How does inexperienced RN do ER?

happyinillinois · Jun 28, 2012

I got into ER as a new grad. Look for a teaching hospital, where they are more open to new grads. Also it helps if you have some background, preceptorship, paramedic, tech etc. Be willing to drive further or work at a hospital that perhaps wasn't your first choice. Speak up, be assertive and show them that you really want it. The ER isn't for wall-flowers.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

How much is 0-3 years of experience? That's a huge gap. How much experience do you really have? What areas have you worked in so far?

If this one hospital requires more skills and experience then you have, you can try applying to other hospitals. Smaller, critical access hospitals might be more willing to hire you. You can also take some training classes in telemetry, ACLS and emergency nursing. If you aren't in a similar area already- like cardiac nursing- you might try to move into an area that will make you more marketable to the ER in the future. Unfortunately, not everyone can jump in and work in their dream area right off the bat. You might have to settle for working in another area for a few years to get the needed experience to move to the ER.

It's unlikely that you'll be allowed to volunteer as an RN in the ER, due to liability.

Student Nurse Externs are often hired as RN's into specialty areas, even if they don't have experience, because they've already been trained by the facility. As a student nurse extern, the hospital basically has the luxury of putting the student through orientation without having to pay them. That means that when they hire them as an RN, they have less to learn than another new grad and the hospital hasn't had to spend any money for their training.

Good luck!

Crux1024 · Jun 28, 2012

There is an orientation program for a reason. Any ER that hires you will know your background and should be confident that at the end of the orientation program, youll be able to function effectively and mostly independently.

Also, 0-3 yrs? What does that mean? You either have experience or you dont? This is a good question for whatever ER you plan on applying to, as theyll be able to tell you if they want to take the time to train you regardless of background.

Also, if you volunteer (which, theres nothing wrong with that), youll most likely be handing out blankets and magazines. Not starting IVs and giving meds. That'd be a liability.

brainkandy87 · Jun 28, 2012

If your memory is already starting to go (0-3?), you might wanna skip the ER.

suzzie_queue · Jun 28, 2012

I was hired directly into the ER as a new grad. It took a LOT for me to get my foot in the door, and I'll be honest with you...several experienced nurses that I had precepted with as a 4th semester student in that ER went to bat for me. Otherwise I would not have been hired at my facility. Even then, with several of the ER staff vouching for my skill set I was met with a considerable amount of scrutiny. In fact, it was something that I had to work through for several months with the vast majority of the staff on my shifts. It took a lot of proving myself (over and over again with some of the staff) to even begin to feel like I was an accepted member of the team and to feel welcomed. There were many days that after my shift was over I drove home frustrated and wondering if I had made the right decision. I stuck it out, and now I feel like I am a part of a fantastic team and in the end my hard work (and patience) paid off.

I guess the point to my reply is that as a less experienced, or inexperienced nurse, this is something that you may very well have to face. There is a mixed opinion when it comes to new nurses in specialties and it seems to be about a 50/50 split. Many nurses feel that as a new nurse you need a minimum of 1-2 years med/surg experience prior to going into ANY specialty area. Then the other view is that if you are going to go into a specialty, you should do so upon becoming licensed because then you learn exactly what you need for that particular specialty. Obviously I agree with the second opinion, but many people that you will interact with will not. The best approach is going to be to respect their opinion, but do not let it discourage you. It is something that, should you get hired into an ER nurse position, you should be prepared for.

sherdk · Jul 3, 2012

Take some courses like ACLS ATLS or TNCC to show that you are interested in this specialty.

lovedijah · Jul 4, 2012

I think the 0-3 years was sarcasm. A lot of places want you to have more than 3 years experience, so if you have 0-3 years what are you to do? Ha ha. Maybe. I don't know.

celtchick68 · Jul 4, 2012

I just started in the ER as a new grad. I did have 15 years of experience as a paramedic in the same county so I was known to the ER staff. I tried to get on with a couple of larger hospitals but they wouldn't even consider me as a new grad in the ER.

As previous poster said, ER isn't for wallflowers! If you really want it I'd suggest as others said, get the classes, the certifications and expand your search.

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

It seems that this isn't the only place where "how to get in" is the question. I am a new grad who LIVES for the ER. I just finished my preceptorship and managed to wrangle more ER hours during advanced MedSurg from my instructor than we were supposed to do just to have the "boost" of more hours on the resume. I have my ACLS cert and will also wrangle other certifications that I think will help while looking for a job. I have letters of rec from the two charge nurses that saw me working on the floor as well as letters of rec from the nurses in the ER that I have worked with. The ER isn't for wallflowers...I honestly believe that if you are willing to "go to bat" for yourself and really sell yourself and your abilities to the "powers that be" you will do it. Apply to EVERY emergency department you can. I am even willing to work fast tracks and urgent cares to be able to get my foot in that door. Find something that makes you SHINE and sell that, bend it toward ER experience.

ecerrn · Jul 8, 2012

if you can get into a preceptor program maybe you can get started in an er-but the question is, why do you want to? You need to be able to perform all the basic nursing skills without having your hand held, then learn to deal with some very difficult situations. It's not a field to just jump into and expect to survive, or expect others to carry your work load...as in you get the easy ones and I get the ones you can't handle...not fair to anyone..and you may not even realize its happening! I had five years of phebotomy, five years as er paramedic tech in trauma and hearts before starting in er as an rn and even then some had reservations...I never worked the floor. Never wanted to.

Susie2310 · Jul 9, 2012

if you can get into a preceptor program maybe you can get started in an er-but the question is, why do you want to? You need to be able to perform all the basic nursing skills without having your hand held, then learn to deal with some very difficult situations. It's not a field to just jump into and expect to survive, or expect others to carry your work load...as in you get the easy ones and I get the ones you can't handle...not fair to anyone..and you may not even realize its happening! I had five years of phebotomy, five years as er paramedic tech in trauma and hearts before starting in er as an rn and even then some had reservations...I never worked the floor. Never wanted to.

I think that you brought up some very good points. I volunteered in the ER before nursing school, which gave me an introduction to some of the crises and tragedies an ER nurse deals with. As an RN I studied for the CEN exam (without ER nursing experience), which gave me a broad understanding of the nature of emergency nursing, and made me think long and hard about 1) Whether I would want to be the nurse in those kind of situations and 2) Whether I would be able to perform my duties as a nurse and a team member well under those circumstances. So far I haven't been able to answer yes to either question.