Hey guys, has anyone done work in an ER? What is it like?
Volunteering in the ER
- Thread starter ucsbbio
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2010
- Messages
- 48
- Reaction score
- 0
Exactly like the TV show. Be sure to wear a bullet proof vest and bring a pack of condoms to every shift.
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2009
- Messages
- 100
- Reaction score
- 0
I volunteered in an emergency department (same thing) this summer. From what I can tell, it depends a lot on what level of trauma the hospital can handle. But generally...
People come in with pretty much anything. The most common I've seen are nausea, chronic pain (this was kind of interesting, since you see both people who are in pain and people who want narcotics), lacerations, for detox, and falls (elderly). Depending on what your ER can handle, you may see full-out surgeries or more simple sutures.
It's a great experience to visit with the patients. And be sure to ask if you can shadow the nurses and doctors for the shift and observe procedures. Hope this helps 🙂
People come in with pretty much anything. The most common I've seen are nausea, chronic pain (this was kind of interesting, since you see both people who are in pain and people who want narcotics), lacerations, for detox, and falls (elderly). Depending on what your ER can handle, you may see full-out surgeries or more simple sutures.
It's a great experience to visit with the patients. And be sure to ask if you can shadow the nurses and doctors for the shift and observe procedures. Hope this helps 🙂
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2010
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 3
I was a tech for two years, it was a good time. A very eye-opening experience. If you put in enough hours (I did several thousand) you will gain an understanding of both the good, bad and ugly sides of medicine- the frequent fliers, the drug seekers, the nebulous complaints, the homeless looking for free meals, etc. This helps, I think, separate you from the naive pre-meds with unrealistic perceptions of medicine. But you will occasionally witness some very powerful moments- a family being told their newborn has died from SIDS, a heart attack pt being helicoptered out, doing CPR at codes, seeing a stroke pt come back to life as TPA is injected and their family watches on.
I recommend ER tech, EKG tech, or phlebotomy- in that order. Volunteering is not the same and not nearly as valuable an experience imo. You will have hands-on interactions with pts and participate in providing their medical care. You'll also get more hours, be more appreciated, and paid.
I recommend ER tech, EKG tech, or phlebotomy- in that order. Volunteering is not the same and not nearly as valuable an experience imo. You will have hands-on interactions with pts and participate in providing their medical care. You'll also get more hours, be more appreciated, and paid.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2010
- Messages
- 316
- Reaction score
- 1
i will also be doing this. what is one supposed to wear?
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2010
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 3
Ask the ER director, or the nurse manager what color scrubs to wear. If you can't wear scrubs it's best not to underdress- shirt, tie, shoes. You don't want to look like some kid off the street as you eavesdrop in on extremely personal medical issues, basically medical voyeurism. I sometimes saw people shadowing while wearing sneakers and it struck me as very unprofessional. Sure, docs wear whatever the hell they want, but there's a double standard for docs vs. kids shadowing imo
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2008
- Messages
- 19
- Reaction score
- 0
I volunteered in an ER for a couple weeks but stopped since I really wasn't getting much out of it. I would usually have to stock linens, run test samples to the lab; nothing of any real value or interest, I can't hardly remember what I really did. I remember a lot of patients were either in with ETOH intoxication or were elderly. Nothing remotely as cool as the TV shows.
However, I did do what Ischiowhat did and got a real job, working well over 1000 hours as a PCA. The added responsibility of paid work has made my clinical experience so much more valuable for this upcoming round of interviews.
However, I did do what Ischiowhat did and got a real job, working well over 1000 hours as a PCA. The added responsibility of paid work has made my clinical experience so much more valuable for this upcoming round of interviews.
- Joined
- May 10, 2009
- Messages
- 311
- Reaction score
- 7
I volunteer in the ER and it is a lot of fun! The hospital I am at is a level 1 Trauma center so we get a myriad of people that come in. Some days we get slammed with traumas, other days nothing goes on. But even on the days when there are no traumas, it's still fun to talk to the patients and shadow the doctors and nurses. Since there is something constantly going on, you always have a chance to learn
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2009
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 0
Like working in the ER, only without pay. And you don't really do that much work...
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2010
- Messages
- 67
- Reaction score
- 0
I scribed in the ER, it was amazing experience. It also really depends on the ER/town you are working in. I do not recommend volunteer as a first choice because you usually do not get to interact with patients. Contact your local hospitals and ask if they have a Scribe program - if not, I would even suggest starting one in your area. Not only does that give you better ER experience, but would look AMAZING on your application!!! If you have any specific questions, shoot me a PM! 🙂
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2010
- Messages
- 133
- Reaction score
- 5
Just a question. How does one become an ER Tech. I've been looking for a paid position for a long time, and the only way I see to get a job is to be a volunteer.
- Joined
- May 22, 2008
- Messages
- 17,394
- Reaction score
- 9,146
It's usually a complete waste of time.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2009
- Messages
- 809
- Reaction score
- 43
Actually, that is why i love the ER: virtually no poo cleaning. I couldnt imagine being a CNA on the floors because the patients are there forever and need to be cleaned a lot. In the ER, they are either being sent to the floors or sent home when they are treated.
It is an awesome experience. I have had a more diverse medical experience here than being an EMT on an ALS rig for a fire dept. Thats not to say i havent seen COOLER things in the field though.
It is an awesome experience. I have had a more diverse medical experience here than being an EMT on an ALS rig for a fire dept. Thats not to say i havent seen COOLER things in the field though.
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2008
- Messages
- 749
- Reaction score
- 47
I volunteered in a fairly busy ER for about a year during my sophomore year of college. It was a great experience! Every weekend I would don my volunteer polo and spend a few hours doing basically everything someone without training could do: stocking linens, preparing rooms between patients, mopping up body fluids, keeping the coffee pot full, bringing families food or beverages, taking patients to the radiology suite, assisting with patient discharge, etc. I didn't do much observing as far as watching procedures goes, but the staff always thanked me for putting time into making their lives easier, and I got good experience interacting with patients. If you are considering doing it, I would highly recommend it, not only because it gives you something good to put in your application, but because of how much you can help make someone's life better. It may not seem like much, but the little things can have a butterfly effect that really does improve the quality of patient care. Go for it! 👍👍👍👍
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2008
- Messages
- 749
- Reaction score
- 47
These past two weeks I have been taking this intro class at my med school called 'Orientation to Medicine' which is basically glorified doctor shadowing in a specific specialty. I was assigned to ER and I saw a few of scribes in action. They followed doctors around with pretty high tech tablet PC's and wrote down pretty much everything about the case. They took notes on the history and treatment of whomever they were following. They must have gotten really good practice to move as fast as I saw them fly across their keyboard and use their pen on the screen!
3
341873
I spent this summer volunteering at my local hospital. When they asked me where I wanted to devote most of my time I obviously said ER thinking it would be cool and exciting. First couple weeks no doubt you did get to see some exciting stuff but as an off the street volunteer you couldn't really do much, if anything at all. The most I'd do is walk around make sure blankets and rooms were clean for people come. Unless you actually have a job there you won't be doing much, so soon after I started just working around patient floors where I could actually interact with people. Not the most exciting but still better than being behind the action always pretty much.
- Joined
- Jun 1, 2010
- Messages
- 65
- Reaction score
- 2
I agree with essentially everything from this post. I volunteered in an ER and the time was spent stocking linens and supplies, preparing phlebotomy carts/trays, pt. transport, provision of food/drinks, warm blankets, etc. Conversing with patients and visitors was really valuable. If things are busy, your help is greatly appreciated. Taking time to talk to patients will put them at ease, and give the staff time to get other work done. When you are in a position of responsibility, you will appreciate the supportive service that the volunteers provide and understand that EVERY member of the team is valuable.
So I finished my first day at the ER yesterday and most of the time i just stood their looking awkward or cleaning and setting up a bed but i did get some patient contact and a PA showed me a cool trick to get an IV into a diabetic patient with almost no veins.
I was actually quite surprised to hear of so many volunteers cleaning/changing bed sheets/putting away linens etc. since the hospital I volunteer at in the emergency department and some other ones nearby have PSA Workers who have those roles and get paid for them
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2007
- Messages
- 3,924
- Reaction score
- 13
These are the only kinds of things volunteers can do at many hospitals. Most hospitals wouldn't even want to utilize a volunteer as a sitter (for nonviolent pts) as it carries liability risks. You could be asked to help entertain on a peds pod at some hospitals but that also carries risks to the hospital (e.g., at mine, the peds pod is highly secured and staff have to be specially trained and approved to be there; I don't think we let many volunteers back there).
I really don't think volunteering in a hospital is ever worthwhile. Go volunteer in a free clinic or similar where they actually need your help (i.e., will utilize any skills you possess and be willing to train you as needed and where you're not "just free labor/one less housekeeper or CNA we have to hire") and then get an actual job in the hospital (a 3-4 wk CNA course will help get you a $10/hr job in a hospital setting that will beat out anything you could get from volunteering or a 1-semester EMT-B course will provide opportunities that often pay slightly more and are usually of even higher quality).
