Re: Re: EMT's in ICU's & ER's

April 21, 2004

I have to agree with this one. Abuse is an understatement sometimes when

working ER. The use of EMT's (Medic or otherwise) has become more widespread

when hospital administrators discovered just how much they can save in overhead

by paying SCNA wages instead of LVN wages to EMS personnel.

Another 2 cents worth.

>

> From: cllw602@...

> Date: 2004/04/20 Tue PM 01:36:13 EDT

> To:

> Subject: Re: EMT's in ICU's & ER's

>

> Some hospitals in San already used intermediates and/or paramedics in

> ICU's as CC Techs, only problem is, they use them as glorified CNA's. Change

> this diaper, give that one a bath, and if your lucky (abused) start a new IV

> on the patient over there because I don't have the time, skills, patience,

etc.

> As someone who worked in an ER for many years as a tech, it is rather

> demeaning. When you get to the point that the nurses trust you and have

respect (ha

> ha) for your skills, you get ABUSED. You end up doing their job, without their

> pay, and all they do is sit behind the nurses station and chart and gossip.

> They employ EMT's because they are cheaper than LVN's, but they pay is

> commensurate with what you see in a private EMS service. The only real benefit

is

> getting off on time, not working in the rain, cold, etc. You do get to see a

little

> more about how and why things work, and if you pay attention, you get to

> learn a little more about medicine in general (from the doc's, not the nurses)

but

> for the most part, you just get abused. I think if an LVN can get $20.00 per

> hour for doing ER work, EMT's should be closer to that, at least over $15.00,

> instead of under $10.00.

>

> Just MY 2 cents....

>

April 21, 2004

Depends on where you are, as with anything else.

I worked for one of the Baylor ER's while I was in Dallas, I never had

any issues with abuse, I was authorized to triage, and I utilized every

skill I have with the only exception being administration of narcotics.

There were no turf issues, no sneers, no dirty looks, but at the same

time, for every bed pan they (RN's) changed, I volunteered to change 2,

we had a good report with each other and blended well.

My salary was less than theirs, so there is little doubt that my being

hired was for financial gain for the facility.

The BNE never came into play, and I worked there until I left and moved

back to the Coastal Bend region.

W. Hatfield EMT-P

" Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditiones habes "

Mark your calendars now!!! EMStock 2004!!!

Booming Midlothian, Texas!!! May 21-23, 2004!!!

www.EMStock.com

Re: EMT's in ICU's & ER's

>

> Some hospitals in San already used intermediates and/or

paramedics in

> ICU's as CC Techs, only problem is, they use them as glorified CNA's.

Change

> this diaper, give that one a bath, and if your lucky (abused) start a

new IV

> on the patient over there because I don't have the time, skills,

patience, etc.

> As someone who worked in an ER for many years as a tech, it is rather

> demeaning. When you get to the point that the nurses trust you and

have respect (ha

> ha) for your skills, you get ABUSED. You end up doing their job,

without their

> pay, and all they do is sit behind the nurses station and chart and

gossip.

> They employ EMT's because they are cheaper than LVN's, but they pay is

> commensurate with what you see in a private EMS service. The only real

benefit is

> getting off on time, not working in the rain, cold, etc. You do get to

see a little

> more about how and why things work, and if you pay attention, you get

to

> learn a little more about medicine in general (from the doc's, not the

nurses) but

> for the most part, you just get abused. I think if an LVN can get

$20.00 per

> hour for doing ER work, EMT's should be closer to that, at least over

$15.00,

> instead of under $10.00.

>

> Just MY 2 cents....

>

April 22, 2004

Ok we have heard from the EMT's now let me put my 2 cents from a nursing

perspective.

I truly believed in the EMT's knowledge in emergency medicine and critical

care and appreciated anything they could teach me to make me a better nurse

in those areas. So much so that when I was doing schedules for the EMT's

for hospital work I did everything in my power to give them the time and

encouragement to get their RN liscense. Today approximately half of the

paramedics that worked with me then are now full fledged RN's and still

teaching others in the ED and ICU. Yes of course the pay is not good, hey

some of us nurses don't think we get paid enough either, but wasn't the

reason you became a paramedic in the first place was because you love what

you do.

>

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: Re: Re: EMT's in ICU's & ER's

>Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 15:44:35 -0400

>

>I have to agree with this one. Abuse is an understatement sometimes when

>working ER. The use of EMT's (Medic or otherwise) has become more

>widespread when hospital administrators discovered just how much they can

>save in overhead by paying SCNA wages instead of LVN wages to EMS

>personnel.

>

>Another 2 cents worth.

>

> >

> > From: cllw602@...

> > Date: 2004/04/20 Tue PM 01:36:13 EDT

> > To:

> > Subject: Re: EMT's in ICU's & ER's

> >

> > Some hospitals in San already used intermediates and/or

>paramedics in

> > ICU's as CC Techs, only problem is, they use them as glorified CNA's.

>Change

> > this diaper, give that one a bath, and if your lucky (abused) start a

>new IV

> > on the patient over there because I don't have the time, skills,

>patience, etc.

> > As someone who worked in an ER for many years as a tech, it is rather

> > demeaning. When you get to the point that the nurses trust you and have

>respect (ha

> > ha) for your skills, you get ABUSED. You end up doing their job, without

>their

> > pay, and all they do is sit behind the nurses station and chart and

>gossip.

> > They employ EMT's because they are cheaper than LVN's, but they pay is

> > commensurate with what you see in a private EMS service. The only real

>benefit is

> > getting off on time, not working in the rain, cold, etc. You do get to

>see a little

> > more about how and why things work, and if you pay attention, you get to

> > learn a little more about medicine in general (from the doc's, not the

>nurses) but

> > for the most part, you just get abused. I think if an LVN can get $20.00

>per

> > hour for doing ER work, EMT's should be closer to that, at least over

>$15.00,

> > instead of under $10.00.

> >

> > Just MY 2 cents....

> >

April 22, 2004