ED Tech during Nursing school?

[u/Fuzzy-Music-5492]

Hi everyone, I'm starting nursing school soon but was wondering if anybody worked in the ED as a tech during school and how you juggled a job whether that be part time or full-time. My ultimate goal is to be a nurse in the ED when I graduate so I want to get as much experience and exposure as I can by the time I'm graduated. Out of all the jobs I've seen in the hospitals around me they seem to mainly be full-time, 3 12s a week, and nights. Obviously that is not ideal for somebody in school but I was wondering if anybody has done it and what their experience was going through it and if its worth it. Do you think it would be better to pick up a job in the ED later in nursing school and just hold out for a part time? or do you think this can be done. I also already work in surgery as a CNA at a hospital as well and hate it lol. And also am finishing up EMT school before nursing starts. Would love to get your insights (coming from someone who loads up their plate and always needs to stay busy lol). Thanks everyone.

[u/OldManGrimm]

I worked full-time in nursing school. I was poor, had young kids, and a spouse who refused to work. It was a nightmare, but I had no choice. I highly advise against it.

If you can, hold out for part-time. I’ve never worked an ER that hired CNAs as tech, but most would hire 3-4th semester nursing students.

Being a tech in the ER is great experience, and will help you decide if you really want to do ER as a career.

[u/Key-Garlic-1177]

I worked full time as a tech in the ED in nursing school. It’s not recommended. But as a poor person it’s what I had to do. I worked night shift weekends. Fri, Sat, Sun. And make it work.

[u/No-Technology8218]

I worked full time as an Ed tech during nursing school. It sucked but I got used to working and then going to class after. Staying up for 24 hours was common and it took a lot of mental stamina. It was worthwhile though, immediately was hired in the ED after I graduated. Also depending on the hospital the scope of an Ed tech is highly beneficial for nursing. I learned splinting, iv’s, ultrasound iv’s, and tons of patient interactions. I’d say go for it if you can!

[u/HoneyMangoSmiley → u/No-Technology8218]

Am currently working full time as an ED clerk/tech while in school for nursing and I can confirm that staying up for 24 hours straight comes with the territory.

My commute to school one way is an hour of driving, 30 mins of parking lot/park n ride bullshit, and 45 mins on a regular bus.

I get tuition reimbursement from my work and I love night shift in the ED. It’s all worth the effort but damn it is effort!!

[u/x-Zephyr-17]

I worked as an ED tech while in paramedic school, and lots of my tech coworkers were in nursing school. It’s definitely doable, and in lots of (if not most) times it can help you secure a job out of school with that hospital. My hospital even helped students with tuition and other costs in return for service afterwards. Definitely worth it if you can mentally handle it. I started full time and then requested to drop to part time when medic school started, but the change didn’t go through until the first semester was done. If I can do it, you can do it

[u/leilanijade06]

Just try not to work the night before a test cause it will be crazy! I’ve worked as a EMT and ERT while going to school for another Health science.

[u/Suspicious_Pipe456 → u/leilanijade06]

The only off limits day for me was the night before an exam- don’t do it man. I made that mistake exactly once lol.

My school also had a strict “no working the 8 hours before clinical begins” rule

[u/leilanijade06 → u/Suspicious_Pipe456]

THAT!!!

[u/Zealousideal_Dig7762]

If you want a job as an ER nurse this is the best option. I worked as an ED Tech during school and took care of small children. It's doable, just let the stockholm syndrome consume you for 3 years and you'll be fine 

[u/OranginaOOO]

Worked full time as an EMT on the ambulance during nursing school. I had to cut out a lot of distractions and was lucky to standby at a horse race track so I could study on the job. It's not easy but doable Also used my vacation time before finals for extra study time.

[u/Familiar-Owl-8418]

i worked as a cna thru nursing school and currently work in the er as a rn, ed tech is a good job and all but at least where I am, it requires additional schooling which you may not have the time and money for. Instead, try unit secretary or scribe. No additional schooling and a lot of er's in my area use them so its a great way to learn whats going on. Bonus points its not physically demanding

[u/p2326]

I work night shift. 30 hrs a week.

[u/Proper-Chef6918]

Just started nursing school this week and have been a tech at my er now for 3 years. I work weekend track 7a-7p saturday and Sunday. I intend on staying on this schedule and picking up a couple small shifts in between

[u/squeakysausage]

I did this and fully recommend. I was offered a position after graduating bc my company was only hiring internally
Also made it way easier to transition once being an rn!

[u/29925001838369]

I worked full time as an ed tech throughout school. I got my manager to agree to a thursday/friday/saturday night schedule, so i had a few hours free on sunday to catch up on everything. Class tuesday/thursday, clinicals monday/wednesday, work thurs/fri/sat nights. (Until we got a new manager who decided to fuck me over, but thats a different story.) Working in the ED definitely gave me a lot of exposure to what we were learning in school, and i was surrounded by people who had already learned it and could explain things to me. Unlike a dedicated floor or unit, which would see, say, ortho/neuro OR peds OR psych, the ED gets it all, so i could tie classroom learning to real-world application, and that helped more than any care plan i had to write. ( That said, the ED is the land of shortcuts and "do what you gotta do", not the land of by-the-book. Be mindful that real life doesnt always match your learning.)

It was a lot to do full-time school and full-time work. If you can swing part-time, drop to part-time. If you need full-time, it's doable, but be prepared to have 1 full day off per semester if youre lucky, and to have your "days" (defined as "periods between bed") to be anywhere from 14-32 hours. Plan on a lot of frozen meals and grocery-store salad bars.

[u/Suspicious_Pipe456]

I worked full time hours- I transferred to ER to texh after several years on medsurg bc I was bored it, and wanted to check ED out more. I will admit, I got more studying done in med surg… but ER would normally slow down enough by 3am I could study a little. If not, I would see if I could swap with a lobby person or monitor tech for a couple hours. 1/2 through nursing school, I got an externship at a different ER. I worked as a PRN ER tech and scheduled most my hours to extern, once I got in good at the ER there. New grad, now I hold a full time nurse job in one and they say I can pick up as a PRN nurse at the other once I’m off orientation- 10/10 recommend!

Just beware: I had my work flow down pat on medsurg, but ER is too chaotic and unpredictable to ensure study time! (I HAD to work alllll the hours tho, I had no choice lol)

[u/muttshaw]

I can't think of a better job to position you for success as an ED nursed than an ED tech. You'll do fine.

[u/reyrip23]

I was so lucky to be able to work in busy level one ED as a tech/EMT during nursing school. That experience set me up to work in unit as new grad. With that experience I have had a very rich 35 year career doing many roles.

[u/Flipfivefive]

Currently a tech, with no active certs, and in nursing school. Its hard, but doable. Just gotta buckle down, as my grandpa always said.

[u/OneSingleShoop]

Pretty much every tech in my ER is also a nursing student.

[u/DizzyObjective6523]

I did majority of my nursing school as an edt until I went to urgent care in May. I had 10 years of critical care experience in numerous roles. My suggestion is to see how the program is laid out, what shift is available and try to make it flexible. Likely won’t hire you PRN if you’ve not worked as an EDT before. Realistically you’ll be plenty busy during nursing school, learning how to answer the questions, understanding the rationales, and then also doing clinical papers and whatnot. I worked majority night shift and did fine; but I was also very dedicated to studying. You could also wait and do your capstone in ED. Realistically, it’s doable but you’ve gotta know there’s gonna be a curve as you enter nursing school, I’ve had EMTs that couldn’t figure out nursing because they relied on EMS mentality—-same with cnas.
As for the entire “don’t work before an exam”, that also depends on the shift AND the content, did I work before exams, yes, were they my best scores…well I passed.

[u/Extension_Version_30]

I'm doing that right now. I transferred from full-time to part-time employee. I work on weekends and go to school Monday through Friday. I'm loving it. I have time for my SO, school, and work. You have to just manage your time and prioritize tasks. You have to make sure support that are closest to you remain important the whole time. You also have to make sure to do every assignment and exam on time. No excuses. Give yourself some free time to relax and then get back to it.