Starting job as an ER Tech soon + very nervous

[Jess Dunaway]

Hi,

So I am currently in my second semester of nursing school. Prior to beginning, I had no previous healthcare experience (and I am naturally a very anxious person), so I was very timid coming into clinicals and I still struggle with this to this day. I don’t know why, I don’t know if it’s from a lack of confidence in myself or the thought that these patient’s lives are in my hands and if I do one thing wrong they could die and/or I could get sued and lose my job. I desperately would like some tips or guidance anyone can offer me, because I am starting a job as an ER tech soon, and I want to be able to feel more confident and not let my fear and anxiety hinder my performance. Also, some tips on what to expect/how to be good at that would be great too.

Literally anything helps! Thanks so much in advance!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Anxiety of this nature can absolutely kill your career. What can be difficult is the concept of compounding anxiety - you are anxious and then get anxious about being anxious.

Dive into your new job knowing you are going to be new, that you will make mistakes, you will be corrected for them, you will have a lot to learn. It is HUMBLING. I strongly, strongly suggest you see someone about your anxiety as you start this new career so that you can learn how to cope with your anxiousness effectively and not wind up miserable.

Good luck!

[HandsOffMySteth]

I would focus on the task at hand, keeping busy, and learning as much as you can. I never have time to be anxious when I'm that involved. ?

[PeekaPooh]

Sometimes it's the feeling of unknown that causes anxiety. Right now, you don't know what to expect and how it will be like. Once you start the job and get used to the daily routine, the level of anxiety should go down. Perhaps, google search a bit for something like "what's a daily ER tech would be like" to get some ideas. Or talk to someone, your teacher, your classmates, etc to see how it's like.

Here is 1 youtube video talking about ER tech:

[TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN]

ER is way different from any other nursing unit, but you're still an aide. The scope of your job doesn't change, just some things, you're not going to be worrying about (like bed baths in most situations), but you're going to focus on other things instead (making sure you get a stool sample for the lab ASAP). You're just prioritizing a different set of the same skills that you use anywhere else.

It's going to be way different than a medsurg unit, but it's limited to all the skills you learned in your first semester. That's it. That's the entire scope of a CNA. Maybe your hospital gets your certified for phlebotomy. If you got through your first semester, you'll be fine. You've learned all the skills you need. The ER is going to train you on what you're actually focusing on there. They'll make sure you're ready before you're on your own.