EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Advice for someone new to the job.

Hello all, I wonder if anyone could give me some advice.

I am currently an Engineering Instructor in an FE College, but I recently applied for a Band 5 Medical Engineer position, and I was successful.

At present, I have no experience with Medical Equipment, but I have a HNC in Electronic Engineering, and a First Class BEng Degree. Although I have an Electrical HNC, I am a Mechanically biased Engineer.

I realise that qualifications are pretty useless without experience, and I was (pleasantly) surprised to get the job!

I am very keen to do well, so I would really appreciate any advice for a newbie to the job!

Thanks in advance guys! Cheers!

Hello Den from your qualifications and experience I would consider that you were ideal for the job. Medical Equipment is like any other engineering equipment and all you have to do is calibrate, maintain and repair it.

As you have a knowledge of electronic engineering and are mechanically biased you have the best background from outside medical engineering to adapt quickly to the new role. You will find that you will use all forms of engineering principles from pneumatics and hydraulics to electrical and electronics as well as hands on workshop skills and of course computer skills. Of all the different engineering disciplines, I consider that your understanding of electronic systems will provide you with the best background for medical engineering. Also stay active on this forum and read the excellent articles written by John Sandham and others.

I spent my working life in many forms of engineering and never accepted the 'closed shop' mentality of the conventionalists that were the establishment at the time. I spent my last eleven years of my working life as a medical engineer and still consider it the best work I ever had encompassing such a variety of skills all within one job. (Now retired I wish I could get the occasional casual medical eng. work.)

All the best with the job, I think that both you and your future employer have chosen well.

Barney

Think Barney has covered it to a tee.

What I would say Den is take in as much as you can. Physiology and the understanding of what goes on goes along way in supporting the issues the users have with the equipment.

Learn from your colleagues, never be afraid to ask (anything), never be afraid to say " I don't know", never work outside your comfort zone.

My experience has been that the job is ever changing, ever diversifying and always different (on a daily basis).

If possible make use of outside (and internal) training.

As a matter of interest, is where you are working local to your location.

We're a friendly bunch, if you need any help or suggestions, just ask - welcome and good luck

Yep, all of the above is good advice 'though I'm not so sure about the "never work outside your comfort zone" bit. Never? Really?
What about giving yourself a challenge every now and then? Ok, don't go messing with critical life support stuff if you don't know what you are doing but other than that what's wrong with applying a bit of "first principles" engineering smarts and having a crack at it?
Keeps me entertained

Medical equipment is actually not really as complex as other types of equipment and industries that Electronic and Mechanical Engineers may be employed in so you'll be fine.
Topper

Nothing wrong with challenges Dave. What I should have articulated better is people being asked to do things they are not comfortable/competent working on.

All for learning new experiences and have to strongly disagree with Topper.

Whilst not polishing our halos too much, the equipment may not be complex but the consequences can be severe.

I have worked in various engineering fields before I came on this one and rarely have the outcomes of not being precise in your skills been as severe as the potential to do harm in the medical engineering discipline

hey den

congratulations

any advice for people who have interviews in the future & how did you find the interview process it self ??

=]

Hi Den,

My advice would be to learn to walk before you can run. ie it will take a couple of years of experience in the job before you really begin to feel competent as there is a wide variety of equipment in the general bio-engineering field. Take in as much as you can from the experienced techs and I'm sure you will be given manufacturers training on specific medical devices. If you can get some training on anatomy/physiology that would be very helpful but if not available educate yourself. Be prepared for going into certain departments with some very ill patients whose lives are at that moment dependent on the high tech life support systems that you will be maintaining and repairing. Also be prepared for occasional highly stressful situations where your support could be called on in operating theatres whilst a patient is lying on an operating table and you need to communicate competently with anaesthetists and surgeons. But with your engineering knowledge you should enjoy the diversity of equipment you are working on from anaethesia sytems, ventilators, patient monitoring systems, infusion devices, electrosurgical systems ect ect.

I now have several years experience in medical engineering and have worked on various equipment from highly complex linear accelerators to very simple things like digital thermometers and nebulisers, its the diversity of the work that makes it interesting and a very worthwhile career.

Natalie, if you are new to medical engineering I think it would be unfair for any interviewer to ask you anything much about medical devices, I would think he may want to ask you something you know well, like what your current work is or what you have done at technical college or university. If you can communicate well on the technical issues you know that should stand you in good stead.

Den

Remember to remain humble ... and be thoughtful, and gentle; especially when patients are around.

Other than that ... when the pressure gets piled on (as it will, from time to time), just stay cool until matters ease off a little. And (most importantly) get into the habit of regularly washing your hands!

As for the kit itself:- as has already been mentioned, it's the diversity of equipment that makes life interesting. In time you will master it all, but in the meantime remember that they are only machines (so don't let them beat you).

Good Luck.

How about completing an accredited course in medical equipment technology ! That should be the first port of call for each and every medical engineer. Listening to old tom in the corner is all well and good providing old tom knows what he's talking about. Avensys now offer a range of fully accredited practical based (hands on) medical engineering training, from level 2 through to level 6.

Start as you mean to go on and complete a course that has been accredited...