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.
They dog me because "I don't accept help." I tell them that I do this because... some (many) nurses we work with run their butts off, and delegate everything possible (sometimes things that shouldn't be delegated). And, on the rare RARE occasion they hear me yell their name... they know I'm serious, and take me seriously, and are there in a split second to help me.
That said...
The ONE thing I appreciate and respect is accuracy. Simple things...
When you take a temperature, place the oral thermometer deep alongside the tongue way back in the rear sublingual pocket. Not in the front under the tongue behind the lower front teeth where someone might drop a nitro tab. If I come behind you and your oral temp was 96.9 and my temp is 100.5, technique is a little off. Oh... I really hate temporal themometers except on someone that fever isn't a concern. Five year old falls and has a facial lac that needs glued, awesome... temporal scan is great. Eighty four year old nursing home patient with altered mental status and clearly not going to hold a thermometer under their tongue... get the rectal thermometer out even though it takes more effort.
Put the right size BP cuff on the patient, and apply it correctly. Hate seeing "large adult" cuffs on teeny emaciated patients, and "regular adult" cuffs on the 500lb+ patient that the velcro pops when it pumps up. Potentially the reason why that person's BP is reading abnormally high or low.
EKGs... learn the correct way to place the leads...
CPR... you are invaluable in a code... find your rhythm and be the expert at compressions because you are a vital part of that team trying to save a life!
Like everyone else has said... be proactive. I'd rather work with someone attentive to patient charts, watching orders, asking if they can do things when it's really busy.
Just a few tips... hope that helps & good luck to you!!!
Don't be a doormat. Nothing annoys me more than a nurse that spends 4-5 hours with a cardiac patient in the ER and one of two things happen...
The XR tech brings the patient back from their chest xray, hooks them up to the cardiac monitor, but doesn't restart the blood pressures to trend and take a BP q15min. 4 hours later, this nurse screams, hoots and hollers "Why don't I have any blood pressures for the past 4 hours!?" Maybe if you, the nurse ULTIMATELY responsible for the patient, had checked on the patient, you'd notice there hasn't been a blood pressure taken. LOL. Not funny, but, NOT your fault so don't let them blame you.
Same deal, maybe shortness of breath or any other dx that you'd want somewhat regular vitals... blood pressures and the rest of the vitals taken every 15 minutes for several hours, the nurse ends up discharging, or admitting the patient, and after the patient's been out of the room for some time, housekeeping comes by and cleans the room and clears the cardiac monitor (along with 4 hours of vitals) for the next patient. Again... nurse freaks because hours of vitals are lost... somehow finds the need to ask you why the vitals aren't entered in the computer...
The funniest thing I encounter is the techs I work with having their time consumed running around taking care of a certain couple of nurses patients all shift long. At various points I'll be in a patient's room and hear them say "You know, I haven't done anything for ReggaeRN all day, let me see if she needs anything and then I'll be available to help you." LOL. And I typically don't need anything but it's nice to know they are thoughtful and "spread the wealth" being that it's 1 tech to 4 nurses and they tend to become certain nurse's personal assistants.
Be thorough, be professional, always ask questions and be eager to learn because there are always individuals that want to teach you... be a sponge and absorb as much as you can!
My advice is less skills and more attitude. Never complain, Do NOT call in sick, and do not gossip. Also, do. To kiss ass....be attentive, helpful, think a step ahead.....don't complain about doing the grunt work.....attitude will take you very far. Also, listen, listen, listen..you will learn that way. Have fun, be a sponge and I wish you all the best!!! Congratulations!!!!
Welcome to the tech/student club. I'd recommend finding nurses who don't mind questions. I've got a couple of nurses who never miss a teachable moment, and I'm so grateful for that. The only downside is that you will be learning how they do things in the real world at work and nursing school doesn't like that. Leave all your gained knowledge at the school house door, and test/do skills the way they teach you in class. Also King Cake or any goodies are always appreciated by the staff. (always make sure to offer some goodies to registration, xray tech, lab tech. These people can make your life so much easier if you take the time to befriend them. Congrats on your job! I hope you love it as much as I love mine!
I am an ER Tech right now and the job itself is so rewarding. One thing for sure is dont be arrogant. Especially someone like yourself who has no medical experience you will be at the bottom of the totem pole. You will be collecting a lot of urine, transporting, fetching blankets and vitals. Show them you are eager and ask questions nurses love that. Ask why the nurses mix reglan with benadryl. Then will they become confident and let you do the cool stuff. Understand when to do ekgs instead of waiting for the order. Mean while please do not hide when some of the more manual labor tasks come around. Alway keep a smile on dont look like you are running around with a chicken with your head cut off because ten you look unapproachable and the nurses wont wanna ask yoi to do things. Never say no i cant do it. Say i have to do this and that but whats up how can i help you now.
ReggaeRN
38 Posts
I
They dog me because "I don't accept help." I tell them that I do this because... some (many) nurses we work with run their butts off, and delegate everything possible (sometimes things that shouldn't be delegated). And, on the rare RARE occasion they hear me yell their name... they know I'm serious, and take me seriously, and are there in a split second to help me.
That said...
The ONE thing I appreciate and respect is accuracy. Simple things...
When you take a temperature, place the oral thermometer deep alongside the tongue way back in the rear sublingual pocket. Not in the front under the tongue behind the lower front teeth where someone might drop a nitro tab. If I come behind you and your oral temp was 96.9 and my temp is 100.5, technique is a little off. Oh... I really hate temporal themometers except on someone that fever isn't a concern. Five year old falls and has a facial lac that needs glued, awesome... temporal scan is great. Eighty four year old nursing home patient with altered mental status and clearly not going to hold a thermometer under their tongue... get the rectal thermometer out even though it takes more effort.
Put the right size BP cuff on the patient, and apply it correctly. Hate seeing "large adult" cuffs on teeny emaciated patients, and "regular adult" cuffs on the 500lb+ patient that the velcro pops when it pumps up. Potentially the reason why that person's BP is reading abnormally high or low.
EKGs... learn the correct way to place the leads...
CPR... you are invaluable in a code... find your rhythm and be the expert at compressions because you are a vital part of that team trying to save a life!
Like everyone else has said... be proactive. I'd rather work with someone attentive to patient charts, watching orders, asking if they can do things when it's really busy.
Just a few tips... hope that helps & good luck to you!!!