Attention ER nurses and managers

Specialties Emergency

Published

Im a new grad RN and gradated November 2012. Our instructors told us because we were getting our BSN we would be so much more marketable. Yeah right! Its tough out there and we have to fight like every other RN. I have been out of work but looking for a job just about anywhere to get my foot in the door. I have taken ACLS, PALS and I have not been able to land an ER job. Most ERs in Cali say no new grad. Ive applied and gone to the facilities and talked to the nursing managers, they all say the same thing. NO NEW GRADS. I've been saving myself for a new grad program, but realized i have to expand my options and apply everywhere including SNF's. My question is, what says to managers and ED nurses that Im serious about the ED? Is it taking tons of ED Cert classes? Is it becoming a EMT and working on an ambulance? Or going to work in an emergency room as a tech hoping I can land the next RN job? These are all my ideas at this time, I am also pursuing other RN jobs just to get experience. My goal is to either become a ED tech or a EMT. Please help, any advice is greatly appreciated. I am sure this is the specialty I want.

Specializes in GENERAL.

Thank you for this encouragement. @RHF RN cicadarn I have started applying to a few out of state residences and new grad programs that I can commute by flight and hour or so away. I have also started applying in SNFS. I just wanna work. Good luck cicadarn! And what area is there 6 new grad programs?

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Specializes in GENERAL.
I say just take the best job you can get. ERs will always be here - going and getting 2 yrs experience anywhere else will give you that experience they are asking for. I started as a new grad in the ER in a residency/fellowship program that lasted a year and yes that was great and ideal (and nearly killed me!!) but my favorite story came from a senior nurse and educator in our hospital. She graduated - couldn't find a job, couldn't find a job, couldn't find a job! Her dream was critical care ICU or ER and no one wanted her because she was a new grad. Finally she was so broke she took a job in LTC. She was there 2 years and she found she had a knack for skin care. She became the go-to nurse at the facility for wound care. When she started applying again for critical care jobs with this one job now as her work experience she was offered several jobs immediately from different hospitals because she was able to honestly boast about her expertise in wound care. She got hired into the MICU, worked in a SICU, then in an ER - basically spent a few years in several different critical care areas and then went back to school and got her MSN and became an awesome educator.

So she always tells new grads - just get busy, get a job, all the opportunities will be there in abundance once you have experience on your resume - just get started.

Good luck!

That is an awesome story... I agree, although I have been holding out for either a new grad program or an acute hospital job. I have realized that I'm a nurse despite where I work. I just need to work. My next step is to start going down to SNFS to see if I will have more success that just applying online. Thx u so much for that story! That is an inspiration to a new nurse. Other great nurses started out in interesting places! Thx u again

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Specializes in ED.

Most of the EDs in my area want at least 1 year RN experience before you can work in the ED. I live in Central New York and there are quite a few nursing opportunities in my area. My advice to any new grad who wants to work in any specialty is to get at least one year med/surg experience. Nursing school prepares you to learn to be a nurse. Working as a nurse is what teaches you to be a nurse. There are many things in nursing that you learn only by doing. Time management and critical thinking skills are especially needed in the ED and really only come by experience. Yes, I know many new grads think they may have those skills (and some really do), but these are things that really need time and seasoning to hone. Get 1 or 2 years of med/surg under your belt and you will find all kinds of opportunities that open up for you.

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Specializes in GENERAL.

Thanks! Will do, I will keep you all posted on my progress.@pudnluv

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Specializes in GENERAL.

Well I didn't get that ER SPOT but I did get a Tele job. I also work for a registry and nearing my year. I still want the Er or ICU seems more interesting now. Anyone else have ideas?

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Take a job in medical/surgical, a a step down unit or cardiac unit in the hospital that you like. Then after getting your foot in the door and building a good reputation apply for open positions in their ED. This is the old fashioned way to do it but it works and you will be getting a paycheck in the meantime!

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Depends on where you live. I've heard of new grad programs for the ER in New England. Usually at high turn-over hospitals.

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Specializes in ED/trauma.
Even with 7mo L&D and moving into ER, I'm still considered a new grad, but have MDs asking me about deliveries and such!

Who said you're still a new grad? Granted, your experience is limited to a very narrow area, but you're technically not a NG anymore. Also, any ER that's part of a hospital without L&D would be thankful to have you! (The one I came from sure was!)

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Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

look for hospitals located in the inner city/urban areas, or high turn over rate hospitals. they usually need people like meat through a grinder.

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Specializes in GENERAL.
Take a job in medical/surgical, a a step down unit or cardiac unit in the hospital that you like. Then after getting your foot in the door and building a good reputation apply for open positions in their ED. This is the old fashioned way to do it but it works and you will be getting a paycheck in the meantime!

Excellent, I'm almost there

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I agree with the previous poster, do it the old fashioned way. Get med surg/tele/step down experience It will be better for you in the long run. I worked 1 year in Med surg. And when I say 1 year, I mean to the day and I was out of there. While I worked on the floor I tried to become friendly with the ER nurses when they would transport a patient up to me. I would meet them at the bedside and talk with them about the patient. I would be nice to them on the phone when they would give report. And they remembered me! It was easy to get in after that. Now I know why. Practically no one on the floor is nice to us ER nurses. And I get it, we are giving the floor nurse more work with an admission, yada yada. I was in a Level 1 ER working as a nurse in 1 year since starting as a new grad. Be patient, get some experience, it will go fast, and you will be interviewing for a ER position before you know it.

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Specializes in GENERAL.
I agree with the previous poster, do it the old fashioned way. Get med surg/tele/step down experience It will be better for you in the long run. I worked 1 year in Med surg. And when I say 1 year, I mean to the day and I was out of there. While I worked on the floor I tried to become friendly with the ER nurses when they would transport a patient up to me. I would meet them at the bedside and talk with them about the patient. I would be nice to them on the phone when they would give report. And they remembered me! It was easy to get in after that. Now I know why. Practically no one on the floor is nice to us ER nurses. And I get it, we are giving the floor nurse more work with an admission, yada yada. I was in a Level 1 ER working as a nurse in 1 year since starting as a new grad. Be patient, get some experience, it will go fast, and you will be interviewing for a ER position before you know it.

That's good advice, and yes it's annoying when an ER nurse leaves all kinds of orders for me to do. I appreciate your words, I'm fighting to make it to a year.

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