ER Job opportunities

gemmi999 · Jun 7, 2016

I'm an ER nurse in Southern California. I had about 10 months of experience as of April 2016 and was not happy with my job due to short staffing. I applied to about 8 hospitals in LA/Riverside/San Diego. Got interviews at 5 of them within 1 week, offers from all 5 within 1-2 days of interviewing. Once I accepted a job the other hospitals that I'd applied to started calling and the one's I turned down called to ask if I'd reconsider/keep them in mind for the future/etc. All of this to say--There are a LOT of ER nurse positions right now in Southern California.

None of these were super huge/magnet hospitals. All community/county facilities, but that's where I want to work, with small, local hospitals. Jobs are plentiful for ED nurses in these facilities. Most are offering 10K (+) sign on bonuses for experienced ED nurses. Be careful--the one's with the sign on bonuses are like where I ended up leaving, super short, tend to be poorly run, etc.

Good luck!

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Jun 7, 2016

Most EDs up here in NorCal tend to hire on a pretty regular basis but some of them are pretty tough to break in to.

With only one year of experience, your options may be limited. I didn't start getting traction in my job hunt until about 2.5 years in. Most of the people that I see being hired come in with substantial ED experience.

barcode120x, RN, NP · Jun 13, 2016

All of this to say--There are a LOT of ER nurse positions right now in Southern California.

This is VERY true. I live in socal too, but in the Inland Empire area (roughly 45min-1 hour from LA). If interested, look into the Citrus Valley Health Partners hospitals (Queen of the Valley, Foothill Presbyterian, Intercommunity Hospital, etc), Chino Valley Medical Center, and San Antonio Regional Hospital. Other names to listen out for is Corona Regional Hospital and Arrowhead Regional Hospital for ER jobs. I have friends in all locations and have been told there are have been numerous ER RN openings for at least 1 year experienced RN's.

Unfortunately, I do not know the job outlook outside of the Inland Empire as that's where I am based.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2016

From what I've observed, EDs are always looking for more staff.

Turnover is continuous in the ED.

Electric0704 · Jun 19, 2016

thanks for the tips guys, I wouldnt mind working in the IE or OC as long as I am situated in the LA area, I will look into those hospitals, but my god getting the California License is taking forever

Korosensei · Jun 21, 2016

Question since we're in the topic of ED opportunity and do not want to start a new thread. Bsn new grad rn Currently in SoCal with 3 months of tele experience.

when is it a good time to start looking for ED positions? I'd love to get place in the middle of the city with gsw, some trauma and etc something with high acuity and learning opportunities. I'd work at my current hospitals ED but we are a stroke center and get a lot of CP/stroke go who straight to cath lab and ppl who need a refill of prescriptions.

which hospital should I look into for ED?

barcode120x, RN, NP · Jun 24, 2016

Question since we're in the topic of ED opportunity and do not want to start a new thread. Bsn new grad rn Currently in SoCal with 3 months of tele experience.
when is it a good time to start looking for ED positions? I'd love to get place in the middle of the city with gsw, some trauma and etc something with high acuity and learning opportunities. I'd work at my current hospitals ED but we are a stroke center and get a lot of CP/stroke go who straight to cath lab and ppl who need a refill of prescriptions.
which hospital should I look into for ED?

If you look at my previous post up above I have names listed for you in the Inland Empire area. I also hear that the Anaheim Regional Medical Center in the Orange County is looking to hire with bonuses, and so is the High Desert area (if you wanna move there lol).

Well since your a new grad and only 3 months in, maybe wait at least 6 months or a year on your tele floor before moving onto ER? And because you are still a "new grad" with only 3 months, ER's may still look at you as a new grad and not want to hire you. Although a lot of the hospitals in Socal area are looking for ER nurses, as far as I know most places are looking for peeps with at least 1 year RN experience.

Also, I don't quite understand your last sentence about not wanting to work in your own ED. Are you saying you don't want to work in your ED because you get stroke and CP patients? Because that will happen in any ED you go to. If you're saying your ED nurses transfer to cath lab, that's not mandatory, that should be up the nurse if they want to transfer units...

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Jun 28, 2016

Question since we're in the topic of ED opportunity and do not want to start a new thread. Bsn new grad rn Currently in SoCal with 3 months of tele experience.
when is it a good time to start looking for ED positions? I'd love to get place in the middle of the city with gsw, some trauma and etc something with high acuity and learning opportunities. I'd work at my current hospitals ED but we are a stroke center and get a lot of CP/stroke go who straight to cath lab and ppl who need a refill of prescriptions.
which hospital should I look into for ED?

Figure out the parts of town where you wouldn't want to break down and that's the place near where you want to work.