Working in the ER

SanDiegoEmt7

SanDiegoEmt7

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I did a search and didn't see any threads on this.

I am currently a Basic, and was looking at possibly becoming an ER Tech or a Trauma Tech. I wanted to know if any of you work this job currently, or have previously, and what you thought of it compared to working on a rig. I am aware of the difference in duties and responsibilities of each position, but am interested to here your personal opinions and experiences with the two jobs (although I'm sure there is a bias towards being in the field :) )

Thanks!
 
A guy in my EMT class (who was an EMT in California) was an ER tech with his EMT-B cert. Just go around and ask the hospitals. Look at their employment website call them. I know there is one hospital in my area that EMT's can be ER techs.
 
I wholeheartedly recommend working in the ER. You will gain a broader perspective of emergency care in general, plus experience/skills that you may never acquire in the field. There is a lot of knowledge that can be obtained by working closely with ER docs, RNs, Radiology Techs, Respiratory Therapists, etc...

If you can, do both
 
It's a MUCH better gig than any you will find as an EMT in SoCal, without a doubt. Especially if you intend to go to paramedic school. Do it.
 
Good luck attempting to get a job as one down here... All the techs I worked with at grossmont for my clinical were really cool. And you need to get 12 lead cert'd.
 
Thanks for the responses. Glad to see some agreement with my job switch.

exodus said:
Good luck attempting to get a job as one down here... All the techs I worked with at grossmont for my clinical were really cool. And you need to get 12 lead cert'd.
Click to expand...

Yeah getting a job in San Diego is rough for EMTs and especially for Techs with their better pay and all.

You'll get to enjoy our pains soon enough though I'm sure. ;)
 
SanDiegoEmt7 said:
Thanks for the responses. Glad to see some agreement with my job switch.



Yeah getting a job in San Diego is rough for EMTs and especially for Techs with their better pay and all.

You'll get to enjoy our pains soon enough though I'm sure. ;)
Click to expand...

Yup, I'm going to try to get on at pacific since I did my clinical with them, and the guys I rode with were really cool.
 
I volunteer in the ER, and I can tell you I would love to be a ER tech. ER tech see a lot of stuff, learn a lot of stuff, and do a lot of stuff. The Trauma tech also a ER tech are there assisting the nurses treat the traumas, these are the more experienced ones. They put on the leads, and do what they do to assist. The other ER tech positions are in the ER doing what they do to help the nurses. Overall, it's great exposer. I am not on a BLS rig and I can't tell you the other side really well. However from what I heard, BLS is usually patient transfers. Sometimes you get a good one. It's still good patient care contact, you can get used to dealing with patients. How to talk, how to show compassion, get conformable treating patients. You are starting off the first step, with this. However ER tech position is one which you will learn much more. The ER tech position is great, a better position then EMT on the BLS rigs. However in order to apply to medic school, if you want, you need that hours on an ambulance. It's a great position, it would be great if you can do both, looks better. But if you had to choose. My opinion is that if you are going to be a firefighter(medic), then work on an ambulance. If you want to go to nursing/ medical school then go for the ER tech position. The ER tech position is good for firefighters as well, just you "might" not be able to go to certain paramedic programs.

- Good Luck
 
Well , I definatly don't like the ER as much as the field, but working in and around one is a valuble oppourtunity. I have not done very much ER time, but I would go back just for the experience. So, definatly, if you have the chance, go for it!
 
ER is a great experience and you can do some things that you can't do in the field, I'm glad I had the experience. That said our ER's only hire medics as ER techs and medics can do some things in the field that we can't do in the ER. You can learn as much or as little as you want in the ER. I would never want to work in one full time opposed to being on a rig but it's a good experience. I will duck to avoid thrown objects when saying this but I think the field requires you to be a better medical provider than the ER at the medic level. There are too many people watching over your shoulder and making decisions for you in the ER. In the field it's you and your partner deciding on a course of treatment appropriate for a patient.

Overall go to the ER and learn all about medicine, then go out in the field and use all that knowledge.
 
OP I am actually hoping to do the same thing. I am also in San Diego and will be taking my EMT course this summer. Hopefully by sometime this fall I can get an ER tech job. I plan on volunteering in the ER over the summer to get to know the staff so that might help with a job in the future.
 
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Yes, ER was a "turn on".

I'm glad that the same epiphany happened to others as it did me. The shift I did in the ER was an eye opening experience. I really like the pace of work that happened on the day I was there. I worked at a downtown Oakland trauma center for my shift. We had 12 codes the day I worked (and I worked a DAY shift). By the time the end of my shift happened, I hadn't realized the day went by. I never had time to look at the watch! I assisted doctors and nurses. Once they understood I was a "hands on" kinda guy, they started giving me independent tasks and the two full time ER techs started throwing me tasks also. A very good day and I thought to myself, now that's what I want to do!
 
I work as an ER tech and on a BLS rig. I absolutely think that it's a great job for anyone going to paramedic school. I'm about to start my last year in a bachelors degree paramedic program and have used a lot of the expirience i've gotten from being a tech.

It takes a lot of patients to deal with the docs and the nurses from time to time but it's a decent job. the hours can suck but it is lots of good exposure.

The BLS rig doing primary 911 response is a great gig. The calls that we don't request ALS for are awesome for patient interviews and techniques for building your patient repore. i think both are great for developing techniques that will serve you well as a paramedic. and the ALS calls that we respond to give you some more excellent exposure to EMS work in general
 
Don't come to Central Cali if you're lookin' to be an ER Tech.

Most of the hospitals only do internally, so you have to get on as Patient Transport first, then get in. They only pay you 8.96/hr as a Patient Transporter and that's not enough for me to live in my apartment let alone a little condo. You'd have to get a 2nd job.

But in the Bay Area, looks like their ER Techs their hiring are "On-Call"

Might be good to get your Basic EKG course out of the way. It's usually 2 months along, depending on how many times the class meets a week.

Good luck!
 
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