I know this is a "nursing" forum so I hope my non-nurse question isn't too intrusive
I am a new CNA on a Med/Surg floor (3 months now ) . I had no medical experience before this job and so far think I am doing very well. I have aspirations of becoming a nurse but I realize that is a couple years down the road. As such I am trying to figure out my short-term goals.
Like how can I learn the most? make more money? Etc.
ER technician has popped up. The job sounds exciting and it seems like I could learn a ton of things that would help me when I enter into the nursing program. It would be months down the road but I wanna prepare as much as I can.
Questions:
How does an ER techs job differ from a CNAs? I know they do blood draws and EKGs, but what about the day to day routine of the ER from an ER techs perspective?
What can I learn on Med/Surg that will help me in ER?
Are there any books/Articles out there that will help me?
Hi, I could not help from responding to your post. It is one that I would have written over a year ago. Since that time, so much has happened. I transitioned into nursing from the legal field where I had worked for many years. I want to do ER nursing as well...and I took the necessary steps to begin to prepare myself. Yes, it sounded "excited" as you said but it is NOT an easy place to work. You are literally dealing with someone's life and in many instances seconds count and you have to be able to make the RIGHT decision about what to do. So, unless you prepare, excitement is not a good thing unless you are ready for it. I am a nursing student and will go to clinicals in the next few months. I have worked hard to get here. Congrats to myself!
First, you have to get hands on direct patient care experience. I did this for a year months working in the ortho and med/surg units at a local hospital. I also did LTC for a short period of time as well.
Next, take advantage of every training class that is available to you, in house or independently. I even attended some classes that were open to the public. I put those classes on my resume. I thought a perspective employer may think they were foolish but that was not the case. Actually, it showed perseverance and my commitment to learning as much as I possible could regarding the health field.
Learn as much as you can as a CNA. I did and I also asked as many questions as I possibly could. There are no dumb questions. I took advantage of any and every nurse who was willing to teach me something new or answer a question. After a while, nurses began to seek me out because they knew that I wanted to learn and whenever they had a learning opportunity for me to see something new, they sought me out. Congrats to them!
Then, you have to apply, apply, apply. I was able to secure an ER Tech position and will begin my new job on 7/14/08. I took a lot of determination to finally get it. My ER Director told me that I was not the most experienced candidate but I was the only one who showed a continuous learning process and investment in myself. She also said I was the only one who mentioned treating a patient with dignity and respect during my interview. (I must have really been psyched because I couldn't recall what I said and I definitely did not ask but whatever I said, it worked).
Bottom line is invest in yourself and it will pay off.
missybell
7 Posts
Hi, I could not help from responding to your post. It is one that I would have written over a year ago. Since that time, so much has happened. I transitioned into nursing from the legal field where I had worked for many years. I want to do ER nursing as well...and I took the necessary steps to begin to prepare myself. Yes, it sounded "excited" as you said but it is NOT an easy place to work. You are literally dealing with someone's life and in many instances seconds count and you have to be able to make the RIGHT decision about what to do. So, unless you prepare, excitement is not a good thing unless you are ready for it. I am a nursing student and will go to clinicals in the next few months. I have worked hard to get here. Congrats to myself!
First, you have to get hands on direct patient care experience. I did this for a year months working in the ortho and med/surg units at a local hospital. I also did LTC for a short period of time as well.
Next, take advantage of every training class that is available to you, in house or independently. I even attended some classes that were open to the public. I put those classes on my resume. I thought a perspective employer may think they were foolish but that was not the case. Actually, it showed perseverance and my commitment to learning as much as I possible could regarding the health field.
Learn as much as you can as a CNA. I did and I also asked as many questions as I possibly could. There are no dumb questions. I took advantage of any and every nurse who was willing to teach me something new or answer a question. After a while, nurses began to seek me out because they knew that I wanted to learn and whenever they had a learning opportunity for me to see something new, they sought me out. Congrats to them!
Then, you have to apply, apply, apply. I was able to secure an ER Tech position and will begin my new job on 7/14/08. I took a lot of determination to finally get it. My ER Director told me that I was not the most experienced candidate but I was the only one who showed a continuous learning process and investment in myself. She also said I was the only one who mentioned treating a patient with dignity and respect during my interview. (I must have really been psyched because I couldn't recall what I said and I definitely did not ask but whatever I said, it worked).
Bottom line is invest in yourself and it will pay off.
Good luck and best wishes.
Missy