Welcome To The Workplace Part 1

The Tech- Mostly misunderstood, the tech dwells at the near bottom of the ED food chain hanging by a rung over patient observers and support services. We answer to the new travelers nervous overhead pages, we are beckoned by grim faced residents wearing precaution masks  peeking from behind closed curtains. We are usually the only person left in the department to answer trigger finger call bell PTs twentieth ring. We share sweat with cardiac arrest PTs as we pound away on their chests like machines waiting for the stop compressions call from the attending.

We share the gallows humor with the veteran nurses and attendings as another rotation of fresh residents gap in horror at our running commentary. Not all of us in the ranks are the same though. Many different ages and personalities fill the dichotomy of the Department.

Although I can't classify everyone I can put most of us into these categories-

1.) The Lifer Tech- This breed is far and few between. These die hard techs are here to stay and when I say lifer I mean 5+ years. They mostly come from other hospital departments or like one of ours an orderly from a lock down unit for juvenile violent offenders. The pros of Lifer tech is that they can tell you were to find anything under the sun that has the hospitals serial numbers on it. They can also find veins on the difficult sticks everyone has given up on. Lifer tech is often accused of being lazy. Although Lifer tech will seldom do tasks outside of their scope of responsibility, their experience makes up for it when you need them in a pinch. Or as one of our gayer than Christmas SWs likes to say "a sticky situation"

2.) The Aspiring Doctor Tech (ADT)- This type of tech is painful for all involved. ADT can be found at shift change with docs on rounds, sometimes even volunteering their diagnosis and input. ADT loves to research med schools online while ignoring nurses requests and fellow techs calls for help. ADT has even been spotted checking tube placement with a mini stethoscope. Whenever ADT needs shift coverage for a med school interview they make sure the department wide email includes the name of whatever prestigious school they are interviewing with. But ADTs worst trait is telling PTs their diagnosis. This usually sends at least one shocked PT into a frenzy now needing a real MD to calm them down and explain in even longer words what the issue really is. There are no redeeming qualities abut ADT tech.

3.) The Workhorse Tech- Every nurses best friend. This Tech is usually one of two demographics- The first being the PA/Nursing student tech. This tech keeps their head down and gets the job done grateful for the minimal impact clinical skills. They're also always looking for something to do when docs need assistance in not so sterile procedure. The other type of Workhorse tech is the transient tech. This tech is usually an EMT sick of riding, veteran, college dropout, some guy that used to work in a pizza shop, etc that is looking for the next adventure. Some stay on becoming Lifer tech. The downside of this second type of tech is that they have a tendency to up and disappear.

A good department will have a nice mix of 1 and 3. All EDs will always suffer at least one ADT. The good thing is that they usually don't survive that long once they cross paths with the wrong senior nurse. 

Stay tuned next time for Welcome To The Workplace Part 2: The Seven Nurses