Need some advice about going into the ER for my final practical experience

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

There are several long and very good threads on the issue of new grads in the ER you may want to read. I think you can get an idea of the trials of doing so. As an ER nurse of 30+ years, I would not encourage it. It takes a very special new grad to do it. Yes, it can be done, but it is very difficult to learn to be a new nurse and learn to be an ER nurse at the same time. I know you are young and ambitious and that is commendable, but once you get a few years of nursing under your belt, you will then realize just how little you really did know and how dangerous you have been! I look back at some of the situations I was in as a new nurse and wonder how the patients and I survived! God looks after fools and little children, and I definately was not a child! I shudder when I think back at the early years and, like puberty, I would never want to travel that road again!

NYCRN16 · Jan 22, 2005

I did my senior internship in the ER and I am so glad that I did it! It helped me land a job in ER right out of school, and gave me to opportunity to see if it was what I really wanted to do. You never know, you might do it and realize that ER is not right for you, or you may find that you couldnt picture yourself doing anything else. There are a lot of hospitals now that have new grad orientation programs for ER, some up to a year of training, and I think with that much orientation, a new grad could definitly work in ER. I started ER as a new grad with 3 months orientation, in a super busy place, and I am doing fine. There are some people cut out for it, and some who are not.

Definitly do your senior rotation there. This will be the test to see if you like it or you think you can handle it. You are supervised by an experienced nurse anyway, so you cant get into too much trouble! Good luck!

Trauma Columnist · Jan 22, 2005

I vote to do it also. We hire new grads all the time to our level one trauma center and they do fine. The ER is the only place to work, in my book. Welcome...

KrisRNwannabe · Jan 22, 2005

I would agree that the 12 week practium would be very benefical. I think students sometimes tend to fall in love with every unit they work on. I also think that new grads should start wherever they like. for a project last year we had interview a nurse, since I love the idea of working in the NICU, i interviewed the NICU manager at our local hospital. I asked her this same question and she said she had no problem hiring new grads. she said this is a theme alot of the time in speciality units. she said in her case the NICU is very different from med-surg and she would rather train a new grad than un-train and re-train. she said this was also true when she managed labor and delivery. My sis also agrees. graduated 7 years ago went right to LD and has never left. and totally agrees would rather train a new grad than un-train and re-train.

I say go with your heart, make sure the hospital you choose has a really good orientation program. and have fun. if you love ER would you be happy working anywhere else?? probably not. go for it I say!! good luck and keep us informed

Kris