ER and Labor&Delivery Nurse

[Roz10]

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to know how hard it is to get into the ER or Labor&Delivery Units as a new RN?

If anyone who is an RN is able to answer that, that'd be great. I want to know for more metropolitan areas with Trauma Centers for the ER and L&D.

Also how much and what kind of experience did you need or does someone typically need? Is it hands on experience in a different dept or could you get hired directly into that unit?

Thank you!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

You may want to head on over to the Nursing First Job Hunt Assistance forum. Here, you will find the stories of a lot of new grads looking for their first jobs, and a wealth of information. I would say that as a new grad RN, unless you are already working on the unit in another capacity with a good annual review and references, it is going to be very unlikely to get your first choice specialty as a new grad, especially in an urban setting that is most likely seeing far more new grads than available jobs. You would be wise to consider the employment environment of the area in which you wish to work, and consider taking a job in a specialty you find less desirable to get nursing experience.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

When I applied to my local hospitals as a new grad, I did not get into the residency programs that had an in-depth ER residency, however, I did obtain a job in another specialty and found myself needing more experience; so I sought out positions that would help give me a base in my nursing practice.

When I applied to my current position in the ER, I had two years experience outside of the specialty and also some leadership experience, and I sold myself from my out of the box experience and my leadership experience.

I am in a metro area where the area is saturated with nurses; most nurses that I know or learned from, a good percentage had experience outside of their specialty before they settled into their desired specialty; a few started in their specialty, but the increasing norm is starting in another specialty and building on ones practice before going into another specialty.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Define "hard". Every hospital is different. You need to talk to someone at the hospital where you want to apply. They may not even hire new grads for that unit. Another hospital may. It may also depend on your resume and job interview. Also the grades you earned while in University.