Emergency Communications Center Specialist (ECCS)

[WoundedBird]

I have an upcoming initial face to face with HR of a major hospital system where I live for an ECCS position that is almost a perfect blend of my past two career paths as a high school athletic trainer and an event day dispatcher/operator/night auditor for an NFL team's food provider. I perceive this position as an amazing way to not only get my foot in the door of a place I'm considering for post-graduation employment (I begin my grad entry MSN program in June) but also as a way to see the behind the scenes of the field (ED/trauma) I'm hoping to enter. My biggest question is how would/is a non-clinical position like this one (I want to liken it to a unit secretary on steroids and red bull at the same time) viewed by a potential employer compared to a clinical position like a CNA? Could the lack of the hands on experience outweigh the procedural knowledge? I'm living proof that some jobs are assisted by if not entirely achieved by who you know and this position, if it works out, could be the foot in the door that leads to the career catapult and I feel that this could be more beneficial than an aide position, especially since the hospital systems here require 1-2 semesters of nursing school to be complete before you can be an aide.

If anyone does/has worked in a setting like this - seems to be the middle man/scribe between EMS and the ED - your feedback is greatly appreciated too!

(Please feel free to move to a better forum if need be!)

[a2thap]

Worked ED 10 years as floater loved it!

We had techs that helped some but we're often pulled out into the main hospital, you come across as too educated for can/tech position. I started out as a CNA in my late twenties learned mostly how to be fast and did the fluffing stuff :)

[WoundedBird]

Thanks for the feedback a2thap!! And I agree with your education comment - I feel a little stuck in a no man's land because of my previous degree and the skills from it and other courses. I would feel more comfortable in an ED tech type position because things like crutch fitting / education, elastic wrap technique, and other discharge orders, especially of an orthopedic or concussion nature is what I've been doing for the past 10 years. I think a position like a tech is something that once I've gotten my foot in the door and see how things are done, then potentially try for one of those openings.

A little more about the ECC position since I've interviewed:

I would be an intermediary between EMS or the Helo dispatch company and the charge nurse. I would be doing things like beginning the EMR for the pt in Epic and activating trauma codes (such as a level 2 needs the following 8 people notified where as a level 1 needs these 15 people and the OR notified). The ops center also overlooks the ambulance bay and the ED, so there would be the opportunity to see how things are run during times of famine (in the words of the hiring manager). Are there any CNAs/PCTs/aides in a hospital setting actively use Epic or is only accessed by the RN/LPN/MD users? Personally, the chance to learn how to use Epic is another positive to this position, especially if I would not be using it as an aide/tech. Anybody have thoughts or input on that?