ER nurse

Wendy_RN · Apr 21, 2008

That depends on the facility. Some hospitals will take new grads and others don't. Check with your local hospitals. Some people will tell you it is best to have nursing experience before going to the ED. I think it depends on the person and the support given. The ED is a totally different environment and I can't see how any area could prepare you for it.

NURSEOK5 · Apr 21, 2008

If you are really wanting to get into an ED, I agree look at your local hospitals. If you can work as a CNA or a Nurse Tech, some places because you are in nursing school, depends on how many semesters left, I think, will let you work as a Nurse Tech. If you can that may be a way to get to an ED. My first ED exp. I was in nursing school but did have my CNA but because I was in school I was allowed under that hospitals policy to do phlebotomy, ekgs, foleys, but I also got sent to the helicopter pad to retrieve medi vac pts. So it was a great learning experienee. Since then I have 2 solid years in an ED. Good Luck and explore all your avenues.:wink2:

southlandshari · Apr 23, 2008

hello. I am currently pursuing my associate RN degree. how easy or how hard is it to get a job in an ER.

I'm guessing the answer to your basic question is different from location to location. I was a tech on the ortho-neuro floor of our regional hospital for about a year and a half when ER management recruited me for a tech position there. I didn't bite the first time, but when another third shift tech position opened a few months later and they called again - so in our case, the ER seeks out those with prior tech or EMT experience and recruits internally first.

If you have difficulty finding a spot in an ER where you live, I highly recommend looking at other tech jobs on other floors. The experience I got working on the regular floor has been absolutely invaluable in my transition to the ER. In fact, I don't think I would have been comfortable starting out in the ER as a new tech with the range of patient care tasks we perform.

Wherever you work, though, I believe that experience in direct patient care while in nursing school is really beneficial. I've seen so many nursing students on clinicals who look like deer in the headlights when they actually have to take care of patients in a hospital setting....I feel for them and I'd hate to be in that situation.

Good luck to you in your job search and in nursing school - I'll be among the nursing student ranks come this September as well!

My newbie two pennies.

:)

southlandshari · Apr 23, 2008

hello. I am currently pursuing my associate RN degree. how easy or how hard is it to get a job in an ER.

:smackingf

I should win the prize for most bone-headed first post ever....

I just re-read your OP and realized you were asking about ER jobs after graduation, not ER jobs while in school. I gave good advice, I thought....just totally irrelevant to the question you asked!

Sorry. I work full-time and am in school on top of the most important job I have - mom to a great eight-year-old daughter. As a result, when I do find the rare bit of free time to jump online, I discover my brain is often on snooze mode.

:sofahider

Itshamrtym · Apr 25, 2008

:smackingf
I should win the prize for most bone-headed first post ever....
I just re-read your OP and realized you were asking about ER jobs after graduation, not ER jobs while in school. I gave good advice, I thought....just totally irrelevant to the question you asked!
Sorry. I work full-time and am in school on top of the most important job I have - mom to a great eight-year-old daughter. As a result, when I do find the rare bit of free time to jump online, I discover my brain is often on snooze mode.
:sofahider

It's okay!!!! no worries!!!! TAKE Care and come to relax at allnurses as you can..... :nurse: :redbeathe:nurse: