Student nurse job

[Studentnursedgm]

Hello,

I am student nurse at one of the universities in Louisiana. I just got a job at one of the local hospitals as a tech in the ICU. Have any of you ever worked as a tech? If so, how was it? Did you learn a good bit? I am just curious because I am so nervous because tomorrow is my first day and I'm not sure what to expect. I was told that I will be on "orientation" for a month or so, which is basically working along side of someone else who is more experienced until I get the hang of things. I guess I am intimidated because as a student doing my clinicals, the instructor is always near by to guide you and to answer questions. If anyone has anything to share about their experience working as a tech of any sort before their RN position, I would love to hear about it

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

I worked as an aide and a student nurse tech (SNT) during nursing school. As an aide obviously that's the work I did. It got me comfortable talking to patients, dealing with patients, the flow of a hospital, and plenty of basic nursing skills.

As a SNT I also did plenty of aide work but I got the added bonus of doing some skills alongside the nurses. I got practice in IV starts, drawing labs, suctioning trachs, I took an EKG/rhythm strip class so I could sit for the tele tech when they were gone, catheters, etc.

I think both experiences were great. I'm not sure if your "tech" position means you'll be doing skills or just aide work but either way you'll get much more comfortable dealing with patients and families. Since the nurses know you're in school they will likely let you help with procedures on patients that may not even be yours just to get to see it and experience it (maybe you'll help hold a patient for wound care, help extubate someone, etc.).

Just enjoy it and learn all you can without the stress of being THE nurse!