Ask for ER position?

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Specializes in Rehab, acute/critical care.

Hi all,

I did an internship while in high school at my local hospital's ER and I completely got hooked on being an ER nurse. I graduated with my RN but when it came time for the job search there weren't opportunities avaliable for me to get my foot in the door at the hospital. I currently work in Rehab/Sub-acute at LTC. I handle a lot of difficult patients (25+) with trachs, pegs, post surgical incisions, IVs, etc. I applied for a general RN position at the hospital but the application wasn't descriptive on what units they need RNs for. If I'm asked what I want to do, would I be too confident to possibly ask for an ER position?

Although I understand LTC isn't close to hospital nursing, I am the "go-to" person at work when a trach needs to be re-inserted, PEG comes out, and mostly always take the leadership role in code blues (even when it's not my patient). I'm a very fast learner.

This hospital ER isn't a high trauma center, usually they send extreme trauma patients out to the bigger hospitals. Should I ask for ER or try to work a step down unit first?

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

The worst they can say is no. Try!

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Specializes in Rehab, acute/critical care.

Thank you! Very true! :up:

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We hire people from ltc as quasi new grads. Their preceptorship is not as long as traditional new grads. I work in a lvl 1 trauma center.

BSN GCU 2014.

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Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

All of the hospitals I've worked for have taken new grads in the ED. There are some that don't work out, but that also happens with nurses from other specialties that switch. Go for it!

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Specializes in Rehab, acute/critical care.

I didn't land an ER job but got hired for Med-Surg. Very excited about it! I think it will be a great experience and when the time is right I'll eventually make it in the ER. I told my hiring manager my long term goals and she seems very supportive. Working on getting my ACLS certification now. :)

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I agree - the worst they could say is no. If the ER is what you want to do then go for it! Being a fast learner is definitely a plus as you will see pretty much anything and everything in the ER from the very young to the very old. The learning curve is incredibly steep but with the right amount of orientation, preceptor(s) and mentor(s) I think you will be fine.

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