Work After "Teching"?

pshs_2000 · Mar 19, 2009

I worked on the floor I was hired on for a month as a tech while I was waiting for my ATT. Once I started my RN orientation, it took a few shifts for people to finally realize and remember that I wasn't teching any more. Since it was only a month, I hadn't really established relationships with my tech co-workers, but they knew I wouldn't be teching long. I sometimes feel awkward asking if they'll recheck a pt's vitals or something like that. But all the techs have been receptive and nice to help me out. It's also a matter in how you approach someone.

Usually I say, "Would you mind checking on Pt A when you get a chance? I put him/her on the bedpan but I need to go assess Pt B right now." And in that case I would also make sure that I already put extra supplies in the room for the tech.

Hope this helps. :-)

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Mar 19, 2009

Interesting question. I was a tech that made transition to a nurse. Yes, I do think that some treated me differently, but because they have a job to do, I don't feel like they purposely don't provide care to "my" patients (as I had initially thought---ie: you can do that yourself) but I do feel like I am definetely looked at closer by the techs--I try really hard to be mindful and ask things to be done in a respectful tone. Which BTW we could all take lessons from as the techs have a really, really demanding job too! Good luck in your endevours!!

walktheline · Mar 20, 2009

Thanks for the posts! I am currently a tech of 6 months on a med/surg floor. I love med/surg! I think it is a rollercoaster ride without the safety bar!! lol! I am also in my first semester of clinicals.

I honestly don't think that I would want to work on the same floor that I teched on because I can really see someone saying "why can't you do it? You were doing it X weeks ago!" and I would not need that stress. Also, because I may have been doing it X weeks ago, I can see me overextending myself and doing my tech stuff. As a matter of fact, I see myself doing that now in clinicals. I am always the last person to get back with the group and start on my paperwork because I am doing everything for my pt while everyone else is already in the "nurse mindframe." I am going to try to work on that on my next clinical day. But I felt really good when a couple of the techs came up to me on my first clinical day and said "you must be a tech somewhere because you really did a good job with that patient." That comment "almost" meant more to me than my clinical instructor saying we did a good job on that day because teching can be a very hard, low paying, no respect job.

johnst10 · Mar 20, 2009

"you must be a tech somewhere because you really did a good job with that patient." That comment "almost" meant more to me than my clinical instructor saying we did a good job on that day because teching can be a very hard, low paying, no respect job.

How great for you! It really does show in the student nurses. I worked as an aid all through college. While others were struggling to take a BP I was able to help them. I'm sure you will have many opportunities to be of assistance to your fellow student nurses! Good job.

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Mar 20, 2009

I was a tech in the CCU I started as a nurse. Most of the other nurses were gung ho for me when I got out of school except one. She hated the fact I was a nurse, don't know why, but I even had to write her up twice for it. She would demand I do her i and o's and then just pitch a fit when I told her I was busy with my own. She would get so nasty about it then she went to the manager one day because I refused. The manager looked at her and said 'You must be kidding, she has her own work to do and not yours." Then she called all out war on me for having the audacity to now being a nurse. By the way she was East Indian and came from a caste system. This was over 37 yrs ago. I don't think it would be that way for her anymore.

VCUBen · Mar 20, 2009

I work in an ER and though i am not a Nurse yet but i have seen multiple nurses go from working side by side with me teching and now they are nurses. I see them as a nurse and thats how i believe it should be. If you do the work to get that RN then you deserve what goes along with that title from the techs. Their is one tech who graduated nursing school 2 years ago and still hasnt passed her boards. She has taken it 8 times i believe. Now since she has the RN knowledge but not the title i treat her as a tech because that is what is on her Job description. She does get an attitude sometimes concerning the matter of what she should be doing right now and i just right her a note with the word NCLEX on it. I know it is bad but it puts her in her place. Either way you should be treated as you job entails. RNs delagate and techs need to respect that and do whatever they can to help out becasue after all that is what they are hired for... to help the nurses be more productive.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 20, 2009

When I returned from nursing school and was awaiting to take the boards, I returned to work as a PCA and it was difficult. I had a different mindset and was more focused on studying. I think they realized the difference and I decided to take a sick leave to study. I just didn't feel like dealing with the shady behavior when I was so freaking nervous about passing the boards. When I returned (after I passed), I was waiting for an additional three weeks before I started orientation as an LPN, and again, it was a bit different, because I was already thinking as a nurse (or trying to).

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 20, 2009

Nope. I was a student nurse associate (aka glorified tech so I didn't really fit in with the techs and got paid more than they did, but wasn't an RN since I was still in school) in a CVICU and the RNs would sit there and talk about how lazy the techs were..in front of me.. I felt very in between there. They offered me a job when I graduated but I declined. Plus it was an adult ICU and..no thanks!

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2009

Worked as a tech prior to current job, had no trouble transitioning. Also felt it gave me an edge considering I knew everyone and the lay of the land. You have to do what you want, and I think that if you are comfortable in that environment and respected by you co-workers you should go for it! If not, make a change.

Either way, good luck.

M