Stupid ? Is a tech the same thing as a CNA?

[vettechtoRN]

Someone I go to school with said she is an ER tech. She doesn't seem to know the answer to this ?. Sorry if this has been asked a million times:)

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Not necessarily. While a tech may do CNA responsibilities, many hospitals don't require techs to be certified (thus they don't use the CNA title). Also, many ER techs are more likely to have an EMT background, and be able to do skills like start IV's and do EKG's

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

In my area, it depends on the hospital system. We use patient care techs whereas another system uses nursing assistants and a third uses nurse techs. They're all similar roles here. However, I think we use patient care tech to get around the different requirements because we can't say certified if the people aren't certified nursing assistants as we can use nursing students or EMTs as techs.

[Nolli]

It depends on the hospital/facility as well as unit. Within the same hospital system I have seen the nursing students work as techs and CNAs. Since we're in PA we don't need to have a license as nursing students to work as CNAs, but normally that would be a requirement. There was overlap of duties between the techs and CNAs. I did fetal monitoring and EKGs as well as U dips and transport as a CNA. Others working as CNAs started IVs or drew labs and did ADLs and EKGs bladder scans. The techs I knew did EKGS, IVs, labs, and transport. All of us did vital signs.

[funtimes]

CNA or or Certified Nurse Assistant is a state certification someone can get, usually after completing a CNA course and then passing a state written and practical exam. I believe its required to work in LTC facilities in some states if you are doing direct patient care and are not a licensed Nurse.

Patient Care Tech and ER Tech are simply job titles some hospitals use for what are basically Nurse assistants. Hospitals vary greatly on what training, education, licenses/certs and experience their techs have and the tasks those techs are able to do. It can even vary from unit to unit within a hospital. Many techs started out as CNAs and some simply are CNAs whose name tag says PCT on it.

[pomm]

In FL in order to be a nurse tech you need to pass the CNA exam first. Then you add the PCT II skills (EKG, catheter insertions, etc.) which you do not need to be licensed for. This is the direction I am going in here while I take my prereqs for nursing school.

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

Over here in SoCal, ER techs must be EMT certified and you work in the ER. CNAs, like others have stated must be certified by the state and whatnot and they pretty much can be anywhere where there is bedside care (usually med-surge, tele, and ortho, but they are not in the ER or OR).

[xrsm002]

ER techs in Texas at least where I am from must be EMT certified to be an ER tech.

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

ER techs in Texas at least where I am from must be EMT certified to be an ER tech.

Texas does not require an ER tech to be an EMT, it is up to the hospital what (if any) per-requisites are needed.

[zeus&lincoln]

In FL in order to be a nurse tech you need to pass the CNA exam first. Then you add the PCT II skills (EKG catheter insertions, etc.) which you do not need to be licensed for. This is the direction I am going in here while I take my prereqs for nursing school.[/quote']

In Florida you do not necessarily need to pass the CNA exam to be a tech. If you complete one semester of clinicals in an inpatient setting while in nursing school, you can becoming a nurse tech and never sit for licensure. I did this while in nursing school... It was great experience!

[CowboyMedic, DNP, APRN, CRNA]

Our hospital requires our ER Techs to be either Nationally Registered Paramedics or AUA's.