I just received a job offer for an ER Tech position and I am SO excited! I will be starting an accelerated nursing program next month. I have NO medical experience at all, so I'm kind of surprised that they hired me! I think they liked my eagerness and the fact that I'm going for a BSN. I really really want to do a good job.
So I was hoping that you all could give me an idea of what you expect from an ER Tech and what you wish they wouldn't do. I'm not a lazy person and I am ready and willing to work.
I'm a new nurse in ER, and our ER doesn't use a lot of techs, but one thing I would LOVE is if every tech who walked a chest pain patient to their room from triage would go ahead and put them on the monitor for me instead of coming to me and telling me there's a CP patient in the room and leaving. That would make my day just a little easier.
I was that ER tech with a little bit of experience in the middle of nursing school. Best get a good pair of running shoes because you will be doing alot of work :)
Flying Scot hit the nail on the head. Sometimes the ER can be short staffed. Sometimes they go on alert and sometimes they reroute people to other ERs because it can get so busy. And sometimes, though not very often I hope, you will be the only tech on the floor bouncing from place to place. Saying "no" to a nurse asking you to get ice for room 15 because you're updating facebook is a bad idea. "Can it wait a minute? I need to do an EKG and start an IV in room 12" works much better.
Get to know the people in your ER...the IV queen, the calm collected soul who can calm down the raging psych patient, the one who can always drop an NG tube, and many others. Everyone has their own skill.
Oh and be sure to watch any procedures you can, fit yourself into that corner. Find the nurses who love to teach but know everyone can teach you something regardless. You'll be surprised when you get into MedSurg and read a patient scenario off of a powerpoint going "I saw that guy last week!"
I started as an ER tech about 2 months ago with very limited medical experience, as I started nursing school last August. There is a LOT to learn, and it will take a long time to fell at all comfortable. Anticipate needs, and be ready to soak information up like a sponge!
I was an ER tech for 3+ years before I became an RN, and I second the comment about being PROACTIVE! I love love love it when I go to do something with a patient to find the tech has already done it. As a former tech, I do my level best to NOT abuse the techs, either. You will find that some nurses are tech-dependent, others not so much. Good luck to you!! :)
Just curious how the job is going? All of this advice is excellent. Is there anything else you would add now that you are on the job? I start orientation on the floor at a trauma 1 medical center as a tech tomorrow!
4. To make an ER run smoothly it takes TEAM WORK. No one is more important than the other (though let the doc think they are) We all have roles and we are all important
5. you can't go wrong with doughnuts with SPRINKLES!!
6. Don't talk bad about ANY staff to the patients.
7. NEVER tell the patients you are a nurse, it can get you fired
8. I'm not above turning a room over, neither should you be
9. Doughnuts! (j/k)
10. I like to think of the ED as a dysfunctional Family. WE ALL have good/Bad days, don't hold a grudge most of the minor "blow ups" will blow over within 24 hours.
Also as you'll become proficient in CPR compressions just think how banging your arms will look!
Just curious how the job is going? All of this advice is excellent. Is there anything else you would add now that you are on the job? I start orientation on the floor at a trauma 1 medical center as a tech tomorrow!
Congrats! It's going GREAT! I'm learning a TON as promised. It took a few weeks before I felt like I "fit in", but now I'm there! Everyone is so nice and once they learned that I'm there to work, they do everything they can to help. I constantly ask questions and they are always happy to explain. There are several nurses that are proactive in pulling me to assist or observe procedures that I need to do as a tech, or will help me in school. I always try to be proactive and anticipate needs of the patients, nurses and doctors. One of the doctors even took time to help me understand a concept that I was struggling with in Pharmacology.:yeah:
Again, kind of rough in the beginning cause they didn't know me and if I would say "hey, this patient has kind of a low BP reading", they would kind of doubt me and take it again. But now they have faith in me, I assume this is all normal. The nurses that don't really utilize me are actually the new ones. And I think that is because they are still unsure of themselves, so I can't expect them to trust me with their patients.
I try to stay on top of the stocking and things like that. I hardly ever say no, and even then it's only because they are asking for something that needs to be done right away and I'm already tied up, or it's out of my scope of practice. You have to watch that. They ask because they honestly don't know that I'm not allowed to do some things. Several of them thought I was a new nurse in orientation, so they were trying to pull me for all kinds of stuff. When in doubt, I ask the CN before doing it. Not worth my job or getting in trouble with the board before I'm even licensed.
Even the doctors are happy to teach me. There are moments when that all goes to hell and it's an emergency and I just have to stand back if I can't assist in a productive way. But it's all a learning experience.
So, basically don't hesitate to ask questions. Be patient with the nurses, they have to be patient with you too. If you show them that you are smart and willing to work, it's only a matter of time before they are wanting to teach you how to do things so you can do them! Be proactive, seek out things to do if it's slow. Stay on top of stocking if that's part of your job. I even clean rooms if housekeeping is backed up. I don't see myself as above any of those duties. Usually, the CN is cleaning with me!
Thank you soooo much :) Its nice to hear from another tech and get your perspective, and not only the nurses. I'm sooo excited, although I feel I could crap my pants haha!
Not to worry, Afox, I've been a nurse on a tele floor for 5 years and I am switching to ER in a week. I am excited but nervous too! If you weren't nervous, I'd be worried! It's always tough to start something new, but worth it!
To improve critical thinking along the way. Don't stock when someone comes in with chest pain. Do the EKG and start the line. Communicate with the nurse before you go over their head and talk to the doctor. Place critical patient on a heart monitor. When an ambulance comes, undress the patient, get vitals and report back abnormals right away. Low blood sugar/diabetic, please check blood glucose without being asked to do so. Going in the room? Then do the nurse a favor and report back any unusual changes. See if the IV looks patent. Think we need a urine sample? Encourage the patient to give one if they are going to bathroom or on a bedpan. Ask for help from the nurse if you need help. You are part of a team and your job is just as valuable as the nurse. Don't let anyone treat you like your are not. Good luck!
1. Don't pretend to know something you don't know. It's ok not to know the answer to every question. It's even better to own up to it with a simple "I don't know". Nobody knows everything and anyone who thinks so has no business having the lives of people in their hands.
2. Disagreement is ok. But don't ever disagree in front of the patient [or at least broach the subject in a fitting manner.]
3. Be mindful of your scope of practice - i.e. don't practice 'medicine' or 'nursing'.
4. When in doubt, ask. When in trouble or drowning in work, ask for help!
5. There ain't no such thing as "too many vital signs."
6. When you have a minute to spare, drink some water. Take a few breaths. Compose yourself. Mini-breaks make a shift more bearable.
7. When you have several minutes, go around and see if anyone needs help. There is always something to do, make no mistake about it.
8. Don't indulge in gossip and no one will gossip about you.
9. When you're doing something, do it right the first time (take the extra minute if you have to). Sloppy work is not only wasteful, it is also dangerous.
:yeah:
sweetER
96 Posts
I'm a new nurse in ER, and our ER doesn't use a lot of techs, but one thing I would LOVE is if every tech who walked a chest pain patient to their room from triage would go ahead and put them on the monitor for me instead of coming to me and telling me there's a CP patient in the room and leaving. That would make my day just a little easier.