I'm cluless

MelodyRNurse · Mar 22, 2007

LPNs work in the ER's in one or two hospitals in my area, but those jobs are very hard to get. There is always transport like EMT's and Paramedics coming in and out. There are Tech's at the ER and I think they train the staff whether they have a CNA already or not for that position. There are receptionists, and in if the ER has it's own RAD department, there are radiology tech's. I don't know if thats what your looking for but I hope it helps.

Critterpuss · Mar 22, 2007

ER techs are some of the most over worked and underappreciated people in a hospital.

If you are interested in going to the ER to work, present to the ER with a bit more than just wide eyes and eagerness.

Sign up and complete a phlebotomy course, EKG course, CPR course etc. This will show the ER manager that you posess more than just a curiosity about the dept and that you have something to offer. Most ER's dont have the time to teach tech's. The person arriving with courses under their belt will be considered first over those without.

Also, grow a thick skin. You will bear the brunt of frustrations voiced by patients, Dr's, nurses, secretaries etc. It's NOT like on tv

CHATSDALE · Mar 22, 2007

some er have techs but as was pointed but it puts a strain on the personal if they are stopping to train...anywhere you are at the more skilled you are the more valuable you will be to your employer and co-workers

L&D_2b · Mar 22, 2007

Where I live, ER Techs need a BLS course and are CNA's. The rest is on the job training. However, I would listen to one of the previous posters and take a phlebotomy course.

Good luck!

Nurse2bducky86 · Mar 24, 2007

My fiance' has his EMT-B and just signed on as an ER Tech at a different hospital than where I work. The hospital where I work also would rather have EMT-B's than CNA's but I think it goes on a hospital to hospital basis

DizzyLizard · Mar 24, 2007

In my area the hosp req EMT-B. You also need a PEPP class, BLS and Phlebotomy. The more training you have the better off you are. Hosp in other towns want EMT-B or CNA but will usually take the EMT over the CNA

Abdullah Al-Somali · Mar 24, 2007

ER... ACTUALLY ALOT OF PEOPLE WORK THERE, I mean there is MD, RN, EMT, PARAMEDICS ''SOME'', RT, ACNP, PA. & MORE ....

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 24, 2007

Our ER takes CNA, students and EMT-B for techs. Our sister facility takes all the above plus EMT-P.

We are a VERY small facility. We have 1 tech 24/7, 1 RN 24/7 and 1 doc 24/7. We then have an overlap RN that works 11-11. We do not use LPN's in my ER. We also have an admission clerk but they are not 24/7, I think we go about 4-5 hours overnight w/o one. We are so small that our radiology department goes on call after 2200 at night. We also do not have RT except M-F from 0800-1700. Forget Pastoral and Social Workers if it's not M-F from 9-5, they have to be called in during a crisis.

We are very creative where I work.....

sissyboo · Mar 25, 2007

ER Tech-ing is popular here--usually CNAs and nursing students. They're popular just about everywhere in the hospital actually--but its just acute care. Med-Surg and PEDS keep techs all the time--OB has one in the day, and usually at night. ICU and all three psych units keep techs as well.

EMSnut45, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 26, 2007

I'm an ER Tech, and I love it!! In Maryland, you have to be a CNA- the Maryland Board of Nursing wants to have control over you (where as an EMT is governed by the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services System). Of course, the hospitals prefer that you have the combination of CNA, EMT, and PCT (Patient Care Tech- advanced CNA that has the certifications to start IV's, blood draws, EKG's, sterile dressings, foley catheters, etc...).

Thanks, Critterpuss! It's not too often that us ER Techs get thanked!!!

Spanky, my advice to you is to contact the ER manager and find out exactly what qualifications they expect you to have. At the hospital that I work at, the education department will teach any interested employees the skills that they need... and best of all, you don't have to pay for it... even better, they PAY YOU for the time that you spend in class!!!

As far as who works in the ER, that depends greatly on the size of the ER/hospital as a whole. I work in a small hospital (ER has 16 beds, hospital has 400 inpatient beds) in a very upscale suburb, and we are staffed with 1 unit clerk, 2 ER Techs, 7 RN's, 2 MD's, and 1 PA. They just hired a few LPN's, but they function as "floaters" and help out the overwhelmed RN's. We share the Respiratory Therapist with two other units of the hospital, Housekeeping also has the whole first floor, and radiology comes to get all of their patients. Unfortunately, we don't have transporters, so it is up to the ER Techs to move the patients around. We also have several volunteers that staff the greeters desk, and security always has an officer back with us. The psych unit sends down a Crisis Intervention Specialist to evaluate the psych patients as needed. All of the other specialists have to be called in.

Aliakey · Mar 30, 2007

I posted a forum earlier that everyone said to become an Emergency Tech. How do i go about doing that? I have my CNA, can i get a job in the emergency room with that?

Over here (busy 40+ bed ED), only last semester nursing students of the hospital's School of Nursing program, EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-P, and LVNs can become ED Techs, and the nursing students/EMT-B usually require additional training to get them up to par with their skills. "Street experience" as an EMT is preferred as ED Techs are used in triage a lot under the direction of an RN.

And one more question, who works in the ER, like i know there is a ER doctor, and a RN and a tech but are there anyone else with different degrees?

During the day, we have at least four physicians (usually five), 12+ RNs, 8 ED Techs (a couple of 'em are used as unit secretaries), 1+ respiratory therapist, 1 pharmacist, 2 lab techs/phlebotomists, 1 housekeeper, 1 case manager, and a partridge in a pear tree. Err, scratch the tree.

Next door is radiology, so we see them all the time although (technically) not housed in the ED.

Hope it helps!