New Grad ER jobs

pererau · Mar 2, 2009

I graduated in late 2007 and it took less than a month to find a good ER residency position. I don't buy the BS that you have to do floor nursing before going to the ER, but don't try to go into the ER except through a good residency program. I think trying to work on the floor would have ripped my soul clean out of my body.

LSUnurs09 · Mar 2, 2009

If you dont mind sharing, where was your residency program. I live and go to school in New Orleans right now, but am willing to relocate...

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Mar 3, 2009

I would think one of your large facilities there in NO would have one. Call and ask, and not the HR dept, call and speak to the nurse manager or one of the assistant nurse managers. Talking to HR at times is like dealing with a wall. Also by speaking with the manager you instantly get a feel what kind of place your dealing with, are they open and inviting or you a bother.

FromNOLAtoNurse · Mar 3, 2009

I will be graduating in May as well, I got a tech job in the ER. They have agreed to keep me on in the ER. It should not be hard to get on at any local hosp here in the NOLA in the ER since everyone is in desperate need of nurses here. Not sure if you are local or not...I do see you are from LSU though. :yeah:

taz628, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2009

At my hospital, it's VERY hard for a new grad to work in the ER. Heck, most new grads aren't even PERMITTED to interview for a position there. I was allowed to because I have my EMT-B cert. You have to have previous ER or pre-hospital experience as a new grad to get an interview, otherwise you need 6mo-1yr experience. I work at regional Level I trauma center if that makes a difference. I probably could have gotten an ER job at one of the tiny local hospitals around here - but I want the trauma experience.

LSUnurs09 · Mar 3, 2009

"Re: New Grad ER jobsI will be graduating in May as well, I got a tech job in the ER. They have agreed to keep me on in the ER. It should not be hard to get on at any local hosp here in the NOLA in the ER since everyone is in desperate need of nurses here. Not sure if you are local or not...I do see you are from LSU though."

---I precepted at a hospital in the city and they invited me to apply to the ER, and have a phone interview Thursday. BUT i really wanted to move....i know beggars cant be choosers. Also, about three or four other people are applying to the same position...

And, after doing some research, other cities are facing a trickle in hiring of new grads due to the economy...

thanks for the posts all very helpful...

hammer91b · Mar 3, 2009

Hi LSU,

At Scott and White Hospital (Level 1 trauma) in Temple, Texas, there is a ER residency program for new grads. The application info is available online at http://www.sw.org--- look for the nursing/careers link. It is a teaching hospital and many people I know applied and got in. Good Luck!

llltapp · Mar 3, 2009

I agree that you don't necessarily need floor experience to be a successful ER nurse. HOWEVER, lol, I would like to give some very humble advice on this to those considering jumping in right out of school:

1. Get a GREAT residency program. Don't let them take you off mentorship after 3 months because you haven't made an error while you were on residency ! If you feel you are comfortable at 3 months going on your own, make sure you transfer to the floor :)

2. cuff size really DOES matter

3. If someone is a mouth breather, get a rectal temp! (many people LOOK respiratory but are actually septic, don't believe a 97.5 oral temp in someone who breathes with their mouth open)

4. if you are starting a drip or pushing a drug run it by another nurse........... if you are truly a great ER new grad, you SHOULD be a pain in the rear to every seasoned nurse in the department! lol

5. If you are taking care of a HOLD patient, get an ER doc instead of waiting to call the admitting doctor in the following scenarios: you're patient needs to be intubated or is hemorrhaging(don't worry about turning and cleaning this patient until the bleeding has been controlled).

6. Remember......... you don't have the luxury of thinking anything is nothing until you have the experience to back it up. You will be taught by people who have a lot of years of intuition and experience, you can't short cut that. Assume everything is serious until proven otherwise....even if the veteran's do laugh at you.

and HAVE FUN!

chip193 · Mar 3, 2009

I am a big believer in going right to the ER when you graduate. Some of the best nurses that I work with graduated from school, took a position in our department, and were mentored well and have grown into great ED nurses, with many of them doing back-up charge.

I believe that our collective success is because we have a long orientation with strong classroom and clinical experiences. All of our nurses, whether a new grad or someone who has been in nursing for 30 years, need to take dysrhythmia, respiratory, neurology, and "critical care" classes (or pass a test out of them), complete TNCC, ACLS, and either ENPC or PALS, and complete a week-long classroom orientation in the ED. Our new grads have 16-18 weeks of orientation, others are 12-14 weeks.

Good luck with a job!

nursingyogi · Jan 8, 2010

Though an older post, still very informational, thank you. I will be a grad March 2011, and am very interested in going directly to ER. I live in Philadelphia, PA (Center City) and haven't heard of many of my peers being able to do this. If anyone knows of an area/areas with several great residency programs for new grads ED, please post because I am more than willing to relocate!