Emergency Room Tech

The ER Tech works in a fast-paced medical setting and is a highly-trained individual who can function well in a high-stress environment. This profession usually involves working in the Emergency Room of a medical facility or hospital and does not require you to transport a patient other than in the ER or facility. The ER Tech would provide emergency care, as well as perform patient comfort care while the patient is in the ER. Critical thinking skills, great communication skills and compassion are all important aspects necessary for this job as well.

Under the direction of the ER Nurse Manager, the Emergency Room Tech may be required to perform any or all of the following duties:

Wound care and splinting

EKGs and heart rhythm monitoring

Phlebotomy procedures

Triage patient care

Clerical functions in the unit

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) functions

Collection and delivery of laboratory specimens

Assisting with the transport of patients into and out of the department and to other areas of the facility for tests may be part of the job. Additionally, it may be necessary to help the patient with undressing and/or dressing as well as lifting and positioning them in order to complete a procedure. The ER Tech will often serve as the coordinator between caregivers, patients and visitors.

Some sort of medical training is necessary to start on your track toward the job of ER Tech. Normally an EMT or CNA program is a good place to start. Once you have one of these programs under your belt a lot of hospitals provide on-the-job-training to help you become an ER Tech.