EKG tech vs ICU tech

[ngerste]

Hello,

My ultimate goal is to be certified as a CRNA. I'm sure you are aware that one of my requirements is one year of ICU experience. So right now, my goal is to get a job as an RN in the ICU. I am currently in my 2nd semester towards my associate's in nursing. For now, I am interested in a job as a hospital tech, preferably one that will help me get oriented into the ICU setting.

I posted here because I would really appreciate the opinion from a professional ICU nurse, regarding EKG techs and ICU PCAs; would one be better than the other? I mean that in regards to giving me adequate ICU experience. Thanks for your help!

[EMSnut45, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

There is a big difference between a PCA and an EKG tech.

The PCA will be directly involved in caring for the patient. You will be able to ask questions, see treatment, be involved in codes, etc.

An EKG tech goes around the hospital and obtains EKG's from the patients that they are ordered for. You won't interact much with the care team or witness much of the ICU environment.

I was an ER tech prior to going to and through nursing school. I learned SO much and was able to see and apply what I was learning in school. If I had questions, I had physicians and nurses who wanted to help me. Those same physicians and nurses helped me get my first job, and we still talk today!

I think if you were to take the EKG tech position, you would be isolating yourself and not getting the experience I think you want.

[Jackfackmasta, ASN, RN]

I agree with the above poster. I work as an ED tech and would prefer that over an ICU position since you get ALOT more hands on skills with patients and exposure to different populations. you will also see critical patients in the ED with severity depending on trauma designation.

The ICU techs here don't do much since the nurses over see so much. In the ED i do everything that does not require a license and the experience is invaluable. I also wondered about going to ICU tech but found ED was the best place to solid skills foundation. We do all EKGs and so I see everything from STEMIs to 3rd degree heart block and I can recognize them.

ED tech integrates so much basic hands on nursing skills that you need to be strong in the ICU in order to develop the more advanced skills.

[boogalina, ADN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN]

I'm currently a CNA (PCA) in a medical ICU unit (the hospital in which I work has separate MICU, CV, stepdown and Neuro ICU units). I think the experience I am gaining is incredible. Yes, my role may be limited to helping position a patient while the RN treats them, but I'm still in the room with a front-row seat to the learning experience. You see things in an ICU that you just will not see in LTC or on a med-surg floor. Nursing students may not have an opportunity to have a clinical rotation in an ICU, although there are several currently in clinical in the ICU in which I work.

However, one of my nursing school friends is an ED tech, and performs EKGs. She has had the opportunity to learn quite a bit as well. As one poster above mentioned, the ability to recognize a condition because of first-hand experience with the condition is invaluable.

In an ideal world, you would be able to gain experience in a variety of positions. Regardless, there is no substitute for 12-hour "reality" shifts in the unit that interests you.

If you cannot find the tech position you seek initially, you would be best advised to start as a CNA in LTC to gain experience. Generally, hospitals will not hire a CNA/PCA/tech without at least some experience - and a year or more is preferred.

[Good Morning, Gil]

My unit is total care, so we don't have CNA's, but if we did, that would be the most valuable experience you could gain while in school (either that or monitor tech since you would really know your rhythms then).

Any healthcare experience is valuable, so snag what you can get. If only one or the other is available, take it; better than no experience.