ER job- new grad

[RN-Ella]

Just want some thoughts on this, is 8 weeks of orientation in the ER enough for a new grad w/o prior ER experience?? would you take the job?

All thoughts /comments are appreciated!

[JSlice., ASN, RN]

Thank you, cwhitebn, for your post! It makes me sick how nurses believe they are better or can perform better if they "have years of experience." I am a new graduate working in an ER and can perform better than some of the "EXPERIENCED" nurses can. Congrats on getting a job in the ER, especially at a time where it's difficult to get nursing jobs in the first place. If ER is you desire, your passion, I say go for it and work as hard as you can. All the old wrinkled nurses can watch as you leave them in the dust.

GOOD FOR YOU!

[Scrubby]

Thank you, cwhitebn, for your post! It makes me sick how nurses believe they are better or can perform better if they "have years of experience." I am a new graduate working in an ER and can perform better than some of the "EXPERIENCED" nurses can. Congrats on getting a job in the ER, especially at a time where it's difficult to get nursing jobs in the first place. If ER is you desire, your passion, I say go for it and work as hard as you can. All the old wrinkled nurses can watch as you leave them in the dust.

GOOD FOR YOU!

I don't think that errn911susan was being disrespectful at all, unlike your post. Personally, it makes me sick when people use derogatory terms like 'old and wrinkled'.

I can't speak for ER, but in my specialty area (OR) I believe it's important for nurses to have at least a year experience in medical/surgical nursing first before going into the OR. Nurses should have mastered the basics before going in and learning specialist skills. I've seen experienced OR nurses fall flat on their faces because they didn't know how to give basic nursing care.

[RevolutioN2013]

I have a question about this situation. Future nursing student here working on pre-reqs. I'm 40 from a business management background.

1. Hospitals get sued constantly

2. Management is acutely aware of this

3. Hospitals have a vested interest in preventing lawsuits and tailor their hiring practices accordingly

3. No shortage of nurses available ergo you can hire ones with more experience if you choose to do so

Assuming these are true statements then here's my question.

Therefore, isn't it a logical conclusion that based on their experience in their hospital that this is a reasonable amount of training for the position? If they make the wrong call and have folks in that position without enough training they could end up with lawsuits in the millions. I have to think that they know how long it takes and that if it's the right nurse for the position it will be enough training for this particular hospital setting.

Is this not what all of you see in practice?