Im curious about ER tech qualifications

NurseFirst · May 25, 2005

Hi, I am really interested in being an ER tech after talking to someone I just met. He is an EMT and works as an ER tech, but I was wondering, I am a CNA my license is updated and I currently work in a long term health care facility, do I need an EMT certification to be an ER tech? I have heard that it depends where you live and even sometimes the hospital where you apply. I live in elmira,(upstate)New York. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

Check with the HR departments of the hospitals in your area that you might be interested in working at. They will give you the most definitive information, since they are the ones doing the hiring. Some places around here want such things as diverse as being an EMT-P; or having EKG and phlebotomy skills.

NurseFirst

candyndel · May 25, 2005

We will hire someone as a new ERT if they have completed 1 year of nursing school or passed a nurses aide certification and have related experience (sometimes we hire EMTs, too).

We then train/certify them in phlebotomy, ECGs and splint applications (orthoglass and prefab) once they are hired. So no, we don't require EMT certification. No prehospital certs are required here! I would call the NM of the ED you are interested in and speak with them. If you are ambitious, excited and eager, I would take you in a heartbeat! You can teach someone those ERT skills; however, you can't teach someone those qualities!

Hi, I am really interested in being an ER tech after talking to someone I just met. He is an EMT and works as an ER tech, but I was wondering, I am a CNA my license is updated and I currently work in a long term health care facility, do I need an EMT certification to be an ER tech? I have heard that it depends where you live and even sometimes the hospital where you apply. I live in elmira,(upstate)New York. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

student4ever · May 28, 2005

We will hire someone as a new ERT if they have completed 1 year of nursing school or passed a nurses aide certification and have related experience (sometimes we hire EMTs, too).
We then train/certify them in phlebotomy, ECGs and splint applications (orthoglass and prefab) once they are hired. So no, we don't require EMT certification. No prehospital certs are required here! I would call the NM of the ED you are interested in and speak with them. If you are ambitious, excited and eager, I would take you in a heartbeat! You can teach someone those ERT skills; however, you can't teach someone those qualities!

I totally agree. Of course, some hospitals have different qualifications. I got told the first time I asked the nurse manager about becoming a tech (I work in ED Registration now) that I needed to have some clinical experience first (ie CNA license, EMT training, or be in my clinical nursing classes) and to call her when I started nursing school, since I'm still in pre nursing for another year before starting clinical classes. But when the nurses I work with on nights started complaining about not having enough techs and asking why didn't I apply to be a tech, I got to thinking. They reccommended I ask the NM for an interview, which I did, and I guess my enthusiasm, interest, and the fact that I was persistent showed that I have what it takes to learn the skills needed on the job and that I really wanted the position, esp since I am taking a pay cut. I start next month, and I'm a little nervous because I have a LOT to learn. But at least since I've worked at this ED for two years, I know they general flow of things and I know a lot of our patients already (since we have TONS of frequent fliers). A lot of nurse managers are really really busy, so try and get a face to face interview if at all possible, that way you can really wow her/him with your enthusiasm and your excitement for the health care field. At my hospital, they will certify/train you in phlebotomy and EKGs, teach you to do catheters, urine dips, helping ambulate patients, etc. and if you show real interest in learning as much as possible, they will let you help and/or observe in trauma situations so that you will have some experience when you start nursing school. Lucky for me, they also need some PRN help for Unit Secretary and with my experience in Registration, they're cross-training me for that as well. If you show interest and excitement about learning and are willing to work hard for them, most EDs are in such need of extra help that they will hire you pretty quickly and teach you what you need as you go. Good luck and my advice is to be proactive and don't take no for an answer - be persistant!

TlhRNED · May 28, 2005

Hi, I am really interested in being an ER tech after talking to someone I just met. He is an EMT and works as an ER tech, but I was wondering, I am a CNA my license is updated and I currently work in a long term health care facility, do I need an EMT certification to be an ER tech? I have heard that it depends where you live and even sometimes the hospital where you apply. I live in elmira,(upstate)New York. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

I am a Nurse Manager in PA and we utilize ED techs. We follow the ENA EDT curriculum and guidelines for PA. It is up to the individual facility of what qualifications are preferred for the facility. I require EMT and CNA within one year of hire. The EMT certificatin gives a broader scope and knowledge base of Emergency Medicine.

EMTtoRN · May 29, 2005

I am currently an EMT and also a part time registrar in the ED waiting for an ER tech opening,,,but it depends on different hospitals!!!

The hospital I work in will take EMT-B's and train them or also CNA's and teach the phleb and EKG skills.

Another hospital I am looking at requires you to be an EMT-I or CNA.

A state hospital around here only has Medical Assistants with 2 years experience as techs.

SO like it was said before it depends on the hospital!

Hi, I am really interested in being an ER tech after talking to someone I just met. He is an EMT and works as an ER tech, but I was wondering, I am a CNA my license is updated and I currently work in a long term health care facility, do I need an EMT certification to be an ER tech? I have heard that it depends where you live and even sometimes the hospital where you apply. I live in elmira,(upstate)New York. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!