Have any of you been an ER Tech

[RichEMT]

I was just wondering if any of you have been Techs in the ER and if you would recommend it. It seems like it would be a great learning experience, I just turned in some apps so we will see. I was curious as to your experiences working in an ER and if you like it.

[wvditchdoc]

I was just wondering if any of you have been Techs in the ER and if you would recommend it. It seems like it would be a great learning experience, I just turned in some apps so we will see. I was curious as to your experiences working in an ER and if you like it.

Yes I have been a Tech. It was OK. The particular hospital I was working in was extremely strict as to what I could do in the ER. Each hospital varies, it has alot to do with the damn nurses association as to what you can and cannot do. The Nurses don't want you to be able to do a ton of shit and then the hospital hires a bunch of Medics as Techs and does away with several of the RN positions. Some examples are, if a PT was in V-Fib, I was told I could not Defib them, I couldn't start an IV on a PT, I couldn't adjust IV rates, I couldn't adjust O2 flow, I couldn't assess patients, and I couldn't even draw labs. But I could insert a freakin' Foley. Now that makes all kinds of sense. It was a good experience though because you got to see what they do with your PT that you drop and run. So the best advice I can give you is try it out and see what you think, if isn't for you then quit. :glasses1:

[anthonyt]

I was just wondering if any of you have been Techs in the ER and if you would recommend it. It seems like it would be a great learning experience, I just turned in some apps so we will see. I was curious as to your experiences working in an ER and if you like it.

I've worked both as an EMT and A paramedic "ER Tech" and while it was sometimes a pain in the ass, I learned a great deal from the doctors with whom I worked.

Yeah, I would definately recomend working in an ER for at least a year or two... Get to know the Docs and ask lots of questions, beware of the nursing staff that will try to force you into doing thier jobs as well as your own.

[paragoon]

I've worked both as an EMT and A paramedic "ER Tech" and while it was sometimes a pain in the ass, I learned a great deal from the doctors with whom I worked.

beware of the nursing staff that will try to force you into doing thier jobs as well as your own.

Preachin' to the choir on that one. I worked in the ER for about 18 months after I got my cert. Medics were allowed to start IV's, draw labs, and push beds. That's about all I did, except pick the doc's brain when I wanted to know about stuff. All in all, a good learning experience.

[jdemaio]

Nope, never been a tech, have no desire to do it. Be a nurses lil helper-boy...no thanks!

[MedicDVG]

I worked as an ER Tech for 8 years in a small community hospital in wisconsin. There are pro's and con's of every job, and you have to look at them to see if the job is for you.

Cons:
You are not treated as part of the team -- often you are a gofer or you get stuck doing CPR when no one else wants to.

"Get the commode" is a phrase you will learn to hate.

You end up pushing, making, changing, cleaning all the beds. For some reason this is beneath the nursing staff.

When the nurses are having coffee.. you are mopping up vomit.

PROS:

If you get in good with the docs you will learn TONS. It has been my experience that had I just been riding the box for a private service I would not have been exposed to nearly the amount of clinical decision making that I was when I was in the ER. Face it, we get the little old lady in the truck who has a vague complaint of abdominal pain, what do we do.. O2 and transport, maybe an IV. In the ER you get to see the entire diagnostic picture.

You will see x-rays and learn what they mean.

You will learn assessment techniques that you can use on every call.

You will see things in the ER that you will never see on the street -- get a complex medical with 10 drips, a vent, and all that going, and see what you can learn.



As with anything, it is what you make it. Certainly you can sit at the computer and e-bay all day, or you can stick your nose into every patient care plan and learn something.

I loved my time in the ER. I only left it because they were making us into ward clerks and we were doing all the admitting paperwork. When I went to the ambulance I was able to get my hands dirty in ER and actually learn more there then from any book.

good luck in your decision making.

[just_jessEMS]

i was thinking of going tech after medic school.(no more house calls,no more house calls) but i have heard of such bullying from RNs like trying to get techs to do things out of our scope of practice. and not being able to do what is in our scope of practice. so its tempting and they are foot step into better jobs in the future.

[CornholioMedic]

Worked as chief tech for a private doctor's practice doing house calls several years ago. I liked it, hated the doc that owned the practice because he was a liar...several of the other docs quit too because of that. All in all, great learning experience.

[drthrockmorton]

I work per diem as a tech in a small ER. My job description does not include any invasive procedures, but the relationship I've formed with the doctors and the education they've given me has been tremendous. Your resposibilities definitely will vary among different hospitals, but I would strongly recommend trying it if someday you'd like to work in the hospital environment.

[jd1]

I've been looking into that also on a PRN basis. If I deciede to do it I'll let you know.

[strwblue]

I wish they did that here talk about easy money...Sign me up