New Grad in the ED??

RN 2005 · Jun 9, 2005

Possible yes....I am starting there as a new grad :uhoh3: .....Whether or not it is the best idea is questionable but I just could not help myself Good luck to you........ if that is your passion then do whatever you can to make it happen!

janetrette · Jun 10, 2005

ask the dept. how many months or weeks are they giving you for orientation! i'm interested in working at the ed and im a new grad with no experience either. but i feel ifs thats my passion then do it. however im going to start out with med-surg first because i dont want to do er without ever knowing whats med-surg really like??? so doing 1yr in med-surg and moving myself down to ed. take chances and ask info from the hospital.

how long will they train you? some hospital wont hired new grad for ed. visit the ed hospital. see how the nurse manager is towards new grads. working in the ed requires learning and not being afraid to ask questions. ask yourself do you like that env't. are the nurses nice? now there's a difference btw. nice and helpful!!! anyone can be nice!!! u want nurses who will be willing to train you and guide you as you go along.

hope this helps!!!

student4ever · Jun 10, 2005

ask the dept. how many months or weeks are they giving you for orientation! i'm interested in working at the ed and im a new grad with no experience either. but i feel ifs thats my passion then do it. however im going to start out with med-surg first because i dont want to do er without ever knowing whats med-surg really like??? so doing 1yr in med-surg and moving myself down to ed. take chances and ask info from the hospital.
how long will they train you? some hospital wont hired new grad for ed. visit the ed hospital. see how the nurse manager is towards new grads. working in the ed requires learning and not being afraid to ask questions. ask yourself do you like that env't. are the nurses nice? now there's a difference btw. nice and helpful!!! anyone can be nice!!! u want nurses who will be willing to train you and guide you as you go along.
hope this helps!!!

If you have any previous work history (CNA, patient care tech, etc) in an ED, this would be helpful information to let the NM know, since it shows that you know what you're getting into. One of the biggest concerns for NMs with new grads is that after a couple months, and completing all the training period you'll "flake out" and decide that ED is not for you. If you were still in school, I would advise you to apply to work part time in the ED you want to gain some experience and get to know the staff. The ED I work in is hiring me as a patient care tech while I'm in school with a high possibility of hiring me once I complete school. Of course, they can't promise for sure, but it's really very likely I'll get to stay in our ED if I want to when I graduate.

There's no harm in applying. What's the worst that can happen? You might not get it - but you won't get it anyways if you don't apply! Let them know that it's really what you want, and you're committed to working ED, and feel like you will really enjoy it. Also, if the hospital you're looking at has two parts to the ED (trauma and general), apply to the general side first to get some experience before you head right into trauma, and you'll have more of a chance of being hired I would think.

I agree with all the suggestions from the other posters - you definetly want an ED where the nurses are going to be helpful and willing to answer the tons of questions you have. In my experience, that means working nightshift. The day nurses in my ED have this "I'm experienced enough to be able to chose dayshift, and you are just a little peon, we don't care about you" kind of mentality. The nightshift nurses have chosen nightshift, and they truly love their jobs and really care about being a good nurse and helping others to become good nurses. Also, day shift seems to be less busy in some ways, and they all sit around and gossip and chat, and have their own cliques. But that may just be my ED, and I'm really biased cause I LOVE night shift, and have built up a really great working relationship with most of the nurses on night shift.

Good luck with starting your career and on the NCLEX!!!! Hope this helps!

vicb74 · Jun 10, 2005

Thanks for all the advice- I will definitely look carefully at the orientation programs. As we all know, a good preceptor can make or break an experience. I'll also look into volunteering or working part time in an ED to get a good feel of it. Good luck to all the new grads!