Is cardiac tele experience a semi-good fit for transitioning to the ED?

Published May 22, 2013

dandk1997RN, MSN, RN

361 Posts

Specializes in Cardiology.

Looking for input from experienced ED nurses.

I find myself in a position where I need to seek new employment (system-wide pay cuts that I can't afford. I do realize that this will make it harder to find another job because others will be doing the same. I won't leave until I have one secured, obviously.)

I have been a nurse only one year, but I am fortunate in that I live in an area where there are jobs and new grads even are able to find work. I have been with the same employer for almost thirteen years- prior to becoming an RN, I was a supervisor.

My experience is in intermediate cardiac tele. We get critical care pay because we are dealing with more acute pts than med surg floors. I am tele certified through the local critical care consortium and have my BLS and ACLS. I don't have my PALS but am certainly willing to get it. I will be going back to school within the year for my BSN.

I want to work 12 hour night shifts. I wanted ED or ICU when I graduated, but was required to stay with my current employer because of a scholarship agreement and they don't hire new grads into those areas. I chose the specialty I thought was closest to those. I do have classmates who got hired directly into the ED where I am thinking of applying and they love it. In my day-to-day work, the scenarios I handle best and find most interesting are the rapid response situations. And I am 110% a team player, to my detriment (meaning I finally get a chance to pee, but instead, I go help a co-worker.)

Does my background sound like a good fit to transition to the ED? Obviously, ED experience would be the best fit, but for someone looking to move into the ED, do you think my background gives me a fighting chance?