Working as an ER Tech with a RN License???

Specialties Emergency

Published

Hi All,

I just got a psych nurse job (32 hrs/ work) as a new grad. While I beleive that I will like it- I am concerned that I will not use all my skills.

I am ultimately interested in ER Nursing w/ a forensic certificate (for rape and evidence collection if needed). Is it crazy to try to get a part-time ER Tech job to combine my (2) interests? Also- I did not have an externship while in school and believe that it would be good to develop my clinical skills. Any suggestions would be helpful!

Thanks,

CoryHome

tyvin, BSN, RN

1,620 Posts

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

No it's not crazy but know that even though you're working as a tech you will be held to the standards of your license.

Good luck

I<3Nursing

110 Posts

Just as the previous poster said, now that you are an RN no matter what your job title is, you will be held to RN standards...meaning you can't defer to the nurse on staff, if you miss something and assume that it won't matter because you aren't the pt nurse, it could adversly effect your newly minted liscene.

tyvin, BSN, RN

1,620 Posts

Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

I did this 16 years ago but worked as a CNA in home health. It really was the only option for me under the circumstances. I was successful in retaining an RN job 1 year later and have never worked below my license since.

I had to take the CNA test to hold the certification even though I was a licensed RN. It was when I was in the office and discussing all this and they pulled the test out and said "Hey; let's just do it now" Ahhhhhh but seriously, what was I suppose to be afraid of. It was later when they tested me on my transferring skills that I didn't do so well, but I passed.

It was made very clear to me that if something happened and I didn't respond in an appropriate manner that was congruent with my licensed scope of practice; I would be held responsible for anything that went wrong. I really didn't worry about it because I knew my stuff and wasn't afraid. After all I just finished 6 years of prerequisites for a nursing and baccalaureate degree course work at one of the finest research Universities in the United States; was I really going to let that scare me? What would my classmates think?........... so I let it rip and never have regretted it.

Your situation sounds a little bit more glamorous and if you're confident in your self go for it.

CoryHome

4 Posts

Thanks Guys!!

I guess what your saying is that I need to tell them I have an RN???

Specializes in Emergency Dept, ICU.

I would not reccomend doing this. This puts you in a tought situation as to the standard of care and tasks you are expected to perform. And when it gets super busy I bet they will try to use you as a nurse.

That said they recently fired all the LPNs and my 400 bed hospital and told them they could remain and work as techs if they were in a RN nursing school. Interesting decision by management.

Specializes in Pediatric emergency medicine.
I would not reccomend doing this. This puts you in a tought situation as to the standard of care and tasks you are expected to perform. And when it gets super busy I bet they will try to use you as a nurse.

That said they recently fired all the LPNs and my 400 bed hospital and told them they could remain and work as techs if they were in a RN nursing school. Interesting decision by management.

I have to respectfully disagree with you. Granted we don't know the whole situation and because things can vary greatly from facility to facility its hard to know what would be expected of a tech at the OP's facility. With that said may I point out that its up to each person to work within their designated scope of practice and to know their boundaries. In my case I can do more in the field setting as an EMT-IV Tech than I can in the ER. On the other hand I find myself doing things in the ER as a tech that I could never do in the field even at the paramedic level. Most of the nurses I work with know I can start lines but only in the field and I could never see anyone I work with asking me to cross the line and I know it would never be suggested by a charge or someone in management that I step outside of my scope of practice even in the worst of situations. I know it confuses some of the MD's and resource RN's that I can draw labs but am not able to start a line but thats the way my employer and the state of Oregons nursing board want it.

Its crucial that we as providers especially new ones keep up our skills and stay in the game so to speak this includes providers in both the clinical and field settings. Anytime you can be in the position of getting patient contacts it can only help you especially if ER nursing is in your future. I have seen a few of our RN's pick up tech shifts over the years and have never heard of there being any problems with respecting boundaries,of course these were former techs which could make a difference. I would encourage the OP to pursue the tech position and learn as much as they can. It always helps to have an RN with a tech perspective on the floor when it gets crazy.

CoryHome

4 Posts

Thank youall!!

I will let you know if anything comes with any of my investigating this possibility!

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