RN/Allied Health

[ZacharyK]

I was just wondering, do RN's learn/perform any tasks/responsibilities typically found in other positions,like: EKG Tech,Plebotomist,Surgical Tech,Orderly,PCT,Home Health Aide,Medication Aide,Medical Assistant,EMT/Paramedic,Respiratory Therapist,Social Work,Pharmacy,etc.

If so when these skills are taught,are any of them limited to being taught in a certain type of degree program: LPN,ADN,BSN?

Thanks,

M.K.

[ZacharyK]

Also is anything like Medical Transcription,Billing,Coding,etc. taught?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Is there a specific reason that you're asking this?

[ZacharyK]

Well, I was just curious to know if RN's do these kinds of tasks.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Well, I was just curious to know if RN's do these kinds of tasks.

Depends on where you are and what kind of nursing you do.

How's that for vague? :)

Most places, esp bigger hospitals, have separate depts for all that.

Nurses have enough on their plates doing nursing stuff....please don't make me do other people's job too!

[suzanne4, RN]

Also depends on how long ago that someone trained as an RN.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I learned as a RN to do EKGs and draw blood. It was after I had been a nurse for a couple years and worked in a place that didn't have a dedicated EKG tech, and if our lab tech was on vacation, guess who did blood draws!

[Mijourney]

M.K., RNs sometimes get caught up into Allied Health activities by accident or on purpose. RNs do a little of all the allied health jobs you outlined. When I went through nursing school years ago, I was exposed to all of those allied health positions. However, I did not carry them to the hospital unit per se. Normally, allied health areas such as medical assisting, billing, coding and so on are specialized nowadays so you would need additional schooling. As has already been implied, each one of the areas you outline carries a great deal of skill and knowledge so it would be hard for a nurse to perform all those as activities.