How Can a New Grad Stand Out When Applying to ED?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.

Hello!

I am in my last semester of nursing school and close to receiving my BSN. Aside from worrying about studying for NCLEX, I am immensely worried about my externship placement this semester.

In the past semester, I’ve been a student extern at UCSD in the ICU. I also currently work as a CNA in a hospital on a neurology med-surg tele floor, but will constantly float to ED, ICU, or PCU. As much as I love critical care nursing, I’ve always found myself aiming towards the ED. No matter how many different specialties I’ve tried in my clinicals, the ED always captivated me. I feel that it is both challenging and rewarding.

That being said, I submitted an application to another externship this semester for an ED position, with Urgent Care and Cardiology as my alternatives. However, I was placed in the OB/GYN unit at a clinic, which was not even a choice I considered. As interesting as it is, I was immensely sad to not have received the department I wanted, especially since my classmates are spending their final semester preceptorships in their desired departments. Please forgive me for sounding ungrateful as that is not my intent; I just feel pressured in the sense that I may be behind on gaining experience in the specialty I want when my counterparts are getting theirs as it is very competitive to find jobs in the ED where I live.

My question and point is, how can I, as a soon-to-be new grad nurse, stand out against other candidates when applying for ED positions? I understand some nurses opt to gain experience for some time in other units before applying for ED. However, I really would like to initially try for an ED position as I’ve heard and asked other nurses who were able to work in an ED as new grads. Also, is it wrong for me to be upset about being placed in OB?

Thank you in advance!

0 Votes
Specializes in ED.

As a new nurse who was hired directly to an ED, my advice is always to try to get a practicum in an ED. If you can get a practicum in an ED you want to work in, that's even better. The ONLY reason I was hired to my ED is because I spent six months there as a student and busted my butt to make a good impression.

Since that does not seem to be an option, I would look for new grad residencies in your area that hire people to the ED. If this option isn't available, then think about ways your prior clinical experiences can help you in the ED. Understanding, even on a lower level, aspects of ICU care and OB can be beneficial in the ED as you have no idea what is going to walk through the door. Think of how you can present these experiences to an interviewer in a way that conveys that you can apply this knowledge to the ED setting.

At the end of the day, also prepare to not get an ED job right out of the gate. Look at where other new grads are being hired in your area, look at how those opportunities can prepare you for working in the ED in the future. It may be discouraging to not get an ED job right from the start, but you have a long career ahead of you and plenty of time to find your niche, even if the path doesn't seem "ideal" right now.

As far as being upset about the OB rotation, you are allowed to feel upset or discouraged, but you need to still go into every one of those clinical days striving to learn all you can and being thankful that you have a clinical site to go to, if that makes sense.

3 Votes
Specializes in Mental Health.

If you’re working in a hospital already, work with your manager to get a referral, assuming you are doing a good job. I was working on a med surg unit as an extern my final semester and my manager called the ICU for me, got me the interview, and ultimately I was hired onto the unit before I even had my license.

Do you have a portfolio put together? A well constructed portfolio can help you stand out as well.

3 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.
17 hours ago, Rionoir said:

If you’re working in a hospital already, work with your manager to get a referral, assuming you are doing a good job. I was working on a med surg unit as an extern my final semester and my manager called the ICU for me, got me the interview, and ultimately I was hired onto the unit before I even had my license.

Do you have a portfolio put together? A well constructed portfolio can help you stand out as well.

I have an updated CV and am in the process of reorganizing it again! Any other suggestions as to what I can include in my skill set? I’ve included all my clinical and work experiences and skills, I was just wondering if there was any other pertinent information I could include. And thank you, I will definitely be asking my unit manager for a referral!

0 Votes
Specializes in ED, ICU, Prehospital.

Take ACLS, PALS, ENCP. Get certified before you graduate.

Sign up for a community college course for EMT. You will do a few clinical hours on a truck and you will learn all of the basics for trauma pre hospital.

Network. Show your face in the ERs. Get to know the charges and the managers. Show them that you are motivated (because you got your ACLS, PALS and ENCP and your EMT license).

Networking is the big thing. A CNA in our 90+ bed Level 1 ER--she knew all of the ins and outs and the EMR. She did this for her 2 years of nursing school.

However. She was not well liked--she was a spaz, she was bitc#y at times and thought she knew everything. She was a CNAII, where they are permitted to cath and draw blood in addition to EKGs and other helper duties---but she came across as abrasive and a know it all.

When she came to her practicum---her nursing school instructors asked her about her choices and of course she said "ER"--they made inquiries (because this is how they match students to what would be the best fit for both)---and the ER said....absolutely not. They never told her that it was the ER that blocked her---and she ended up doing her senior capstone in the PACU at a totally different hospital.

All I heard from her while she worked in the ER was bitc#ing about how the instructors "hated her" and were "out to get her". Nobody set her straight, because it's pointless with someone like her.

She tried to get into the ER after she graduated---but she was successfully blocked. She, to this day--still works in the PACU at another hospital, and continues to call and try to get into the ER.

Your attitude counts---not just your grades or your credentials. Credentials help---and an understanding of what goes on in the ER helps too.

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.
On 1/21/2020 at 9:27 AM, HomeBound said:

Take ACLS, PALS, ENCP. Get certified before you graduate.

Sign up for a community college course for EMT. You will do a few clinical hours on a truck and you will learn all of the basics for trauma pre hospital.

Network. Show your face in the ERs. Get to know the charges and the managers. Show them that you are motivated (because you got your ACLS, PALS and ENCP and your EMT license).

Networking is the big thing. A CNA in our 90+ bed Level 1 ER--she knew all of the ins and outs and the EMR. She did this for her 2 years of nursing school.

However. She was not well liked--she was a spaz, she was bitc#y at times and thought she knew everything. She was a CNAII, where they are permitted to cath and draw blood in addition to EKGs and other helper duties---but she came across as abrasive and a know it all.

When she came to her practicum---her nursing school instructors asked her about her choices and of course she said "ER"--they made inquiries (because this is how they match students to what would be the best fit for both)---and the ER said....absolutely not. They never told her that it was the ER that blocked her---and she ended up doing her senior capstone in the PACU at a totally different hospital.

All I heard from her while she worked in the ER was bitc#ing about how the instructors "hated her" and were "out to get her". Nobody set her straight, because it's pointless with someone like her.

She tried to get into the ER after she graduated---but she was successfully blocked. She, to this day--still works in the PACU at another hospital, and continues to call and try to get into the ER.

Your attitude counts---not just your grades or your credentials. Credentials help---and an understanding of what goes on in the ER helps too.

Thank you so much for your input! I am scheduled to take an ACLS course next month and am waiting to hear back from a PALS course instructor. The EMT course definitely interests me; however, I feel that it may be a bit difficult for me to sign up for a course at this time as this is my last semester and will have three internships/clinical rotations simultaneously! Nevertheless, I will still definitely look into taking an EMT course and see if I can manage.

In regard to that CNA, I am sorry to hear that she was super abrasive and catty! I'd like to think that I am far from that. Whenever I float down to the ED (and any unit for that matter), I try to put my best foot forward and am always trying to carry a positive attitude even when times are trying.

Thank you again for your advice! ?

0 Votes

You sound like a great student. My best advice would be to attend any "Open House" events that hospitals have for new graduates with your resume in hand. These events are notorious for giving out interviews on the spot where I am from. Are you from a big city? You might want to decide applying/moving to a big city so your options are bigger. I'm from a big city so many hospitals had open ED spots available reserved for New Grad RN residencies.

As for being upset about OB, it's ok. Me (and many of my guy friends) were upset to be placed in Medsurge for our Capstone because we all wanted ED. I know how you feel. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you are a great student nurse wherever you are placed because your preceptor/manager will be a good Letter of Rec. During your lunch period at your capstone, maybe stop by the Managers office and mention if that hospital is having any openings in the ED. Again, make sure you are coming to clinical everyday with a good attitude because people will notice...and talk. Again, I cannot stress this enough...wherever you end up...just have a good attitude, you never know when you might need someone's help.

Lastly, there is a guy who works in the ER that has a popular youtube channel, "Kaynen Brown". He has some good tips for Soon to be Grads trying to work in the ED. Goodluck!

1 Votes
Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.
3 hours ago, carti said:

You sound like a great student. My best advice would be to attend any "Open House" events that hospitals have for new graduates with your resume in hand. These events are notorious for giving out interviews on the spot where I am from. Are you from a big city? You might want to decide applying/moving to a big city so your options are bigger. I'm from a big city so many hospitals had open ED spots available reserved for New Grad RN residencies.

As for being upset about OB, it's ok. Me (and many of my guy friends) were upset to be placed in Medsurge for our Capstone because we all wanted ED. I know how you feel. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you are a great student nurse wherever you are placed because your preceptor/manager will be a good Letter of Rec. During your lunch period at your capstone, maybe stop by the Managers office and mention if that hospital is having any openings in the ED. Again, make sure you are coming to clinical everyday with a good attitude because people will notice...and talk. Again, I cannot stress this enough...wherever you end up...just have a good attitude, you never know when you might need someone's help.

Lastly, there is a guy who works in the ER that has a popular youtube channel, "Kaynen Brown". He has some good tips for Soon to be Grads trying to work in the ED. Goodluck!

Thank you for your kind words! I have just visited my workplace's recent Open House event and am waiting for their New Grad Residency program to open up to accept applications.

It's reassuring to hear that not everyone gets placements they want all the time. As silly as it sounds, I felt that everyone else was able to get placements they wanted while I was placed elsewhere. Nevertheless, I still come to clinical with a smile on my face and am always eager to learn.

And thank you for the recommendation! I'm always looking for nursing youtube channels for advice. I will definitely look him up!

0 Votes

Reference letters from your teachers about your ability to become a competent ED nurse is a great start. And then a lot of highlighting your strengths and applying them to the role in ED. A resume is nothing more than an advertisement. You're advertising yourself as someone to get trained as an ED nurse. Don't just list your jobs that you've had and put a bunch of cliches about how you're the perfect worker in your cover letter. If that's all you can offer, then they're going to hire an experienced nurse instead of you. Your entire resume needs to be tailored specifically to answer just one single question: Why should they hire you and not someone else?

How can you turn your job as a cashier at Walmart into something that developed a usable skill as an ED nurse?

0 Votes
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