Is volunteering in an ED a good way to get my foot in the door?

[magnum68]

Hi, I'm a Dialysis RN, been doing only dialysis nursing since I became a RN. I really got bored of it and I feel that I am not that marketable because that is the only nursing experience that I have. I've always had a desire to work in the ED but now a days hospitals only want to hire RNs with experience. I was wondering if I volunteered in an ED, would that help me land a job with that hospital or any hospital? I just here so much that new grads are volunteering in order to get their feet in the door.

[Prettyladie]

I became a tech in the ER before I graduated and used that experience I think that really help me land my job in the ER at a Level I facility. Since you are already a RN you couldn't do that of course. How long have you been a nurse? There are some residencies and internships for nurses that want to switch career fields. I don't know where you are located but it's definitely worth looking into.

[magnum68]

I became a tech in the ER before I graduated and used that experience I think that really help me land my job in the ER at a Level I facility. Since you are already a RN you couldn't do that of course. How long have you been a nurse? There are some residencies and internships for nurses that want to switch career fields. I don't know where you are located but it's definitely worth looking into.

Hi prettielady, I've been a RN since 2006.

[KyPinkRN]

You could volunteer, that won't get you the skill set you need to survive. Here's what I did: I worked med/surg for about 2 years and learned a lot about assessing pts, and time management. Both things will get you far once you do land a job in the ER. In the meantime get your ACLS PALS and an EKG class if you haven't had one. These are all things you MUST do once you are in the ER and if I was going to hire someone it'd be a real plus if you were already trained in these areas. Good luck and the effort is absolutely worth it. I :redbeathe the ER!

[P51Mike1980]

Have you tried just applying for ED positions? The ED I volunteer at takes nurses from different departments without any ED experience. Volunteering is a good way to get an idea of how the ED works, but as others have posted you won't get the skill set you need. I started volunteering in an ED before I've even been admitted to nursing school, not because I'll gain experience but because its a way for me to network with different people for a few years. HOPEFULLY this will at least get me an interview. And yes, I've also been trying to find a job in an ED or ICU as a clerk but everyone wants the unattainable one year experience. As an ED volunteer I'm just there to help answer phones, bring patients blankets/food/water, clean out beds, and tasks like that. I will occasionally work with a nurse who likes to impart knowledge and talk about how much they love being an ED nurse, but if you're already an RN just go for it and apply for ED jobs...