So I have a quick question. Our program allows for a preceptorship in ER if you have expressed an interest in pursuing that after you graduate. I have also been a Paramedic before, so I believe I understand so of the differences between working in the ER and working in other areas of the hospital. (however can you really understand something you have never done before?)
Well our preceptorships were posted today and instead of getting a level 1 setting in basically the only hospital I applied for, I was placed in a smaller town that is a level 3 ER...and one that pretty much nothing goes to.
My question is this. Will a preceptorship in this type of facility advance, have no impact, or hurt my application for a position in a Level 1 ER? Does any ER experience help, or will the assumption be that a Level 3 is so different from a Level 1 that you really cannot use this experience as a springboard.
As a side note I have also spent the last few months getting my ACLS, PALS, ITLS, ITLS Peds and NRP in preparation.
Hope your interview went well. As others have said, don't get hung up on levels. I have seen some nasty, nasty trauma in the smaller ERs where I've worked -- a 15-bed freestanding ER, as well as my current Army community hospital. Any ER, no matter the size, has the potential for high acuity patients. Keeps us on our toes. :) Good luck!!
So I had my interview this afternoon and here is how it went. The manager loved the fact that I had previous Paramedic experience and took the initiative to get my ACLS, PALS, NRP and ITLS-Peds and ITLS before graduating. They are also looking for TNCC and ENPC, but I cannot get those until I graduate. He also stated that there were 49 interested people for 4 positions...ouch.
As to working in a ER for my preceptorship I asked him what he would want me to focus on and he said...charting. I have to say I was not expecting that answer. I let him know that our class had been doing charting since our 2nd day at clinicals and that I would concentrate on ER charting over the next 13 12 hour shifts.
I was a bit disappointed that new grads "stay out of the trauma rooms" for the first year, but I believe that I can succeed regardless of the timeframe.
I'll update this in a week or so, when I am told there should be a decision. Thanks everyone for your advice.
Update. I did not get the ER position at the Level 1 hospital. The recruiter stated that they went with an internal candidate, so I have no idea how I did against others...well I guess I do know how I did :)
She asked if I would be interested in talking with the manager of an ICU: Trauma, or step-down unit manager, as well as the manager of another ER (level nothing) they own 45 minutes further away. Of course I said yes.
Personally it's a bit disappointing, especially after I felt that I did so well with the interview process.
Specializes in Emergency, Med/Surg, Vascular Access.
I applied to a lot of jobs I didn't get. Probably applied at ab 25 to 30 different.t hospitals in 5 states. Interviewed 9 times, got offered ÿ of those positions. I wanted a level 1 job. They simply do not let new grads do trauma at level 1 trauma centers right away, so u may actually get more trauma experience at a level nothing. As I've already said, I certainly see more trauma at my level 5 prn job than I do at my huge level 3 er. Don't settle for icu if u want er, tho. Trauma icu isn't as interesting as it sounds, IMO. One of my job offers was trauma icu at a level 1 trauma center. After I toured it I thought oh hell no. Lol. Not for me.
Lunah, MSN, RN
14 Articles; 13,773 Posts
Hope your interview went well. As others have said, don't get hung up on levels. I have seen some nasty, nasty trauma in the smaller ERs where I've worked -- a 15-bed freestanding ER, as well as my current Army community hospital. Any ER, no matter the size, has the potential for high acuity patients. Keeps us on our toes. :) Good luck!!