[ejmonroe]

I'll have my CNA in early Sept. I'm hoping to find a FT position in the ED of one of the local hospitals. One hospital, in particular, will pay in full for the nursing school I most want to attend.

How do I rise above the other anonymous resumes coming in the door? Who should I try to speak with? Nurse manager? Unit manager? Not sure what the position/title is of the appropriate contact in this dept.

I have a bachelor's in an unrelated field. This will be a career change for me. I'm 40 years old.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
EJ

[Victoriakem]

Try to schedule a meeting with the ED nurse manager so you can talk & let her/him know of your interest in the ED. Not everyone wants the ED & you may just get what you want.

[ejmonroe]

Thanks for your response.

I called, got the Nurse Manager's name and contact info and will send her a letter tomorrow requesting a short meeting. I'll follow up with a phone call. I'll post back here if I have luck with it.

Thanks again!

Regards,
EJ

[Victoriakem]

Originally Posted by ejmonroe

Thanks for your response.

I called, got the Nurse Manager's name and contact info and will send her a letter tomorrow requesting a short meeting. I'll follow up with a phone call. I'll post back here if I have luck with it.

Thanks again!

Regards,
EJ

You can do it! And good luck.

[HARRN2b]

Good luck ej,

Let us know how it goes. I would like to do the same thing here in our little emergency room while I am in school.

[ejmonroe]

Well, I made up little colored bags of candy, stuck in a cover letter and resume and delivered it to a few nurse managers at the local hospital, including the ED nurse. I called one of the four to follow up two days later and got voicemail. I'll try to other on Monday and Tuesday.

Oddly enough, I got a call from that hospital on the application I filled out a month ago. This was not related to my candy/resume campaign. I'm going in on Thursday to talk to a recruiter about possible opportunities. They have unit secretary positions and a few patient care tech poisitions. Nothing available in ED right now. The PCT poisitions require 6 months of experience. I have zero. The recruiter said that some departments are more willing than others to train someone with no experience.

I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks for the good ideas!

[Maverick80]

Persistance!!

Turn in your application, and start there. Then figure out who the head of the department is, or the nurse manager, and leave a message with them.

I turned in an application for a senior tech position in the ED at the end of april. (it's a nurse tech in the ED, and it's for nursing students who've already had their first clinical, i finished mine in may) (i had finally finished my summer course and was really ready for a job in the ed) I've wanted an ED job for over a year, but wasn't qualified for any of positions yet. I got the number of the Head of the Department, and Left her 3 messages in a little over a week. I knew she was really busy so i though it can't hurt to keep trying and i would leave her one, and wait 2-3 days then try again. (i tried my best to just really sound interested, and steered away from being annoying) 4th call, i finally got to talk to her, she said she never got my application, and transfered me to HR where i left them a message. 2 hours later HR called me back and i got an interview the next day first with HR then with the head of the ED department after that!! I went for the interviews (in which they said, so i hear you've been trying to get a hold of us!! i had to giggle a little bit!), and 3 hours after i left, i got a message saying they wanted to offer me the position!! I start on the 24th with orientation!! i'm so excited!!

sometimes the dog who barks the loudest gets the food!!

good luck, and i hope your successfull in getting your job!!

[RoxanRN2003]

What everyone is saying is great. However, there is another little tidbit you can add to your resume to make you even more 'attractive' (usually). Go get your EMT certificate (class is usually 1 to 6 months). Some ERs require it due to the training (My ER requires EMT, EMT-P or nurse tech. They will not even consider a CNA).

[debbyed]

Maverick had the right idea..Persistance, Persistance, Persistance