Do Med Surg / Tele RNs still get hired into ER?

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Many ER job ads want RNs with ER experience already, but are there ERs out there that will take nurses with only floor experience?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Yes there are.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Yes. I was hired with only PCU nursing and paramedic experience. I think it depends on the ER and what the manager is looking for at the time.

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Specializes in Emergency.

What the job ad wants and what they hire are often two totally different things. Our ads say 2 yr er exp minimum, we have hired new grads, ltc nurses, you name it. When the director is staring at several open night shifts, and a candidate that seems like they are worth taking a chance on comes along, the restrictions on the ad don't mean diddly.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, Med-Surg/Tele, LTC.

I just got hired into ER at a level 1 trauma center with no ER experience at all. My background is Med-Surg/Tele at an LTACH and LTC.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

I did: med surg background.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

shoot, we're so short we're hiring new grads.... be glad to get some medsurg nurses

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yup. right here. tele and obs exp. but importantly, I was internal transfer, so I believe that made it heck lot easier. I recommend finding internship from your system and applying as internal. good luck

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I was an internal transfer, too. I only had 18 mos of med-surg experience under my belt when I was hired, but I had spent some of that time cross-training in the ER.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Thanks for all the messages. Leaves me hope that I can transition away from med-surg-tele. I am a travel nurse now, and I dont mind staying in that specialty for the time being, but when I decide to become perm again I would want to transition into ER nursing. I have already learned something new on my current assignment, so that makes me happy to know that I am already a step above my prior job.

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Specializes in High-risk OB, Labor & Delivery.

I think PCU, ICU, or med-surg tele at the very least would be a good background to have when looking to transition to the ED. I recently transferred to the ED from an OB floor and that was a bad idea. I have done PCU/tele nursing before and it would have made a lot more sense to transfer to the ED from the PCU, rather than from my OB floor. The ED took a chance with me and it didn't work out so I'm back to OB.

Lessons learned if you want to transition to the ED from the floor:

- make sure you have good current tele skills

- get your PALS, ACLS before applying

- learn how to do focused assessments

- try taking an ED nursing course (I found a local one through a university)

This is what I learned that would have been helpful for me when transitioning. These preparatory steps would have helped me transition faster.

The ED is like floor nursing at hyper-speed.

Best of luck to you on your road to the ED. I was there for a little over a month and it was awesome.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

If ED is short staffed volunteer when they have to pull someone. It is not a good idea for you to take patients. Tell the charge nurse you can do tasks. Foleys ivs ngt tubes EKGs labs fingersticks answer call lights check blood or just stay with that unstable pt and be another set of eyes.

Be helpful to all, ask if they need anything and you will be invited back.

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