Tech to Nurse

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 23, 2005

This is my first post. Just took my final exit exam for nursing school and will be waiting on the BNE so that I can schedule my NCLEX. I have been working as a tech in an ER while attending nursing school. I will be working in the ER as a Nurse once I have passed the NCLEX. I am a little nervous with the upcoming roll change and wonder how the staff will deal with it. Any advice on how this situation and how to make it easier for all involved?
By the way...love reading all the information on this site!

:balloons: Hello and Welcome to Allnurses.com :balloons:

Congratulations on your new position........soon to be!!

Do the staff members know you will be assuming the new position as nurse? I would bet they welcome you. May have some petty jealousy, but, you can handle it.

Good luck!!

elthia · Aug 23, 2005

This is my first post. Just took my final exit exam for nursing school and will be waiting on the BNE so that I can schedule my NCLEX. I have been working as a tech in an ER while attending nursing school. I will be working in the ER as a Nurse once I have passed the NCLEX. I am a little nervous with the upcoming roll change and wonder how the staff will deal with it. Any advice on how this situation and how to make it easier for all involved?
By the way...love reading all the information on this site!

I went from being a tech to an RN on a floor I worked on. One week I was unlicensed tech, 2 weeks in clinical ed, then back on the floor as RN. BE VERY CAREFUL. Some of those who worked along side you as unlicensed techs/CNA's may resent your role change. I also had problems with an LVN who insisted on calling me the student tech and why wasn't I assisting everyone with their bedbaths etc, when I was being orientated to the desk and computer verification of orders. Also same LVN's constantly gave me problems, attitudes, refused to help me with my patient care becuase "oh, you're an RN now, you're making the big bucks, why should we help you." Luckily I had some other LVN's and RN's who were wonderful and supportive, or else I would have quit. Be helpful, but dont' be afraid to be assertive at times. Learn from my mistake, make it very clear from day one that you are there in your NEW ROLE as an RN.

jensdandy · Aug 23, 2005

I went from being a tech to an RN on a floor I worked on. One week I was unlicensed tech, 2 weeks in clinical ed, then back on the floor as RN. BE VERY CAREFUL. Some of those who worked along side you as unlicensed techs/CNA's may resent your role change. I also had problems with an LVN who insisted on calling me the student tech and why wasn't I assisting everyone with their bedbaths etc, when I was being orientated to the desk and computer verification of orders. Also same LVN's constantly gave me problems, attitudes, refused to help me with my patient care becuase "oh, you're an RN now, you're making the big bucks, why should we help you." Luckily I had some other LVN's and RN's who were wonderful and supportive, or else I would have quit. Be helpful, but dont' be afraid to be assertive at times. Learn from my mistake, make it very clear from day one that you are there in your NEW ROLE as an RN.

Thank you for replying. This is exactly what I am worried about. The boss jokes about the fact that since I work there I don't need a very long orientation...which kind of scares me. I don't want them to assume that I know more than I do. I did talk to him about this and he says that it is up to me when I want to come off of orientation whether it is one month or three.

There are several RNs that are very supportive but there are some that are very tech dependent and I am afraid they will continue to ask me to do alot for their patients as well as keep up with my own. But I like your last line "You are there in your new role as RN"

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Aug 23, 2005

Thank you for replying. This is exactly what I am worried about. The boss jokes about the fact that since I work there I don't need a very long orientation...which kind of scares me. I don't want them to assume that I know more than I do. I did talk to him about this and he says that it is up to me when I want to come off of orientation whether it is one month or three.
There are several RNs that are very supportive but there are some that are very tech dependent and I am afraid they will continue to ask me to do alot for their patients as well as keep up with my own. But I like your last line "You are there in your new role as RN"

I, too, went through this difficult period. It was a time of testing, to be sure. Most were fine with it, and supportive, while one or two were having a real hard time seeing me in my new role. The techs were thrilled for me, however, it was the LVNs that were having problems adjusting and "giving up territory".

There was a period of several months that I drove home crying.. these were my friends and coworkers, afterall.. we had worked together for years!.....how could they do me like this?

My DON reassured me it was simply temporary "professional jealousy" and to overlook it, it would surely pass.

It did. Took about a year, but during that year I gained their confidence and trust and little by little they gave me more ground.

I just continued being myself, and made a point of asking THEIR INPUT AND ADVICE, as they in reality still knew far more than I did, and I was not going to try to pretend differently. I showed I was willing to learn from them.

It's really not about YOU.. it's about THEM.. they are the ones having issues with it, so you can't allow it to mess with your head.. they'll come around.

Just continue to be who you are, and treat everyone equally and kindly nad try not to be defensive. It's trying at at times, but in the end, so worth it. :)

And yes, I continued on where I had already been working, so I, too, got the bad end of the deal as far as any "real" orientation... still somewhat of a problem.. learning by the seat of my pants.. but mostly because we are just so darn busy, there's no real time. But I've come a long way, and so will you !

Wish you the best !!! :balloons:

MIA-RN1, RN · Aug 23, 2005

I am still almost a year from graduating but I am a tech in an ER too and possibly will face the same situation.

We were discussing it in class and the instructor pointed out that you have to be nice and firm about your new job description and duties because some of the nurses (the tech-dependent ones) may have a hard time seeing you in a new and equal light. The instructor went on to say that often people will rotate out for 6 months or whatever to get their feet wet and their confidence up and then go back. The break seems to help underscore the change for the staff and gives the graduate some time to build up some confidence to help with the change as well.

jensdandy · Sep 10, 2005

I am still almost a year from graduating but I am a tech in an ER too and possibly will face the same situation.
We were discussing it in class and the instructor pointed out that you have to be nice and firm about your new job description and duties because some of the nurses (the tech-dependent ones) may have a hard time seeing you in a new and equal light. The instructor went on to say that often people will rotate out for 6 months or whatever to get their feet wet and their confidence up and then go back. The break seems to help underscore the change for the staff and gives the graduate some time to build up some confidence to help with the change as well.

Just an update...I passed my HESI with no problem...just received my GN permit in the mail on 9-6-05 and am orienting with one of the RN's. This means that basically I have my own patients to take care of and she checks everything I do. It have been easier than I thought it would to change rolls in regard to how the nurses are treating me. No problem there. My problem is that I see things undone and want to take care of them (things I used to do as a tech) instead of asking the tech to do it. The nurse tells me to leave it for the tech. Anyway....good luck to everyone..it has been a great experience so far. I take the NCLEX on Sept 23....keep me in your prayers! Jen

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2005

My problem is that I see things undone and want to take care of them (things I used to do as a tech) instead of asking the tech to do it. The nurse tells me to leave it for the tech. Anyway....good luck to everyone..it has been a great experience so far. I take the NCLEX on Sept 23....keep me in your prayers! Jen

Congratulations on getting your permit. This thread on role change and confusion interests me. I got an offer to be precepted by an awesome nurse on the SICU on which I work as a tech. Even though I expect a majority, if not all, the nurses would respect the transition, I think I would find it difficult to shift my focus to nursing in that same environment. It would just feel so strange. Since I won't be working there after graduation because I'm moving out of state, I've requested to have a preceptor chosen for me at another facility. That way I can psychologically draw the line. Some people don't understand but everyone has to do what's best for them. I think the transition is a crucial time.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2005

Been there done that. You will have a few that will have petty jelousy for a while. You will have to learn to deal with them. Make sure you WEAR your NEW badge at work, someplace very conspicuous so everyone can easily READ it.

If things get to the point you just dont think you can deal with them, gently pull aside the person you are having problems with and ask them straight forwardly if there is a problem? Dont do it in front of others, dont let it move into a defensive mode. Be very diplomatic about how your voice and body language is.

Until you find you have to address the issue, continue to work as you know you are supposed to and dont let them intimidate you.

Usually just being confronted on the issue will readjust attitudes. If not,, and you can mention this when you speak to that person,, maybe a meeting between both of you and the nurse manager for the unit is in order. They usually will back down when they find you arent going to be intimidated and are not going to let it continue, and you have a solution(meeting time with the NM).

OH and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

BS Nursing Student · Sep 11, 2005

This all sounds very frustrating. I am getting ready to go to work as a nurse tech. I have chosen an area other than the one I am interested in as an RN. Hopefully I won't have that problem. Good luck to you.

RNKITTY04 · Sep 12, 2005

I also made the transition from tech to nurse, and I also had the mind set of wating to do it all myself, and not ask the tech to help me, but I have learned over the past year that I can not do it all and actually why should I?

If my tech is sitting at the desk eating chips and Im charting ,if a call bell goes off and its ours I expect her to get it. Before I would jump up and tell her not to worry I would get it.

Not anymore, this old girl got tired of juggling two different roles

I still get compliments from "floater" techs when mine is out about how much I helped them but I have backed off quite a bit.

Its a thin line between helping out and being taken advantage of.

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Sep 20, 2005

Just an update...I passed my HESI with no problem...just received my GN permit in the mail on 9-6-05 and am orienting with one of the RN's. This means that basically I have my own patients to take care of and she checks everything I do. It have been easier than I thought it would to change rolls in regard to how the nurses are treating me. No problem there. My problem is that I see things undone and want to take care of them (things I used to do as a tech) instead of asking the tech to do it. The nurse tells me to leave it for the tech. Anyway....good luck to everyone..it has been a great experience so far. I take the NCLEX on Sept 23....keep me in your prayers! Jen

Hi Jen! I have the same problem exactly! I'm a new RN too & was a CNA for 3 years before this, & I also try to do every single little thing for every patient of mine instead of leaving something for the CNAs to do! I even had one really nice CNA the other night come up to me & say "I noticed that not only are you doing all your work, but you're also doing mine!" That was when I realized I needed to let her do some things too! :)

-Christine