert NG tubes. But all the nurses pretty much turn their heads to that sorta thing, they sign off that they did it but allow the techs to do it when they want. (but it makes me reeeally uncomfortable)

Our ER at isn't as big as some of the other hospitals around us; we have 17 acute beds and maybe 10 room's for express care, but only 1 tech is assigned to each side, so you'll have 4 or 5 nurses trying to grab you at once to do things for them. But I work night shift there, so it gets pretty much dead around 2am (not always though :rolleyes: ); lots of people are discharged or sent up stairs, and no patients really come in until day break.

My hospital is also right near Disney World in Florida, so almost every patient we get is from out of town who hurt themselves at the theme parks or something. A friend of mine who works as a paramedic at Universal Studios had a women go on the Back to the Future ride after just having open heart surgury a month before hand! She claims to not see the huge neon warning signs about not riding the ride if you have heart problems. :uhoh3: She ended up getting checked out at a local hospital, but geez!

Anyways, I only have to be a tech for another three months, then I graduate RN school. ER is definitely where I want to be.

-Annie

DusktilDawn · Aug 12, 2005

I just started working as a ER tech, and I've already seen them doing things that make me worry.
I've seen tech's insert IV's (who ARE NOT IV certified) and even insert NG tubes. But all the nurses pretty much turn their heads to that sorta thing, they sign off that they did it but allow the techs to do it when they want. (but it makes me reeeally uncomfortable)
Our ER at isn't as big as some of the other hospitals around us; we have 17 acute beds and maybe 10 room's for express care, but only 1 tech is assigned to each side, so you'll have 4 or 5 nurses trying to grab you at once to do things for them. But I work night shift there, so it gets pretty much dead around 2am (not always though ); lots of people are discharged or sent up stairs, and no patients really come in until day break.
My hospital is also right near Disney World in Florida, so almost every patient we get is from out of town who hurt themselves at the theme parks or something. A friend of mine who works as a paramedic at Universal Studios had a women go on the Back to the Future ride after just having open heart surgury a month before hand! She claims to not see the huge neon warning signs about not riding the ride if you have heart problems. She ended up getting checked out at a local hospital, but geez!
Anyways, I only have to be a tech for another three months, then I graduate RN school. ER is definitely where I want to be.
-Annie

Hi Annie, your post touched a professional nerve in me. Please don't take this post as a personal attack. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders, so don't ever become comfortable with ED techs who are not certified to start IVs or who are performing procedures that they are not qualified to do. Those nurses who turn their heads when this is being are setting themselves up for a big fall. :banghead: When you're an RN remember that YOU are responsible when it comes to delegating tasks. If these techs cause harm to a patient performing procedures that they SHOULD NOT be doing, the RN assigned to these patients will be held responsible, when the RNs are signing off on these procedures they are falsifing documentation and could lose their license if this were to come to the attention of the state BON. Irregardless of whether the RNs at this facility are asking the techs to perform these tasks, or if the techs are performing them on their own without instruction, THIS SITUATION IS WRONG. As an RN if you have a tech that performs a procedure that they are not qualified to do, you have an obligation to your patients and to yourself to write them up the first time it ever happens!!

You obviously know what is going on in your facility is wrong, otherwise you wouldn't feel uncomfortable with it. In 3 months I'd like to see a post from you that you graduated so I can congratulate you. Best of luck in your future career.

Happy-ER-RN, RN · Aug 13, 2005

I worked at a small ED where the techs did IV's, catheters, and OCL's, Many of the techs were full of themselves and thought they knew more than the doctors. They also commonly threw a fit when asked to help with bedpans and bed changes--it was RIDICULOUS. At the bigger ER where I am now, the techs don't do any procedures, not even OCL's and they are happy to help deal with bodily functions when asked.

I wonder if having techs do nursing procedures creates monsters or if it was just a bad bunch I worked with at the smaller ER. I like the idea of having senior techs be able to do a few procedures after they have proven that they have a good work ethic and some experience. It will give the newer techs something to work towards. Just a thought....

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 15, 2005

I'm a tech in a VERY rural and VERY small ER (most people laugh when they find out the size). I'm also in nursing school. My experience there has been invaulable..because of the size, we are not always that busy, so the nurses have the time to show me procedures, allowing me to help when needed and when they feel confident, letting me do it alone (OCL for example). The docs are great in letting me see things, watch things and assist with things. All the while I gain the confidence for nursing school and don't feel like a dork when it comes to basic patient care.

The nurses let me watch them draw up meds and question me down about what they are, why we are giving them, what route we are going to give them, assessment after the meds are given, etc....They also let me get out everything to start an IV so that I can get a feel for what I need. They allow me to even prime the tubing in the med room, of course while they are there....but I NEVER EVER start the IV. This experience is great and awesome but I know my place as a tech and would NEVER think that I could do this alone without the nurse helping me and I would NEVER do anything that is outside my scope of practice such as actually going and starting the IV.

But all the while my job there is a tech and I know that. I have to clean poo, take people to the potty, do vitals, D/C IVs, clean and bandage people up, clean rooms, etc....and I never in a million years take advantage of that because that is my job while I'm there. I'm forever asking questions about procedures though and wanting to learn more (when I'm not busy) and the staff I work with is awesome in wanting and helping me to learn more and more but again, I know that I am a tech and those jobs come 1st.

Jubei · Aug 15, 2005

Just a ?, let me start by saying that I love having techs there to help, but there are 2 in particular that I work with that can't grasp the fact they are not RN's. They talk ot you like you are an idiot, I had one of them argue with me about colostomy's the other day she would not budge and said she new that all colostomys come off the small intestine, I wanted to scream but I shut up, because this tech is planning on going to nursing school and they will eat her alive!! Also they are going to train our techs to start IV's, ok well one of them told me that the RN's are going to have to start doing the usual tech stuff because they will be busy starting IV's!! I was a tech before I was a nurse and I would never have talked to a nurse the way they talk to me!! My favorite comment was the one who said well I am a certified phlebotomist and you are just a RN, call me crazy but I dont believe there is a comparison!! Sorry for the rant but I needed to say it here so I dont yell at them on the day that I have finally had enough og there crap!!!!!!!

My favorite comment was the one who said well I am a certified phlebotomist and you are just a RN,

That's one stupid ER tech. I have 3 phlebotomy certificates myself (including IV and drawn over a thousand patients) and a nursing license (LVN). I would never compare myself to an RN...well most of the times. If I worked in your ER I would straightened out that loser *slap* and show some damn profession respect (rank).

Edit in:

I remember several incidents with EMT/Paramedics when a resident of mine's had to be transported to a local hospital. This one cocky EMT-BASIC *COUGH BASIC* (not even a paramedic) had the nerv to look down on me as if I caused the resident's worsen condition. I told him I worked as an EMT myself part time and looked at him back like he wasn't all that. As matter of fact, alot of these emergency response people are too damn cocky for their own good (Gee, I know DCAP-BTLS!) and forget that some of us have backgrounds other than just passing out pills and doing dressing changes. An EMT or Paramedic would not survive med surg or the long term hospitals I've worked at.

Some Paramedics can't even tell a difference between an Afib or Sinus rhythm on their fancy bedside monitors ( I witnessed this one time).

MikeUSAF · Aug 16, 2005

As a tech in a USAF ER I can honestly say I get to do more with less. I am an EMT-B ( who does not claim to know every thing ). How ever since I am in the Air Force, I am authorized to start IVs, draw blood, insert caths, and so on and so forth. Also thanks to the USAF I am even PALS and ACLS certified. I don't know where these techs got their educations or way of speaking to people. That would not be tolerated. That is no way to speak to another part of your ER team. If your gonna work with some one for 12 plus hours then you should at least give them a proper amount of respect. I am working towards my nursing degree alittle at atime while on active duty. Any ways, before this post gets too long or preachy. Don't let any one tell you that you are "Just a nurse" or that your "Stupid". Nursing is a noble profession and at time not exactly the easiest thing to do.

Just my 2 cents

medic1488 · Aug 17, 2005

I remember several incidents with EMT/Paramedics when a resident of mine's had to be transported to a local hospital. This one cocky EMT-BASIC *COUGH BASIC* (not even a paramedic) had the nerv to look down on me as if I caused the resident's worsen condition. I told him I worked as an EMT myself part time and looked at him back like he wasn't all that. As matter of fact, alot of these emergency response people are too damn cocky for their own good (Gee, I know DCAP-BTLS!) and forget that some of us have backgrounds other than just passing out pills and doing dressing changes. An EMT or Paramedic would not survive med surg or the long term hospitals I've worked at.
Some Paramedics can't even tell a difference between an Afib or Sinus rhythm on their fancy bedside monitors ( I witnessed this one time).

Great, another thread coming down to degrading EMS personel. Just what this site needs.

Happy-ER-RN, RN · Aug 17, 2005

Great, another thread coming down to degrading EMS personel. Just what this site needs.

I don't think she was degrading EMS she was getting at some of the very real problems that are going on with EMS. Many programs have substandard training and EMT's and paramedics are sent out without the proper training or experience that is essential since EMS operates with such independence. The whole EMS system needs some strong leaders to get together and make standards for training and get wages up so more good people actually want to go into EMS. I know there are some fantastic paramedics out there (my husband is one of them) but there are a lot of EMS peronnel who don't know what is going on.

Not trying to start something, just feel strongly about the situation due to my husband...