ER tech

soxgirl2008 · Jan 19, 2013

The ER techs at my hospital do a wide assortment of things... Help in codes, put on splints, do ekgs, draw blood, get vitals, transport patients to x ray/ct scan/ ultrasound... Bring patients to the floor. Take out IVs. They do a lot of the wound care too.

FutureRNGreen · Jan 19, 2013

Do they administer injections because im a medical assistant and i applied for that position just to get some experience and thank you for your comment

soxgirl2008 · Jan 20, 2013

No, our ER techs can't do anything with medications. However laws vary by state so it could be different where you live. Were you trained to give injections as a medical assistant? Because then they *might* let you, but it really depends on the facility.

dannygirl315 · Jan 20, 2013

I'm an ER Tech. I draw blood, start IV's, do splints of all kinds, dispense crutches, assist patients in ambulating, collect specimens and take them to the lab, lots and lots of vitals, catheters, emenas, bladder scans, take patients to the floor if they're admitted, take them to other depts for CT or X-Ray if they need help, assist Dr or nurse if they need extra hands. There's probably more that I do, but can't think of now.

FutureRNGreen · Jan 21, 2013

@soxgirl yes i can draw blood and give injections as a medical assistant i have my cna/pct/cma so i can do everything @dannygirl that sounds interesting i would love to do all of thank anything to get me prepared for nursing school i need all the experience

funtimes · Jan 21, 2013

If you are a CNA/PCT/MA, you are more than qualified. Unfortunately many ERs prefer EMTs with field experience. Why I have no idea, as working the road as an EMT is nothing like the ER, but for whatever reason thats what many want.

FutureRNGreen · Jan 25, 2013

i guess we will see i just waiting on a phone call hofefully someone calls me soon causei talked to the manager.

BrackEMTgal · Jan 27, 2013

I'm an ER tech. I do vein puncture, ekg's, splints, you name it. I'm also a EMT-B though. They want people they know can handle it. It can be rough, exhausting, and traumatic but also really cool. My ER is a Level 1and they only hire EMT's. Good luck!

Bobmo88 · Jan 28, 2013

In my ER we have to be Phlebotomy certified and the job description says EMT or CNA preferred but they don't really care about those (HR cancelled my EMT Cert verification when I was being hired because it took way longer than my phlebotomy) I do venipuncture, 12 lead EKGs, splints, vital signs, pt. transport, sitting for psych patients, CPR on coding patients, and assisting nurses and docs however I can, among other things. I used to do some point of care testing like UA dipsticks and accuchecks but our hospital changed their policy to allowing only licensed personnel to do these now. Our techs also work as the unit secretary so I do that as well. The ER can be very hectic at times so you need to be able to multi-task, prioritize, be assertive, and be able to communicate well with others.

FirefighterDoug · Jan 31, 2013

If you are a CNA/PCT/MA, you are more than qualified. Unfortunately many ERs prefer EMTs with field experience. Why I have no idea, as working the road as an EMT is nothing like the ER, but for whatever reason thats what many want.

How did you come up with the idea that working on the road as an EMT is nothing like the ER? I have been working as a tech for seven years and some of the best ER techs and RN's I work with all have prior or current field experience. Many ER managers look for tech as well as RN candidates with thier EMT (basic or medic) and field experience. The reason is that EMT's and RN's with field experience tend to have better critical thinking skills and have the ability to multi task effeciently when it gets busy. At the level one I worked at I helped train the CNA's that came down to the ER from the floors. I noticed that most were very hard workers but just by the nature of thier CNA education and training they think differently than people I trained with thier EMT and field experience. Rather than trying to think ahead or act alone during traumas and codes they rely on being directed by an RN or other provider.

FutureRNGreen · Jan 31, 2013

thank you everyone