First job in ER, new grad

akvarmit · May 24, 2008

Well, hopefully you shouldn't be expected to "hit" the ground.....at the interview you should ask about thier orientation program and see if they're invested in helping you grow into being a great ER nurse. Your prehospital experience will definitely help your comfort level!

I worked 2 years at a lvl 1, and we hired new grads all the time. That's not to say you won't have some bad days. There's bad days regardless of where you work.

Go for what you enjoy and good luck!

epsilonprodigy · May 24, 2008

I know lots of new grads who started in the ER and did great. In fact, the vast majority of them loved it and are still there. It takes awhile to come into your own in nursing and find out your strenghts, professional temperament, pet peeves, etc... sounds like you have already done a lot of this stuff as an EMT. What I mean is that I think success, or lack thereof, has more to do with what you're cut out for, rather than the fact you're a new grad.

If ER is what calls to you, I say go for it. I for one started in the PICU as a new grad. Although it didn't work out in the long run, it had to do with politics and ethics....but, "new-grad wise," it was fine despite the naysayers that tell you to go to med-surg first.

That said, I would have a) barfed and b) hid under a rock and cried if I'd started in the ER. I work in the ER now and love it, but it is a MUCH scarier environment than PICU ever was for me. Mainly because you don't know what you have all the time, you don't always have central access or a stable airway, and you have no control over the influx. So anything can happen and generally does, as I'm sure you already know! But you can do it, just don't let anyone shoot down your confidence. Hold your head high and know that you are smarter than the average bear! :yeah:

Natingale, EdD, RN · May 24, 2008

level 3 isnt bad, a lot of old people that fall off the bed and injure their hip ..abdominal pains ..etc etc, its going to get overwhelming. Theyre probably going to give you an extensive orientation (at least 3 weeks) I think once youre done, and you organize yourself ..Find your groove, you will do just fine. A leg bag helps since you will almost never get to use the bathroom :clown:

KckStrt · May 24, 2008

level 3 isnt bad, a lot of old people that fall off the bed and injure their hip ..abdominal pains ..etc etc, its going to get overwhelming. Theyre probably going to give you an extensive orientation (at least 3 weeks) I think once youre done, and you organize yourself ..Find your groove, you will do just fine. A leg bag helps since you will almost never get to use the bathroom

I had to laugh... "3 weeks" They better offer much more time then that. I am going round and round right now with my directors because as a new grad I was given a department orientation of 12 weeks. No class room, no scenario based studies, just bam.. on the floor and see what we can get done.. Sure we had some handouts my preceptor and I were suppose to go over, cardiac protocols, and stuff like that, but there was never time and most days we couldn't just "choose" our patients, or she was wanting to chat with her friends about what went on over the weekend.. I feel like the hospital I am at has "failed me" during my training. I was given the same "orientation" to the dept a 10 year ICU nurse was given. I am in the process right now of either keeping my job with educational resources, that they have put together for the NEWEST GRADS starting in June, or moving on to another floor or even hospital... Not really sure why I wasn't given the same educational information and opportunities they are offering the new grads next month. Ok.. Sorry I am mad right now.. .so I will stop.

You can do it, don't let anyone tell you other wise if that is where your heart is. You may have to get other exp, but who knows, you might already have some of what you need!

Good Luck!

emtstudentnurse · May 24, 2008

Thanks for all the input. I graduate in August, so I'm thinking of sending in the resume packet, etc about end of June-ish. I'll be hoping on the ER positions, but will take what I can get within reason. You guys are great. :yeah:

futurecnm · May 25, 2008

I'm thinking about going into ER after graduation. I have two possible hospitals, both which are level III. I understand how hard it is to hit the ground running as a new grad, especially the ER. My question is, I've been an EMT for 4 years, lots of 911 experience, will it be as hard? Is it a good place to start? I'm also thinking about maybe being prn on a med/surg at another hospital. And of course I'll be going back to working on a truck also. Any advice? Thanks.

I'm starting in a Level II in late July as a new grad. My only ED experience is a 6 week preceptorship (this actually got me an interview in this unit). I will get at least 8 week orientation and am really hoping I get good training. I am happy with what I saw while I was there and know that good orientation is crucial. I do not know if there is an ideal place to start. I did not have any med/surg offers so I had to take this job as i need to work. I loved the people and everything about the unit so I had to go for it. I'm scared ot death but I would be regardless of the area I was going into.

southlandshari · Jun 2, 2008

I'm thinking about going into ER after graduation. I have two possible hospitals, both which are level III. I understand how hard it is to hit the ground running as a new grad, especially the ER. My question is, I've been an EMT for 4 years, lots of 911 experience, will it be as hard? Is it a good place to start? I'm also thinking about maybe being prn on a med/surg at another hospital. And of course I'll be going back to working on a truck also. Any advice? Thanks.

If you have four years as an EMT working 911 calls, you have plenty of experience in the ER environment and with your local ER staff. That experience will serve you well. That experience, in fact, will serve you better than just about anything you learned in nursing school.

I'm not a nurse yet but I've worked both med-surg and ER as a tech and I highly recommend going for an ER job over med-surg, especially if you enjoy the job of an EMT!

:)

emtstudentnurse · Jun 6, 2008

I'm currently working on a med/surg floor, I started out as a tech then moved to telemetry tech. Both positions helped with school, but I won't be working at my current hospital when I graduate in Aug. They only hire one new grad a year. I like med/surg, but honestly it's boring. My clinicals are all med/surg which tend to be boring, but I'm learning the the stuff I need to know.