AlaskaHopeful

One day I want to be a nurse in the ED! I had an interview on Friday April the 12th for an ED tech position. I received the offer on Monday the 15th. My first job in the medical field... EVER! I have done the HR tango and I am waiting for the general orientation to start on the 6th of May... Congratulations on your new department!

DO NOT GIVE UP! I just got hired in the emergency department as a tech. My clinical was in October of 2012. I have NO experience in the medical field other than clinical. I seriously was ready to throw in the towel after so many applications in the past 6 months. I finally got an interview... I had a feeling that the no experience question would come up, especially in the ED. I was asked during the interview directly by the ED manager: "Do you think that having no experience is a bad thing for the position for which you are applying for?" With confidence and conviction I stated: "No. I believe that not having experience is an opportunity for me to learn, and grow. It is also an opportunity for the emergency department to teach me the ways of how the ED works, without me bringing any bad habits from other departments." This is a negative question, in my mind. BUT.... I put a positive spin on it, and made it out to be a positive thing for me, and the ED as well. I kept a positive attitude, told them I was flexible, a fast learner, and that I aspired to become an RN in that specific ED and hospital one day. My excitement to be part of their team probably showed a lot. I was super interested and did a week of prep for the interview. Just remember to think positive! Positive things will happen! I believe that I was destined for this ED tech position, because I put in a lot of apps over the months. If I would have received another offer in LTC or something, and started working, I may have missed out on the ED tech position. I believe that I'm blessed with it, but I also believe that everything (positive or negative) happens for a specific reason. If there is nothing coming your way now... stay positive. The universe is lining up in just the right way to provide you with something great!

I have wanted to be in the healthcare industry since the 7th grade. (I did the Heimlich maneuver on my little sister on thanksgiving that year) A very long time ago. I will be 32 before the end of the year. I made exceptional money in my last career. I was making 32 to 49 an hour, and only worked 8 to 10 months a year. But my heart was never in the right place. I could feel that I was missing something. So I went back to school, acquired my CNA cert, and started from scratch. I begin my first medical job as an ED tech on May 6th. SO EXCITED!!! If given the opportunity to do it all over again, I would not change anything. I have a house that will be paid off in a few short years, and I have a wonderful family. I literally gave up a career that paid good money to be happy in my life. This is the direction I wanted to go in life, and I'm not getting any younger, so it was time.

Thank you for the reply! I am very nervous. They will assign a preceptor, but i'm not sure how long it will be for. My general orientation starts May 6th. I was told by the recruiter that someone from the ED should be there at some point to help with the questions that I may have. I know the general orientation is 3 different days, 13 hours total. One day is for the computer network. The other two are general. I know that I will have to learn new things and I'm so eager to learn things. Most of my classmates found themselves in LTC. Did you have experience prior to the ED? Were you a CNA or EMT?

I cannot say that I have even made it as far as you have. I just got my CNA certification, 5 months ago. I just found out that I got the offer for the ED tech at my local hospital. I was starting to feel like I wasted my time until I got the offer. You are closer to the finish line than you have even been. The best advice that I can give you is DO NOT GIVE UP! You have made it this far, there is a reason you made it this far. Your graduation date is so close. Push like you have never pushed before. Know that in just a few short weeks you will be done. You will move onto your NCLEX and pass. Then you will be able to WORK! Don't think negative, be positive and visualize yourself at the top of the world at the end! You got this!

I have accepted an offer for an ED tech position, my expected start date is May 6th. For this position, a CNA cert was highly preferred. I got my cert 5 months ago and this is my first position in the medical world at all...feeling very lucky and blessed to have gotten this position without real world experience, aside from clinicals 5 months ago...from what I was told, it is quite a bit different than normal CNA jobs. My question to the ED techs is this: What should I go over again in my CNA book to help me better prepare for this position? Should I pick up some extra books from the book store to better prepare me? If so what are some good ones to look for? Are there any areas, or things that I should really focus on knowing extremely well? It is a teaching hospital and they said that I will be given opportunities to take classes on phlebotomy, and reading EKG's, among a few other things that my duties will include. I just really want to be prepared for this. If there is any advice for me, I am willing to listen! Thank you for your replies!

Fairbanks, Alaska: ED tech 16.11 base plus weekend/night differentials. No experience other than clinical setting.

I have accepted an offer for an ED tech position, my expected start date is May 6th. For this position, a CNA cert was highly preferred. I got my cert 5 months ago and this is my first position in the medical world at all...feeling very lucky and blessed to have gotten this position without real world experience, aside from clinicals 5 months ago...from what I was told, it is quite a bit different than normal CNA jobs. My question to the ED techs is this: What should I go over again in my CNA book to help me better prepare for this position? Should I pick up some extra books from the book store to better prepare me? If so what are some good ones to look for? Are there any areas, or things that I should really focus on knowing extremely well? It is a teaching hospital and they said that I will be given opportunities to take classes on phlebotomy, and reading EKG's, among a few other things that my duties will include. I just really want to be prepared for this. If there is any advice for me, I am willing to listen! Thank you for your replies!

I received the offer to be an ED Tech! I was also allowed to reschedule my jury duty between now and December! Thank you for the replies... I am on cloud nine at the moment!

Thank you for the replies! I have to start calling in everyday after 5pm at the beginning of the month. If my number is selected I would need to show up a 8am the next morning. If I am selected during that process then I will have to go in, depending on what kind of case it is will determine how long it will be. If I get the offer to work at the ED (fingers crossed), then I will tell them. I know its not good to be deceiving, it goes against my nature, but I need this tech position. Bills are piling up

Hello AN! I need some advice. In January I received as summons to do jury duty for the month of March, I requested that I be excused until June, because I was in school and didn't want to ruin a semesters worth of hard work. I have an interview for a ED Tech position on the 12th of April. I have applied to many positions, but this is my first interview since getting my CNA certificate, 5 months ago. I want this, I need this, but I will have to eventually tell my prospective employers about this hiccup in scheduling. When is the best time to mention that I will need time off in June? At the interview? After getting an offer? The shift is 3, 12 hours nights. The days (or nights in this case) are varied. So it could be any night of the week. The recruiter said that scheduling is usually done 3 to 4 weeks in advance. She also said that it could be from 7PM to 7 AM or 10PM to 10AM or anything in between. Thank you in advance for the opinions, advice, and replies :)

As far as I know, there are not any bridge programs from CNA to RN. There are bridge programs from PCA to CNA, and after you have gotten your RN then you can bridge from an associates to Bachelors. You can also go from LPN to RN bridge. If you are going from ADN to BSN. You can defiantly be an RN before 30. I'm 31 and just got my CNA, so you are way ahead of me in that regards. Being a CNA is great experience for the long haul. I just got an interview offer as a Emergency Department Tech! How is CNA class going anyway?

Thank you for the quick reply! I am in a pre-nursing certificate program. My school only accepts 16 students a year, it is really competitive. Like most I presume. The certificate is to prepare potential nursing students to apply for the degree, by getting pre-reqs out of the way so we have more time for the nursing courses. They also have a point system in place, by doing certain classes we can gain a point in the process and accumulate up to 6 points, or you can just apply for the degree. But, it is highly recommended to do the certificate portion before just applying. From what I have heard, the waiting list could be as much as 2 years for this school, and I honestly cant just up and leave the middle of Alaska, due to kids and mortgage. I knew I wanted to be in health care from the 7th grade, (after doing the Heimlich maneuver on my little sister on Thanksgiving). Wow, that seems like ages ago, as I am now 31. Life took me in a different direction and career, but I have always known that I would eventually find my way back to what I wanted to do from so long ago, when I had the opportunity. I am lucky that the hospital I have an interview with, is a learning hospital. So, being that I am a new grad as a CNA with no health care experience, I feel entirely blessed to even have the chance to sit for an interview. The hospital web site said that this position is open to new grad CNA's, EMT-B or people with military experience. It also said, that a CNA cert was highly preferred. Alaska has one of the highest standards for curriculum hours to be certified as a CNA. (More clinical, and lecture hours than most states) Yet, I feel totally unprepared, due to IV's, EKG's, drawing blood, splints, and things they didn't really teach in class. Do hospitals usually train people and certify them for such things? I have been told to my face that I soak things up like a sponge. I cant sit still at work, I always have to be doing something. Sometimes in my old career as a journeyman carpenter, there was down time. Even though I was making $30 plus an hour, when we had down time I just wanted to leave and do productive things in life outside of work. Although, I sucked it up, and was bored, I stuck around until my shift was over cause I always found something to do. My boss came in one day and saw me sweeping, he said " you know you have an apprentice to do that stuff for you," I replied, "yeah, I know, he is sweeping out the other space, and with both of us doing it we will get it done faster." He chuckled and said, "well if you want to meet up with the other (journeyman) carpenters, they are having coffee in the break room, your apprentice can finish the sweeping, that's what he gets paid for." I was thinking to myself, isn't an apprentice supposed to be learning, not just being a mule to my every whim." The day went on. I wont ask my apprentice to do something that I wouldn't do myself. I lead by example. Overall, I don't think people take me seriously, my resume lists only carpentry work for the past 10 years, with hourly rates between 20 and 35 an hour. Aside, from having my CNA, BLS, and First Aid certs. I have applied to about 11 or 12 jobs as a CNA, and this is the first time I haven't been overlooked from the get go. Thank you for you input and pointers. It is very much appreciated. :)

In regards to my earlier post, of 2.4 deaths per 100,000 I was mistaken. It is 4 deaths per 100,000. Keep in mind that Alaska is 1/3 the size of the lower 48. Alaska's contradiction? Lots of guns, few homicides | Alaska Dispatch

Hello fellow Alaskans! I just found out that I have an interview at FMH for the ED Tech position! I'm really nervous though, I received my CNA cert in October of last year and still haven't found any work. This will be my first interview with FMH. I have no experience in the medical field other than 6 days of clinicals, 5 months ago! The CNA course seemed like it was more geared toward LTC or Assisted Living. Certainly not an ED Tech position. With such things as reading EKG's and phlebotomy listed as duties performed with the ED Tech position. I enjoy learning new things, I don't see these few things from holding me back. I have been told that I soak things up like a sponge. I just don't want to screw this opportunity up! I want to work in the ED as an RN! That is my ultimate goal! I need words of wisdom, and encouragement, I have no experience, it scares me!