I just started a new job and have begun to realize something so please give me your opinion on it.
I work in the ED as a tech which I like a lot. What I don't like is the policy that every tech has to be trained to work as unit secretary and all secretaries had to become EMT's. (all techs are EMT's in this ER) This ER is a fun place to work. It's very exciting but the secretary position is just not something I want to do. I don't want to sit at the desk for 12 hours; I'd rather be on my feet running around.
I"ve now realized that I will only be part time doing what I really want to do. So what's to keep me in this job? I can just go to another hospital where techs are techs and do what I love 100% of the time. We are expected to do this every other day. :uhoh21:
The other techs say they hate the desk job too. I think this policy is bad for everyone. Let techs be techs and secretaries be secretaries. They are darn good at their job! I'm still training so I'm a mess!
But the job on the website and the one I applied for was Emergency Services Technician. I was told about the switching off at the job interview. I just had to accept this position because I've heard so many things about this ER and you could learn a lot working there.
I've positioned myself in the ER because I want to be an ER nurse when I get my RN. This is the only Hospital I know of that requires its employees to switch off positions like that.
But maybe I'm missing something? Maybe there is something here for me to learn? I'm still new so I don't see what's the good in it all. Do you see anything I don't? Where is the positive in this double job? Help me see it. I know something is good here but I'm so new I don't know it yet. Thanks
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
HEY! Guess what? I found that the phone has these little buttons shaped like arrows one going up the other down and if you press them the volume goes up and down on the phone! So naturally I turned it up so I could hear!
The other day it wasn't as crazy and I could hear most everything. I was suppose to train on the floor but once again they put me at the desk. If I can get thru this then I can start to get training on the floor at the tech position.
Big plus. Signed up to go to a cardiac dysrythmia course at my new job and will be getting paid too! Ah the benefits of working in a hospital :)
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
While it may be tough to listen on the phone, wouldn't you rather be learning how to do that while your still *just* than when you're an RN, along with all the other things you'll be figuring out how to do?
It's great that you asked this question instead of just concluding that there was nothing good to come of this dual position! I actually think it would be great if all pre-nursing techs/CNAs had the opportunity to also work as US just for all the reasons mentioned above!
(emphasis mine)
I just wanted to say that this response and all the other posts here have really made a difference for me adjusting my attitude to my new job. I keep listing these things to myself when I am getting stressed out in the ER. (or when I make a mistake) :)
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
I am at the point now where I am enjoying my new job. Tonight I felt so disappointed that I would not be going to work tomorrow. I never thought I would be able to do this job well but I think I can handle it. Working is so much fun. Admittedly, the ER hasn't been as busy. I like working so closely with all the different people that ask me to do stuff. It really is a great job. Can't wait to get my first paycheck :)
Our techs are supposed to be crosstrained as secretaries, but not all the US are able to be techs. They do get paid more for being able to do both jobs. When we are short a US, its really tough to keep up with all the orders, so having a tech able to put them in helps. :redbeathe
We nurses were all supposed to take the last computer training when we changed systems, but the newer ones and some of the older ones never got that. I can double as US, if needed. What really made it bad, is when I had to do charge and secretary at the same time! in a level III trauma ER. The docs would give me an order, and then ask who was in charge and do a double take when I said it was still me!
You may well be "sitting for 12 hours", but you won't be sitting on your hands, that's for sure.
And when you do get your license, think of the time and half at nurse's wages to come in for a secretary shift (yes, it has happened to me). That sitting down aspect was actually appealing.
At the risk of sounding very ignorant, what is and ER tech. I have a nurse aids in my ED and they do nurse aid tasks. An ED tech sounds like a person who does more than nurse aid tasks.
At the risk of sounding very ignorant, what is and ER tech. I have a nurse aids in my ED and they do nurse aid tasks. An ED tech sounds like a person who does more than nurse aid tasks.
Every hospital has a different description of what an ER tech or aide can do. It often depends on the person's level of training.
At my ER, we have a mix of training levels for our techs/aides. The aides that are floated from other floors can usually do NA tasks, vitals, beds, BGLs and transporting med-surg patients to the floor. They don't do anything invasive. We have one guy who has worked there for 20+ years as a tech who does all of the above, plus IVs and caths. When I was teching as a paramedic, I was allowed to pretty much do anything but push meds, including transporting tele and unit patients...same goes for the other medic that works there.
However, there are different facilities that don't let medics in the ER do anything more than an aide...and then again, I know of one that's using medics in triage. It all depends on what that particular facility allows specific training levels to do.
I think this policy is bad for everyone. Let techs be techs and secretaries be secretaries. They are darn good at their job! I'm still training so I'm a mess! 
So naturally I turned it up so I could hear! 
Valerie Salva, BSN, RN
1,793 Posts
Wow, Faeriewand,
You've gotten some great advice here!
Also, if hearing the phone continues to be a problem, you can buy a cheap phone volume amplifier on the internet. Just google it.