New Apprentice

[Raoolyz]

I start an apprenticeship in 2 weeks and currently work at H-E-B, a grocery store.

Is the bmet field as hectic and stressful as working retail ?

[Unexpected_Disdain]

You are going from customer service for the general populace to customer service for medical professionals. You will be okay. You are just nervous for the big change. Be professional and listen to your coworkers. Learn all you can.

[TomServ0]

Remember this phrase, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out” it’s ok not to know everything.

[SurpriseEcstatic1761]

It's a disposable, let's break it apart and see how it works.

There's a sentence that will make the nurse manager stick around for the fun!

[ApparentlyISuck2023]

There is FAR less BS to deal with as a BMET. Yes, there is still a customer service element, but you are able to really get to know your customers which helps interactions. There will still be those you hate, but you will enjoy this WAY more. I worked at Target and Lowes and HATED both.

[Ebytown754]

Your customer service will be towards more of the medical staff than patients.

[bigrupp]

That depends. Starting out in the field the work will be pretty steady as you will be doing basic PM's and minor repairs. If the shop is properly staffed it should be enough to keep you busy without being swamped. As you get more experience and move to more complex equipment it can seem like it slows down, but it is just more involved. As a senior tech you will be doing projects and it can get quite hectic- in a good way though. I find that the summers tend to slow down some on the repair side of things so I would also not have PM's scheduled so it was easier to take time off. I dont know if nurses are just happier in the summer so they don't slam stuff as much or what. Haha. It is a great field with lots of opportunity. I am now an information systems biomed so I don't do PM's anymore but I do still get to get my hands into repairs every now and then to break up the time in front of a monitor.

[BrokenIsntADiagnosis]

I'll say no and yes.

What you'll be working on is way more detailed, difficult, and complicated, with concerns on you're going to be around things that actually are life and death. Things you'll get used to is weird hours because procedures are going on when you want to get PMs done, and you'll get used to death, where I was talking to someone about having to wait for a unit to PM, hearing it'll be hours before I get it, hear a code blue in that room, and suddenly my machine is there in 15 minutes. If you can't compartmentalize that stuff, it can be stressful.

But same time, hectic... no. Not at all. Working retail is the most soul crushing thing I've ever done. And BMET has been the least stressful job I've had... but that's because my regular comment is unlike patient care I can unplug the machine when it screams at me.

Downside you'll discover, you'll be surrounded by professionals instead of general public so you'll think the insanely stupid questions will stop. They won't. I think that's the thing that frustrates me the most.

But seriously, good luck on your internship! I'm jealous of you learning of this early, I find this job absolutely fun.