Emergency Room Technician Training Programs and Schools
Emergency room technicians help doctors and nurses manage patient care in the emergency room. Read on to learn about training programs available for these technicians, and find out what you'd study as a student. Explore the job duties of emergency room technicians.
What You Need to Know
As an emergency room technician, you work under the supervision of doctors and nurses in emergency rooms and urgent care centers. You perform clinical tasks to improve patient care and increase the efficiency of the medical facility. A high school diploma or its equivalent is the chief academic requirement for many ER tech positions, though completion of a college-level certificate program is preferred by some employers.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Certificate Options</b></td><td> Offered at community and technical schools</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Course Options</b></td><td> Emergency medical technician (EMT), Understanding EKGs, Phlebotomy, ER procedures, Respiratory care</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Training</b></td><td> Classroom learning and experience in medical facilities</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatEducationDoINeed">What Education Do I Need?</h3><p>The educational requirements for emergency room technicians vary by state, but most positions require that you have a high school diploma or GED to begin work. Also, many hospitals and employers will only hire applicants who have completed training in a formal training program. Most emergency room technician educational programs are offered as certificate programs. These programs can be found at community and technical colleges, and generally can be completed in a year or less. Emergency room technician certificate programs give you the medical and patient care skills necessary to work in this entry-level position.
</p><h3 id="section---WhereCanIFindEmergencyRoomTechnicianPrograms">Where Can I Find Emergency Room Technician Programs?</h3><p>Many schools offer certificate and other programs for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), which do include coursework in basic life support and trauma care; however, few provide studies designed specifically for aspiring emergency room technicians. Following is a short list of schools that have emergency room technician certificate or 2-year degree programs:
</p><ul><li>Central New Mexico Community College
</li><li>Hennepin Technical College
</li><li>Queensborough Community College
</li><li>Wayne County Community College
</li></ul><p>Schools that provide EMT studies that can lead to a career as an emergency room technician include:
</p><ul><li>College of Western Idaho
</li><li>Pueblo Community College
</li><li>West Los Angeles College
</li><li>Colorado Mountain College
</li><li>San Diego Miramar College
</li><li>Johnson County Community College
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatWillILearn">What Will I Learn?</h3><p>Emergency room technician certificate programs train you via classroom learning and clinical experience in medical facilities. The curriculum provides a basic study of the clinical knowledge necessary to navigate in an emergency room, including medical terminology, lifting techniques and cardiac life support. Other topics addressed in these programs include:
</p><ul><li>CPR
</li><li>Patient assessment
</li><li>Airway management
</li><li>Emergency room procedures
</li><li>Childbirth techniques
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatWillBeMyMedicallyRelatedJobDuties">What Will Be My Medically-Related Job Duties?</h3><p>The responsibilities you have will vary based on the expectations of each hospital, but typical duties include wound care, administering EKG tests, starting IV lines, transporting patients, collecting specimens, and taking and recording vital signs. Emergency room technicians could also be responsible for preparing patients for procedures, which might include bathing or shaving.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatElseWillIBeResponsibleForAsAnERTechnician">What Else Will I Be Responsible For as an ER Technician?</h3><p>In addition to medical tasks, you must be skilled in communicating with patients and their loved ones in emergency situations. Emergency room technicians often take down a patient's medical information and history and summarize the reason for a person's visit to the ER. You must work well under the direction of others and be comfortable performing medical procedures under pressure. As an emergency room technician, you often work long hours, including overnight shifts.</p>