Can EMTs work as tech's in your hospital?

Hey Guys, quick question, I'm an APRN of a busy busy BUSY inner city hospital...my daughter has been working as an EMT-B on a very busy ambulance service (same inner city) for 2 years, held her emt license for 4 years...shes looking to make the move inside of the hospital, our hospital hires ED techs, but I wasn't sure about floors? can they act as a CNA, nursing tech, PCA, PCT?? I do believe the license and schooling are more involved than those i mentioned....I'm aware this is specific to each state and hospital...just wanted your take.

Thanks!!

Laurie M.
Our hospital ED will not hire EMT-Bs anymore, because of their limited scope of practice. It's really not very helpful to have a tech who can't do IV starts and blood draws or do monitored transports. We only use EMT-I and Paramedics as techs in the ED.The inpatient units will only use CNAs.

That is pretty much true in my area as well. Only CNAs on the floors. I did know a paramedic who worked as an ER tech while in RN school. He was not allowed on the floors, and of course he was annoyed at that. CNAs do not know phlebotomy unless they take a course somewhere specifically for that. Hospitals train for "thier needs" around here, no CNA in hospital does draws or starts around me. They might do EKG, glucose checks, collect urine or stool samples, etc. Some hospitals near me now have lab come up and do all draws. Some have an IV start team as well. I guess they can bill for that too (they don't do a thing unless there is more money in it somehow).Best is to call and ask.Oh and in IL at least a CNA is not a licensed professional, it's just a certificate. You get placed on a registry lookup to verify you've been to the short edu process for it and have taken a certification test.

In my area, to work in patient care areas other than the ED, the CNA, PCT or some recognized certificate would be required. It is doubtful an EMT, which is also a certificate, could challenge any of these in the majority of states since the knowledge and skills are vastly different. In our ED we prefer CNAs with a phlebotomy and ECG certificate which then allows them to work under the title of ER Tech. This way they can also float to where they are needed if they want to work and some particular shift is overstaffed. By hiring only EMTs or Paramedics in the ED, we still had to train them and also get them certified in phlebotomy which I believe now requires over 140 hours and an additional state certification. The CNAs we use are actually PCTs who already have met these extra certification requirements.

Quote from onaclearday Oh and in IL at least a CNA is not a licensed professional, it's just a certificate. You get placed on a registry lookup to verify you've been to the short edu process for it and have taken a certification test.

in my state the first responder's license does not permit them to do the same tasks in an acute care setting. Their license is only good "in the field". They cannot start IV's, give meds, etc. We have some working prn as ER techs.

Quote from classicdamein my state the first responder's license does not permit them to do the same tasks in an acute care setting. Their license is only good "in the field". They cannot start IV's, give meds, etc. We have some working prn as ER techs.

@GreygullI'm an EMT and a CNA. EMTs are licensed by the state they work in, along with having NREMT certification. Its not just a certification like CNA.Also, why would a Paramedic or EMT-I have to be certified in phlebotomy? I would think that is already within their scope of practice.

When I was an ER volunteer in Massachusetts, techs in the ER were CNAs with additional training, but a growing number of hospitals were requiring ER techs to be EMTs. A lot of ambulance crews had RN-EMTs. Quote from ScottEIn all states a Certified Nursing Assistant (Or State Tested Nursing Assistant) is just that Certified and placed on a registry. It is a FEDERALLY mandated program. Designed to prevent abuse of residents in nursing homes. In every state I've researched CNA's fall under the purview of the state's department of health which is run by the state medical board. The State Nursing Boards have nothing to do with CNAs.

My hospital hires nurse assistants with no certification or experience. I did this for a year full time on a med surg floor... mowed yards before

At UPMC in PA we have Advanced patient care techs in the ED's. They are usually people in nursing school or with EMT-B. PCT's from the floor can be promoted into it if they are good enough. APCT's can start IV's, take LLM transport, place foleys, and do phlebotomy. That in addition to all the regular NA stuff.

Quote from northernguy@GreygullI'm an EMT and a CNA. EMTs are licensed by the state they work in, along with having NREMT certification. Its not just a certification like CNA.Also, why would a Paramedic or EMT-I have to be certified in phlebotomy? I would think that is already within their scope of practice.

Quote from GreyGullIn my area, to work in patient care areas other than the ED, the CNA, PCT or some recognized certificate would be required. It is doubtful an EMT, which is also a certificate, could challenge any of these in the majority of states since the knowledge and skills are vastly different. In our ED we prefer CNAs with a phlebotomy and ECG certificate which then allows them to work under the title of ER Tech. This way they can also float to where they are needed if they want to work and some particular shift is overstaffed. By hiring only EMTs or Paramedics in the ED, we still had to train them and also get them certified in phlebotomy which I believe now requires over 140 hours and an additional state certification. The CNAs we use are actually PCTs who already have met these extra certification requirements.