Can new grads work in ER?

Angelica · Oct 18, 2003

geez, Hogan, no offense, but you tripped a pet peeve of mine: I will die a happy woman if I never hear another reference to inside or outside the box. That term needs to die, die, die. Please.

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2003

It will die when nurses let go of old traditions that make no sense...

crawling back into my box (w/ windows AND a way out),

Sean

LilRedRN1973 · Oct 18, 2003

Erin...I started thinking about my jobs as a food server when you mentioned the walking fast. It's true in my experience that the people who walk quickly and with purpose are the ones who are able to keep up and stay on their toes. Waiting tables isn't the most difficult job, but it isn't easy either. And most of the excellent servers I have worked with walked with purpose and walked FAST. The idiots who were terrible at their job just putzed around, looking lost...and they had a habit of thinking just as slowly.

Erin, I can see your friend's line of reasoning. I'm a licensed EMT and I agree...you must be able to think fast and think rationally. You must also have a creative mind because the ER, from what I've seen, is not always textbook. I did my clinical time for my EMT at our local Level II trauma center and I LOVED it. I felt right at home there...I am one of those fast walkers/fast thinkers. I get lost when I try to slow down. I'm hoping to get on with their internship program so that as soon as I pass the NCLEX (notice I said WHEN, not IF...LOL) I can be hired in an official capacity.

I have learned over the years that persistance pays off and if you look confident in yourself, you will convey that attitude to the person thinking about hiring you. I got into nursing school using persistance. I was on the alternate list and showed up for the 2 day, 8 hours a day orientation without have a spot secured. The director of the nursing program was impressed that I showed up. She ended up putting me into another student's slot who failed to show up for the mandatory orientation.

Don't give up on working in ER as a new grad...show them you are eager, willing to learn, and be persistant. And above all, be confident in your ability.

Erin RN · Oct 18, 2003

Rnintraining

I am glad that someone understood what I said..the same friend that I was referring to told me that ER nurses are "born" and I think that is true in any area of nursing... a lot of what makes an individual successful in a certain area has little to do with schooling rather it is the personality of the individual (ie: slow, fast, teacher, patience, compassion...). The ER was filled with pretty aggressive RNs and MDs.. we did walk fast, talk fast and think fast.. we had many come and go that couldn't keep up, I am not saying that is bad it is just the way it was. If you are an EMT then you know the drill..I precepted many EMTs during their training in our ER..I could pretty much tell which ones were going to make it and which weren't. Sounds like you have the perfect background to go to the ER!! I left the ER for a more family friendly job but I still miss it from time to time..I still get invited to the Chrismas party so all is not lost..LOL (It is usually a pretty good one, thye play as hard as they work..) Erin

PlanetCaroline · Oct 18, 2003

As an emergency nursing hopeful, I have read the to "enter ER right away" threads avidly. I have one question to the experienced ER nurses who suggest us new grads doing med surg first...

When I interview on a med-surg floor, what do I tell the hiring committee? Do I tell the truth... that I am in med surg to get valuable experience so I can work in the ER.

I can't imagine anybody wanting me on their floor if they found out I wanted to be in a different specialty. Wouldn't I be unpopular on the med surg floor if I left in 6 - 12 months, especially after the nurses taught me so much. I don't mind the idea of working different specialties before ER-- I want to do it in a respectful way.

Please share how an ER hopeful can do it w/o exploiting the teaching/training capacities of another specialty.

Thanks for the help.

Caroline

eddmp · Oct 18, 2003

YOU GO GIRL (or BOY).. JUST FIND YOURSELF A GOOD STRONG MOUTHY PRECEPTOR WHO WILL WORK YOUR BUTT OFF AND TEACH YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW... ADDITIONALLY, IF ANYONE GIVES YOU GRIEF, SHE CAN CHEW YOU THROUGH.....GO FOR YOUR DREAMS, BUT GET ALL THE EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALLING YOU CAN TO BACK UP YOUR DETERMINATION!!!

psychomachia · Oct 19, 2003

PlanetCaroline requested: "Please share how an ER hopeful can do it w/o exploiting the teaching/training capacities of another specialty."

ME: Lie.

fab4fan · Oct 19, 2003

No need to lie. Many people start off on med/surg and then move to another specialty. People switch specialties all the time; it's really not a big deal.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2003

I've had many friends (including my husband) who started ER right out of school. I did EMS for several years and I'll be gosh darned if they send me to MED/SURG for a year first. I worked as a unit secretary in ER for 5 yrs ( I know this is a totally different job) but I did get a strong sense of flow and how to work well in that staff environment.

My plan is to spend a year here in D.C. getting "eaten alive" after I graduate and then moving to San Francisco with my family to a new place where (hopefully) I'll be up to par in the ER.

I'm actually more intimidated by the ICU where you have 8 trillion lines running and vent settings and total patient care... all day all night and all the time.

Tink RN · Oct 19, 2003

The hospital I work in used to require a year of med/surg prior to working in the ER, however with the nurse crunch, they had no option but to resort to hiring new grads. I think the main rationale for the year experience was to help the nurse become comfortable with starting IVs and giving IV meds etc ... however with new grads getting 16 weeks of orientation, overall the ones that came to work with us and stayed are doing very well. It has been my experience that new grads with a strong preceptor excell simply because they have no "floor habits" to break. I have done both types of nursing and there truly is no comparison - both are different worlds.

I love working in the ER and I would never discourage anyone with the desire to do this type of nursing from trying it. I will be honest with you - as with any job there will be certain situations that are unpleasant to deal with and the expectations are high. Often tempers flare and tongues roll but I have learned that is par for the course ... you can't take it personal.

You will be given many opinions on this subject, but the choice is yours. If you do decide to accept a position on a unit vs ER to start - I agree with the previous post stating there is no need to mention you think you want to work else where. You never know, you may decide you like it and decide to stay ... however if you mention this during an interview and the nurse manager is choosing between you and another nurse ... who would you pick? Don't shoot yourself in the foot. Transferring departments within a hospital system really isn't a big deal. Good luck!

tiquicia · Jan 29, 2005

So, to continue on this job-switching theme...

If there's a new grad ED training program starting at Hospital A in 6 months, but I really want to get a job in the meantime, would you advise that I get a med/surg job at Hospital A to make the switch easier, or would it be okay to get a job at Hospital B and bail after 6 months?

Etiquette tips??

*PICURN* · Jan 29, 2005

you can start in an ER as a new grad

I chose PICU but 3 of my friends had NO problem getting jobs in the ER as a new grad...

Just remember there is a nursing shortage, and you can get a job wherever you want