What Is a Nurse Tech?

Nurse techs or technicians are medical professionals who work under the supervision of registered nurses. The position of nurse tech is a common way of earning experience in the field of nursing while attending nursing school.

Function

Nurse techs perform a variety of functions relating to patient care, such as taking vital signs; recording how much a patient eats, drinks and urinates; and assisting with the collection of blood or urine. Often, nurse techs help patients eat and bathe and escort them to areas for testing or treatment within a hospital setting.

Time Frame

Many nurse techs work part-time, often during evenings, overnight and weekends to complement nursing school class schedules, though some nurse techs are full time and work 40 hours per week.

Types of Locations

Nurse techs usually work in hospitals, but some are hired for long-term care facilities or home health care.

Experience

Typically, nurse techs are enrolled in a registered nursing program while they work. Educational programs for registered nurses include two-year associate degrees from junior or community colleges, three-year hospital training diplomas and four-year bachelor degrees.

Compensation

The salary for a nurse tech is similar to that of a nursing assistant. In October 2009, the average annual salary for full-time nursing assistants was between $14,650 and $40,000, according to Payscale.com.

References

• Baptist Memorial Healthcare: Nurse Techs
• Education Portal: Nurse Techs
• East Texas Medical Center: Nurse Techs

Resources

• Payscale.com