certifications for new grads

You can do an ECG course, highly recommended before you take ACLS

you can take PALS and NRP

You can sign up for a critical care course (those can be a bit expensive) or and ED course.

Certifications like the CCRN and CEN require a couple of years experience in the specific area.

Good Luck

Actually the CEN has no time requirements. (CCRN does, however, require 2 yrs).

Thanks for the correction GOMER...the CEN does not required 2 years experience but two yeas of experience is recommended.

http://admin.ena.org/bcen/brochures/CEN-Brochure.pdf

I'm in the same situation and have been looking into both phlebotomy and iv therapy certifications.

ACLS, PALS, ECG are good, too.

Actually the CEN has no time requirements. (CCRN does, however, require 2 yrs).

CCRN requirements are actually hour based rather than time based. The AACN requires 1,750 hours of clinical practice in the two years before examination and 875 of those hours are required to be completed within the most recent year.

TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) is also a great course. Even though I was working Med/Surg when i took it (not ER), it made my assessment skills 100% better! I'm not sure about the experience needed for this course but you can find out more info on the Emergency Nurses Association website.

A different perspective, you may want to try other certifications like

AE-C Asthma Educator - http://www.naecb.org/

or one of the many certifications listed on this page

http://www.testprepreview.com/nursing_certifications.htm

Thank you for this great info! It's just what I need also.