Getting into emergency nursing

Specialties Emergency

Published

For all you emergency nurses out there:

How did you get into emergency nursing? Did you start out as a new grad in ER? If not, where did you start out and what path did you take to get to the ER?

Specializes in AGACNP-BC/Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.

I am starting as a new grad in a busy level 2 trauma center ER tomorrow!! :D So nervous and excited at the same time :laugh:

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Specializes in Hospice.
I am starting as a new grad in a busy level 2 trauma center ER tomorrow!! :D So nervous and excited at the same time :laugh:

Wow. That would be my dream. You are so lucky, you know that, right?:up:

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I am starting as a new grad in a busy level 2 trauma center ER tomorrow!! :D So nervous and excited at the same time :laugh:

I'm starting as a new grad in a busy ER tomorrow too! We're not a trauma center but I'll get to one of those in a year or two :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Haematology/Oncology.

I can imagine it is difficult for a lot of nurses to get their "foot in the door" and I know nurses are always knocking the door down to get a job in my department. I would say apply even if you don't have all the qualifications expected to any advertised position. I applied for an ER position when I was still a new grad, and was so excited, emergency nursing was my goal, but I had only worked as an agency nurse for six months, mostly in aged care facilities (not exactly what they were looking for). I was new to applying for nursing jobs and didn't realise they wanted someone who had a couple of years' experience. I answered all the selection criteria in the position profile and was offered an interview based upon my experience mostly in unrelated employment. Although I didn't get the position, the powers that be met and liked me, and offered me part time work on one of their medical / surgical wards to "train me up" with a view to moving to the ER after six months.

I didn't take them up on the offer as I was offered a full time position elsewhere but fast forward 10 years working in Haematology / Oncology, I was routinely (once or twice a week, night shift) working casual / agency shifts in the ER in my citys' level 1 trauma centre. After a month or so, various charge nurses encouraged me to apply for a position. They knew how I worked and felt that I would be a good fit. Took the plunge and six years on, best decision I could have made. I guess the point I am making is advertise yourself. If the managers and other long term staff have worked with you it helps get your foot in the door. I couldn't even read a monitor and they hounded me for weeks before I applied. Get to know them so they remember you, could help down the track- Maybe just ask the senior staff the best way to approach it. Best of luck.

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Specializes in ER.

Plenty of similar threads on this topic. Simply utilize the search box in upper right hand corner...

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I got my EMT-B license before I even started nursing school, did a couple of certificates such as supervisory managment, etc. When I went through nursing school I tutored others students for the 2 years I went, I also worked as a PCW/CNA for 6 years and LPN in behavioral health for a couple years. My school offered an ER certificate (not recognized by a certification board yet but its something) that gave me 80 extra hours and numerous class exercises in the ER. I made friends with nurses working in hospitals already and upper class mates that were starting soon. In the end I got lucky found a job in ER / Med surge (we rotate between the two floors). Its crazy ive been doing it for only 7 months now and it sometimes gets overwhelming but its been interesting and tons of experience.

My suggestion is make your self as sellable as possible, when your looking for a job your the product. I spent large amounts of time and effort re-doing my resume/cover letter and I looked at ways to gain experience before I needed the job. But the biggest thing is to network. Nothing is better than someone working in the hospital (especialy if their an RN or Doctor) that you can put on you resume as a reference. Thats my 2 cents from a new ER RN.

P.S. if your like me and are horrible at grammer / spelling definatly have someone check over your work (several people in fact) before you send it to HR.

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The ED in which I worked does not hire new grads. I transferred in from another department after I had a couple of years of experience under my belt. The ED wasn't my goal when I first became a nurse; I wanted to do ICU or flight. But when I got bored with what I was doing at the time, there were some ED job postings, and I decided to give it a try. I really liked a lot about the ED, and in fact I miss it very much. But I'm still not ready to go back and I think I want to try yet another area of nursing instead. What I'm finding is that many employers pigeon hole ED nurses, and that my time in the ED might be a reason they are hesitant to hire me for other types of settings.

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The ED in which I worked does not hire new grads. I transferred in from another department after I had a couple of years of experience under my belt. The ED wasn't my goal when I first became a nurse; I wanted to do ICU or flight. But when I got bored with what I was doing at the time there were some ED job postings, and I decided to give it a try. I really liked a lot about the ED, and in fact I miss it very much. But I'm still not ready to go back and I think I want to try yet another area of nursing instead. What I'm finding is that many employers pigeon hole ED nurses, and that my time in the ED might be a reason they are hesitant to hire me for other types of settings.[/quote']

Wow, where I live it's the exact opposite... Here, ER nurses are considered the gold standard only 2nd to flight nurses lol

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I've noticed that many nurse recruiters don't consider ED nursing to be "bedside" nursing, and they don't think an ED nurse is going to be able to make the adjustment.

The job I have now scooped me right up BECAUSE of my ED experience, but that hasn't been the norm in my job search experience.

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Started off on a PCU and telemetry unit when I first graduated nursing school worked there for over a year then transferred to another hospitals tele unit. From there I was pulled to the ED when census was high. Never thought I would work in the ED until being pulled. My past experience definitely helped me in the ED. I have been in the ED for a year and a half. Love it most days :)

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wow, like a previous post has stated, in my area ED nursing is considered great experience cause they have to handle such a wide range of things, from the mundane (flu like symptoms) to the intense (trauma). Not only that but you get the "nice pts" who are a joy to work with, to the EOTH blood draw the cops drag in, to the suicidal pt, etc. It touches on so many different areas I would think that the experience would help anyone in almost any department. Maybe thats just me and I might be biased.

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