new grad RN's in the ER

KR · Jun 1, 1999

My advice is to keep looking cause there are hospitals out there that will hrie new grads into the ER. check the ER forum cause i asked about ER stuff and there is some info on which hospitals will and if u need more email me I have a list of hospitals that will think abotu new grads.

WillsRN · Jun 4, 1999

My opinion is that you should learn to weather the flak you get in the ED and keep

learning and not let anyone deter you from your goal. Its reasonable to go from new grad

to ER if you want. You can go from new grad to any other specialty everywhere in the USA.

So why not ER? I went from paramedic to ER RN

to flight nurse and never spent a minute on a med/surg unit. I just think that most full time ER nurse have inordinately big egos and

are often found trying to prove how wonderful

they are by showing others how limited or wrong they are.

There, that should start a nice discussion!

jenny lynn · Jun 5, 1999

Hello, it's me again. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your reply wills. I 2nd that!! Most ER nurses do think they're the end-all be-all as far as nurses go. Aside from that, wills your profile is thin: where are you from? Could you share your path from paramedic to flight nurse and who you fly with. Where I work we have a CALSTAR base and i went on a ride along once- I loved it (California shock and trauma air rescue/ helicopter ). I did find your reply encouraging. Thanks!!

WillsRN · Jun 20, 1999

Jenny, I tried to reply thru email but the

postcard on this site don't work, so you can

email me at [email protected]

clc19k30 · Jul 3, 1999

Hello, I seem to be late in replying to this topic, so please excuse my tardiness. I do not believe that new graduates should work in the ED or any intensive care unit. For one they new grad is not experienced enough in basic nursing care to effectively treat the critically ill patient. Second the pressures that are placed on the nurse in these units leads to burnout and stress induced physical ailments. This is evident by the high turnover rate that is associated with these positions. So how would a newly graduated nurse be prepared to handle this intense amount of pressure? I am not the typical graduate. I have been in the military my whole adult life and I am experienced with high pressure situations. I would not want to start my nursing career in a position where I could lose my intrest in such a wonderful career.

WillsRN · Jul 28, 1999

There's probably a good argument to be made

either way but I still hold that if your goal

is in one particular area you should focus

on that solely. Whats wrong with a new grad

starting a surgery or icu or any other specialty internship?

wildcat · Jul 29, 1999

So you want to be an ER RN? Every nursing job requires certain skills and a inclination. My recomendation is interview with the organizations your want to work for. They will give you a good idea whether you are a good candidate to be an ER RN. The long and the short of it is, don't worry what we think you should be. Worry what the HR people think. Sit down and think of what you think makes a good ER RN and see 1. if you fit your idea and 2. ways of convienceing an interviewer you will be a good ER RN.

DoogieRN · Apr 21, 2000

A friend of mine sent me an email on this site so I began reading. I found this question and read the responses and I had to get in on this.

I agree some ER nurses are stuck up, "I'm too good to talk to you", kind of people, but not all. I'd like to think i'm not, and neither are most of the nurses i work with. Although ICU's; that's a different story.

As to the original question about new grads in the ER. I was a new grad in the ER, of course I worked there as a tech for 3 years while going to school and had 5 years of EMS experience. That helped. But my advice to new grads wanting to be in the ER is to take initiative. Join some of the nursing associations or society in this area. That made a big impression on my employers.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 25, 2000

This was just too good to miss. I'm an ER nurse in a large (70,000 plus visits/year) level one trauma center. Just a few years ago we started to hire new grads. Not because we set out to, just because there aren't enough experienced RNs. I think new grads can do fine, but I would certainly look for a hospital that has extended orientation and mentoring. This has helped us with retention (in a very tight market) as well as employee/patient satisfaction. I also volunteer on our rural fire/rescue department and am one of only five pre-hospital RNs in Illinois. Would love to here of others' experiences. Thanks and good luck.. judi

Nittlebug · Jan 31, 2001

I liked your reply trauma, I agree you MUST have a good orientation and precepter program to survive in an ER as a new grad. I had 3 years experience before I made the jump to ER. My opinion is this: If anything is going to burn you out, it will be working on a busy cardiac unit surrounded by negative people.

When I went to the ER my whole life changed for the better. The crew I work with is like a second family and are very supportive. I had 12 weeks orientation and great preceptors. But to tell you the truth, I'd bet things here would have been alot harder for me without the med/surg/cardiac and ICU background I had. That has helped me gain confidence and vital assessment skills needed in the ER. You have to learn how to make good judgement calls, and that's something books don't teach you, only experience does. You would only benefit from spending a year on a floor.

One more thing. If you were having an MI, would you want a new grad with a 2year degree pushing your Retavase?? Just a thought.

jenny lynn · Jan 31, 2001

it's amazing to me that this discussion is still going on! I started this post back in 99, much has changed since. update: i did end up working in a float pool as a new grad at a county hospital (very scarey). it seems they don't really care what your experience is if they are desperate enough. 6 months later i was hired into the er at a different hospital. i feel very safe there, good staffing, resources, it's a team. so i guess it really depends on where you work. I would rather see a new grad in the er with a team backing him/her up than a new grad thrown out on a med/surg floor. it all comes down to safe patient care, what's safe and will you leave the shift with your license? i love me job, i get to be what i want, an er nurse.