mamaxmaria

If you don't mind me asking, what did you not like about the program? I'm currently at wpu looking to transfer into the nursing program

I worked as an ICU tech for 4 years before switching to ER. Since all pts were on monitors the nurses documented their vitals (they were still paper charting. Only switched to electronic recently) we only went around and did temps. Accuchecks. And urine output. The techs documented these things on their own board..then the nurse would check the board for their pt. I dont know about it being illegal for us to document vitals...i currently document vitals on critical pts in the ER but i can see why an RN would prefer to do it themselves.

Thanks for the reply! Triage wouldnt be good for me as a tech because it consist of placing the pts on stretchers and taking them to their assigned areas....lots of pushing stretchers back forth lol there is how fast track but im afaid to for a " special " assignment just cause im preggers.....:-/

I am an ER tech in a very very busy level 2.... I work the 3-11p shift, the most hectic I am currently 30 weeks along and starting to feel myself having trouble keeping up with the job. In the beginning I didn't change anything because I didn't want being pregnant to get in the way of my duties. I still pushed stretchers and lifted pt's, but was still careful... if they were very obese my co workers are always great about getting someone else to lift/push. But lately our volume has been SO HIGH... the census has easily been staying at least 110+ all shift. The constant running around, bending over, and trying to maneuver around all these hallway pt's is draining me fast. I wanted to try and stay at work as long as possible but everyday it seems to get harder and harder. it dosent help that I'm seriously all belly already (it's a boy and I'm only 4'11 so the baby has no where to go but out! lol) Just looking for some advice from others who have worked in a crazy ER while pregant. how long did you last? is there anything you did to make work just a little more bearable? My co workers have been great about not having me push stretchers or pull pt's anymore, which I appreciate but feel bad because it makes me feel a little useless sometimes :-/ I want to continue to be as efficient as possible at my job but this pregnancy is really slowing me down(especially when I have to pee every 10 minutes!! haha).... and I don't want to be that person that uses being pregnant as an excuse to not work.. so any types on how to make this work are greatly appreciated!!

I was a nursing major...have worked in healthcare for 5 years as an ER tech. I love/hate my job. I realized while I love working in the hospital...I'm starting to HATE being so involved with patient care. That's why I decided to switch to Respiratory Therapy. I can still be involved but not as involved as a nurse.. I can still work in the hospital... We can't make the choice for you. You need to do something you can see yourself doing for the rest of your life. I don't see a very happy future for myself as a nurse... they deal with a lot god bless them... but i see myself being in a miserable job i hate if I were to continue with nursing..but thats just me... do what your heart tells you!

I do not believe so. I have worked as a tech for the past 5 years and have seen many other techs leave because they got their license. Once they got that they are no longer allowed to work as a tech weather they had an rn position lined up or not.

this thread brought me back to when I was in school for Medical assisting..... I always knew to draw cultures first, that reason is obvious... but one thing I remember but cannot remember the reason was never to draw a lavender tube first.... so if you have to draw only a CBC you have to use a red stopper tube first, then you can draw the CBC I THINK the reason was air getting in the tube effecting the result but I'm not sure.... any one know the proper reason??

The fact of the matter is, when you work in healthcare, there is always going to be that nurse with the superiority complex that does not see the techs and aides as her team members but simply their assistant who they have control over. I work as tech and was very recently chewed out in front of my coworkers by a nasty nurse. I was assigned to do cover for breaks, and the first tech refused to go when I went to relieve him. I told this nurse ( who was the charge nurse that day ) and her response was "I dont care as long everyone gets their break." ...okay then I moved along went to the next person but unfortunately people like to take a little longer then there assigned breaks so when I finally got back to break the tech that originally refused he had already complained he didn't get a break and someone else broke him. Well and hour later this charge nurse calls be over and in front of all my coworkers (and a few pt's and visitors) yells at me "Why didnt this person get a break?!?!" I told her I went back to relive him but he had already gone" well she goes on how I am supposed to tell her and not just take it upon myself to take of it. Well lets just say I could have gone off and made her feel like a complete ass but I just shut my mouth and walked away. I love my job and I love what I do but this is the nature of the beast. We as techs and aides are the "low ones on the totem pole" sometimes certain nurses seem to forget that we are a part of the team and are their for the same reason they are... to help care for our pt's. All we can do is perform our job to the best of our ability. Don't let a mean nurse get under your skin because their are plenty of other mean nurses where that came from, and plenty of nurses that truly appreciate the work we as techs and aides do.

Yes I have been here for a little over a year now :-)

Thank you all for the comments. They were all very informative. I know has an RT I will also be very busy and hectic, which I dont mind, and I know with a BSN I could do so much more as the RT is very limited. I still feel at this present time I will be much happier. Once I start the RT program I could be done in a year. With a child on the way and limited financial resources I feel this is my best option. I have researched jobs in my area, and while there are many more opportunities for RN's there are still RT positions out there. With my hospital experience, and many friends who are RT's, I feel confident finding a job wont be too much trouble. Right now, I don't want to be a nurse anymore. I honestly do not want to deal with what I see nurses deal with every day. What all of you do is amazing and it takes a certain type of person to be a nurse, and I just don't think I'm that person, not yet anyway. Maybe down the road I'll find the drive and desire and go for it, but right now I feel much more comfortable going the RT route.

So I was on track at my local community college for my RN. With my pre reqs finished up with last semester I was on the hunt for a BSN program to transfer into, as you need a BSN in my area to get a job. I was accepted to a few places but now I'm thinking I don't want to do this anymore. ( I also can not afford a BSN program) For the past yeah I have worked as a ER tech in a VERY VERY busy level 2 trauma center. Before that I was in MICU/SICU for 4 years. I was in the ICU when I decided I wanted to really be apart of the healing process and make a difference. Now I'm starting to think I do not want that at all. I'm 13 weeks pregnant, i dont know if that has anything to do with it but I'm thinking I rather go for respiratory therapy. I want to stay in health care and I want to continue to work with people, and I still want to be able to get that adrenaline rush with traumas and codes. But I honestly don't want to be responsible for the TOTAL care of the pt. Is it bad that I don't want that responsibility and stress? I have watched the RN's for years be put threw hell and back with politics, doctors, pt's, and the stress from short staffing... why would I put myself threw that??? I know with nursing there is much more I can do then just bedside, acute care, and with respiratory my options are limited but that is okay with me. RT is so appealing right now because it is so focused. I can still get the rush i get from traumas and codes, and I can still make a difference because I would be helping people breath easier :-) I talked to RN's and RT's at my job and some say go for RN because it's more money and you can advance, some say go for RT for the exact reasons I have already stated. Ultimately I need to do what I feel is right for me but I would still like some advice and comments... thanks

Thanks for your replies. This is my first pregnancy so I'm still in a bit of shock :-). A few days before I found out I actually applied for a 3-11p position which would be perfect. Should I just wait and see if i get it or should I talk to my employer now? Its still very early and wasn't planning on telling anyone until for another month... even though I want to tell the world lol

So I have recently found out I am pregnant! My question is ( and yes im thinking way way ahead here ) When I have the baby will my employer have to accommodate me if I cannot not work 11p to 7a? I live in NJ, and work in a large busy ER as a tech. My bf also works nights, sorta. He works for a seafood distributor as a driver and the absolute latest he can possible go into work is 5am. He currently goes in at 2am. This means I have to leave work by 3am. We have 2 managers in the ER...and it's kinda like good cop bad cop. One is awesome and will always listen and do what he can.... the other is like talking to a wall. When the time comes I am going to speak to them but I was wondering if any one else has been in this situation and/or can help me understand my rights in this situation. Thanks :-)

Is she going for nursing or this is just how she likes do to her job? When I first started as a PCT 5 years ago I was nervous about everything! I quickly learned that all pt's have different norms and what not but what really helped me to relax was the nurse explaining to me WHY the pt's blood pressure was so high/low or WHY they were a bit tachy. If I think something is abnormal, It's my job to let the nurse know, and I love it when the nurse explains things to me ( as long is wasn't in "omg you stupid tech" kinda way ) In the long run it really helped me be better at my job and really helps that I am now going to school for nursing myself. Maybe you can try explaining things to her in a non condensing kind of way. I know with some people it can be like beating a dead horse but It could be worth a try :-)

The units it my previous hospital would divide the pt's equally between the techs. There were two halls on the unit so their were ideally 4 techs... 2 for each hall. One tech would do all the v/s for their hall and the other would do all the accuchecks. this system seemed to work out very well. They tried at one point to assign the techs to nurses but it eventually got complicated with all the admissions and discharges. The techs hated it because they were assigned to multiple nurses and had to keep track of their the nurses pt's which were sometimes on completely different sides of the unit. The admissions worked they same as they did with the nurses...1 ..2..3...4..5 You were assigned a number. That number admission was yours.. When it came to the techs it was never assigned based on acuity or total care. The nurses know their pt's and were expected to help the techs with their total care pt's

I live with my parents now which is the problem. Not a good environment. I'm expecting not to have any free time, any I rather that that have to deal with what i am currently dealing with at home.

Nope... my parents are the only family I have around here the rest of my family lives out of state... I know I will be able to pull it off but adding nursing school into the mix throws me off. I know my job can be very accomadating. They will let me work every weekend so I can do my school stuff during the week.... I think I'm letting my nerves get the best of me. I don't want to have to come running back to my parents again and have them throw it my face....AGAIN

Nope... my parents are the only family I have around here the rest of my family lives out of state... I know I will be able to pull it off but adding nursing school into the mix throws me off. I know my job can be very accomadating. They will let me work every weekend so I can do my school stuff during the week.... I think I'm letting my nerves get the best of me. I don't want to have to come running back to my parents again and have them throw it my face....AGAIN

So about a year ago I moved back home so I can save money and continue to go to school. My home environment is completely dysfunctional. (long long story but in a nutshell my parents are recovering/active drug addicts) I was previously living with my boyfriend in an apartment we couldn't afford anymore so we both moved back in with our parents. I'm currently taking my last classes at a community college and have been accepted to a BSN program for the Fall. I work part-time as an ER tech I really feel like in my gut it is time to get the hell out of here for my own sake but I'm scared! ofcourse money is an issue but I am sure I can pull it off because getting extra hours at work is not a problem. I'm just nervous because I'm going to have to take out loans in order to go to this BSN program... I completely support myself as it is. My boyfriend is going to stay with his dad because he is starting school in the fall as well, and for him it just works better, and i dont blame him! I guess I'm just looking for advice from people who have gone to nursing school and supported themselves. I know it can be done I'm just so nervous I work nights at my job, I'm 24 years old, and I have a dog to take care of as well (people have asked if I really need to keep the dog... yes I do. She's like my child and has been threw alot) I know getting out of this situation will be the best thing I could do for myself emotional and apparently physically because I have been haveing some serious bouts of stress induced hives that I had to go to the ER for once already help :-(

Any CNA/PCT with the proper training should be able to recognize an emergency immediately. Some of it comes from experience, and some comes from just being trained to recognize the lets say the signs of a stroke, or the PCT being able to identify a lethal heart rhythm / evidence of infarction on an EKG. As for the ability to work with up to 16 pt's and 4 -6 nurses... that would be a holiday to any CNA. I work in one of the busiest ER's in my state and that sounds like a good day lol

My hospital in NJ uses both CNA's and PCT's (Patient Care Technician). PCT's are only used in critical care and the ER, CNA's are every where else. The only difference between a CNA and a PCT is that the PCT has the ability to perform EKG's, hooking up telemetry pt's and drawing blood. They are working on giving all the CNA's more training so they can become PCT's as well.

I was just accepted to felician college as a transfer student. I went to the open house and from what I could tell it seems like a great program. They are known to have an excellent BSN program.. only requirement is a 3.0 GPA. In your senior year they also have a nurse residency program to help the transition from student to RN I would check it out, they can be a bit prices but are generous with grants and scholarships

So I was just accepted as a transfer student to Felician College!! I'm very excited and nervous and hope I can hack it! I wanted to see if anyone here attended Felician or know anything about it, and whether you can give me some advice on how to survive and what to expect.

I currently work at HUMC as a tech and one of the RN's said she makes around 35/hr... night/weekend diff is $4. Apparently HUMC looks great on a resume but I have heard the great pay referred to as "battle pay" Another RN (2 or 3 years exp) claims she was offered a job at another facility without an interview simply because she "survived hackensack" People drive upwards of an hour just to come here ( even the emergency room )... it's a well known well respected hospital, and they demand perfection. The money is great but you definitely earn it. It's seems to me the idea is if you can work hackensack without being fired.... you can probably work anywhere....

Most hospital around me in NJ are only hiring nurses holding a BSN..some because they are Magnet, others because thats where nursing is headed. It will probably be difficult to find a job with an associates degree... if someone with a BSN also applied i almost promise they will accept that before an associates. I would suggest enrolling into a BSN asap most hospitals will not hire associate degree nurses unless they already worked there and are in the process of obtaining their BSN. The nurses that work in my facility that have an associates had already been there before magnet status and this whole RN vs BSN thing started.. Today it is difficult to get hired... in future it might be damn near impossible with all the new BSN students running around...