ER Tech interview

[FlyMurse, BSN, RN]

hey everyone,

i'm faced with a bit of a challenge and i'm hoping some of you can shed some light on it. a little background info: i'm 19, an emt with no experience (shocker!) and will apply to the upper division of arizona state's bsn program at the end of spring '09 for (hopefully) admission in spring 2010 (sounds so far away!).

i currently work at a hospital doing food service, as i can't get a job as an ed tech without any experience. i recently applied to a different facility in the same company (banner). here's the catchy part: it's a level i trauma center and no doubt i'm going up against some pretty good candidates. here's how i got the interview. this is the email i sent to the recruiter in charge of hiring.

...i'm just checking back to see if you were able to take a look at my application. as i mentioned, i have my emt cert, and am only able to use it in my volunteer work at asu due to my young age.

i'm sure based on experience, i'm probably not one of your top choices for this particular job, however, i don't think experience is everything in an applicant. i believe another part of a job is the passion one has for that job. i did my clinicals at desert last year and i understand the work that a tech does, and i also understand that it isn't always glamorous. but i am willing to do whatever it takes to get this position. what i lack in experience, i can easily double in drive and determination. i only desire to help those in need at the good sam ed, while gaining valuable clinical experience for my future as an rn.

while it may benefit your staff to bring in an experienced individual, i think a little extra training may go a long way in my case. i had the rare opportunity to be able to participate in a code during my emt clinicals. if that didn't confirm my passion for emergency medicine, i don't know what will.

with all of this being said, i just ask that i be considered as equally as the rest of the applicants.....

thanks for your time!

i don't know where the words of that email came from, but i really did mean what i said. so now i have to follow up this [self proclaimed] stellar email with an interview that i am scared to death of.

so now for my question: what can i expect? any tips/hints? possible questions?

i'm freaking out here!

thanks and have a happy thanksgiving!

jeremy

[S1XGUNS]

What, your an EMT and you do not feel you have the experience needed to be an ERT. You could easily be trained on hospital protocols and ERT duties. It seems to me that you would be light years ahead of most nursing school applicants for that job.

[Hootnhollern]

Jeremy,

I used to be a part of the interviewing team in my old ER (in Tucson...boy do I miss AZ ). As a tech ,if I had to train you, I would want someone who was positive, but not arrogant...willing to learn, but not too dense to get it, and able to ask important questions that show that you can think on your feet.

I don't know the exact job description of the ER Tech position, but I would be very familiar with every little detail of it, right down to the bedpan portion, because, although code blues are one type of excitement, code browns have a whole other type of fun involved....and those, my friend are very much a part of the job too.

I think your email was very good...take out that little bit of self doubt, and you will be a fine ER Tech.

Good Luck with Nursing School,

Hoot

[littlemamakt, ASN]

Hello!

I am a nursing student in my first semester of clinicals, and I was just hired in the ED of a local Level II trauma center.

I emphasized in my two interviews that I really appreciate the dynamics of the ER, I am an adrenaline junkie, I sharpen like a tack under pressure, I don't have a problem making a confident decision quickly, and of course I snuck it in that I am pretty smart.

I just tried to be honest and be myself, because I know that my personality is suited for the ER.

Kate in IN

[mixtapes]

Jeremy and others,

How did your ER tech interview go? Any tips? I have an interview coming up and would like to prepare if possible. I am a nursing student with no prior medical experience. I got selected from a group of others to come back for a second interview. I was told I would be interviewed by a group panel.

What should I expect?

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

im in ur same shoes Jeremy.

hopefully i can land an er tech job myself while im in NS..hehe. good luck.

i think the email u said is nice, BUT..i wouldnt have added the part about no experience.. u want to play ur self up as much as possible, not let them know the negatives.. ya know.

hope it works out for you :)

[FlyMurse, BSN, RN]

Wow... this was a looong time ago!!

I've been working in the ER for almost a year and a half now!!

I was able to transfer there after working in food service for 6 mo's while having my EMT- took a step back to take a leap forward :)

To everyone who is still trying- just be yourself, and never give up!! You will get in, eventually!!

Good luck to all!!

Jeremy