Patient Care Tech in the Emergency Room

tech1000 · Jul 29, 2011

It depends. In my hospital, we do the lab draws, foleys, splinting, vital signs, help people to the restroom, EKGs, transport... Some hospitals won't allow ER techs to do lab draws and foleys. It's an awesome job. I'd recommend it.

Birdbr · Aug 2, 2011

Thanks for the reply!!! Hopefully I get more soon.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Aug 2, 2011

It depends. In my hospital, we do the lab draws, foleys, splinting, vital signs, help people to the restroom, EKGs, transport... Some hospitals won't allow ER techs to do lab draws and foleys. It's an awesome job. I'd recommend it.

ER techs at the hospital I used to work at (Ohio) did this, too, as well as insert IVs.

Birdbr · Aug 2, 2011

Wow... did you have to get licensed/certified for that? Thanks for your reply!

Rach10388 · Aug 3, 2011

I was a tech for 4 years during nursing school. I worked at a level 1 trauma center, i was able to pull IV's, pull foleys, in dept UA, we ran some blood tests on the floor, asisting nurses with all procedures as well as doctors, 1:1, EKGs, phlebotomy, transporting, responding to trauma alerts, ssetting up chest tubes, security alerts, decon training, we were actually allowed to restrain patients. It was the best job ever, I not have accepted a nursing position in a trauma center in a different state... totally worth it. best job ever.

I did my preceptorship in the ED for nursing school, me and my preceptor made a new record, MI to the cath lab in 34 minutes during off times. I took care of 4 stroke patients, 4 MI, 3 cardiac arrests (one in which we saved)... i wouldnt have been able to do this without the expeerience and knowledge working as a tech

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Aug 10, 2011

Wow... did you have to get licensed/certified for that? Thanks for your reply!

You have to go through orientation, of course, but no, they were not certified. I worked as a tech on a med-surg unit and I also drew blood and inserted IV's. Of course, the RN needs to assess your ability to properly do so before they delegated that task to you.

northernguy · Aug 27, 2011

If you want to work as an ER tech, it helps a lot to get your EMT license, in fact most places probably require it. Some might even require you be a paramedic. The odds of getting hired as an ER tech with only your CNA and no experience are slim and none.

NurseMaybeBaby · Sep 22, 2011

I'm not allowed to do blood draws or anything with IVs, but do foleys, vitals, CPR, splints, wound care, UA collection, monitors, and so much more. I have learned a TON. I'm in my second semester of NS, and started this job during my first semester. I really feel like I'm more prepared for clinical and feel pretty comfortable around patients. I'm hoping it will help me get a job when I graduate!

A.Brook · Oct 10, 2011

It really depends on your facility. At our hospital our ER techs usually don't have any license whatsoever, but are in nursing school. We can actually do more than the CNAs and PCTs on the floors are allowed to do. The only procedures we don't do are IV starts and anything dealing with medications. Like tech1000 said, almost anything else is fair game. Tons of patient transports and EKGs; fewer blood draws because nurses can usually draw blood when inserting IVs. Catheters per HCP order only.

btrossbach · Sep 18, 2012

It depends greatly on your state regulations and facility policies. As and ER Tech I do basic ADL/patient care, IV insertion, blood draws, foleys, EKG's, vitals, assist physicians with procedures such as LPs and sutures. It is a great job if you want to see and learn a lot.