Can new grads work in the ER?

A&OxNone, MSN, RN · Jun 20, 2011

I started in the ER as a new grad!! You can start almost anywhere, as long as they are willing to train you!!

AC123TX · Jun 20, 2011

Everywhere I look- I find "We are not accepting applications from new graduates at this time"

Did you find work in an urban, suburban, or rural area?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 20, 2011

Everywhere I look- I find "We are not accepting applications from new graduates at this time"

That has more to do with the economy than the area of nursing. I started in the ED as a new grad three years ago. Hopefully by the time you graduate, the nursing job market will have improved.

DemonWings · Jun 20, 2011

Alot of hospitals have new grad programs that are open strictly to new grads, but you have to know when they are available, bc I think ours were available march through april, so you have a tight time frame. Also in our fourth semester we had recruiters from each hospital come to our class and give us all the information regarding their new grad residency programs. And all the hospitals in my area hire ER new grads, but I think each hospital only allows a few spots so they are competitive.

RNlovesherPharmD · Jun 20, 2011

I am about to start nursing school and I cannot seem to find any information about what I can do post-grad. What will be my options once I graduate with a BSN?
Will I be able to go straight into working in the ER, or do I need experience?

It all depends on the facility you are interested in working for as to whether or not they accept new grads in the ED. However, the sky is your limit! Keep your eyes and ears open---network while in clinical setting, and I'm sure you'll land an awesome job! Good luck to you! :nurse:

mwboswell · Jun 20, 2011

I am about to start nursing school and I cannot seem to find any information about what I can do post-grad. What will be my options once I graduate with a BSN?
Will I be able to go straight into working in the ER, or do I need experience?

Good for you for going to Nursing School! Best of luck!

Most any place these days will hire a new grad RN into any department, without specific training, except mostly for the O.R., P.A.C.U. or I.C.U. Of those three, ICU "may" hire new grads.

The hiring depends on several things...

1) Number of new grads already in the department (IE: you don't want 75% of your FTE's to be new grads, that makes for a lot of inexperienced staff)

2) The amount of money the employer can afford to provide adequate (key word), orientation and training

3) Other units which may have higher needs, and as such they shift the allowable numbers of new grad hires to those units.

Hope this helps, good luck!

GottaGetInGrad · Jun 20, 2011

I am a manager of a Level I Trauma Center ED and we have a New Graduate Academy, it is 6 months of training both bedside and classwork and when you come out of it you are ready to work in a Level I Trauma Center, in this process you pick up all the certifications required, such has ACLS, TNCC, etc....

There is a contract you sign, but it isn't as long as you would think. We have run the academy 3 or 4 times now and it as really turned out some excellent nurses!!

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2011

We only hire new grads into a new grad training program which is six months in duration, after which the new grad must apply for a posted position.

adewitt149 · Jun 20, 2011

I am going to start working in a an ED in July and am a new graduate nurse. I was a Nurse Apprentice in the ED, and it was a wonderful experience. There is a lot of opinions when it comes to this subject, and I can certainly see both sides. You will not know alot coming out of nursing school. It can be very difficult. I certaintly would not want to start in the ED without an extensive new Graduate program in place. I will go to classes and be precepted for 4 months. I think to succeed you must be assertive in learning all you can and asking for help when you need it....I promise you that is a lot harder than it sounds. I know I am about to enter a very difficult, challenging, and learning filled time :).

adewitt149 · Jun 20, 2011

Wow, I worked as a nurse apprentice in an ED that had a trauma center. I am also about to start a New graduate program in an ED. I remember being soooo facinated by trauma nursing. The teamwork you guys display is amazing :). I think that is wonderful they have a program like that! I want to get my TNCC, CEN, and CCRN in the near future!

mybrowneyedgirl, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2011

I started in ER after a nurse tech job on MedSurg. Good luck to you. I LOVE my job!