New grad in the ER with a twist....

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2008

I think with the experience you already have you would do just fine in the ER, or ICU. Do you need ICU experience to do life flight? If you do then maybe start in the ICU. You could even start in the ER if you want.

rideslikethewind · Sep 11, 2008

My understanding is ICU experience would be very helpful in Life Flight but not necessarily a requirement.

veronicajr · Sep 11, 2008

I work in a Level 1 trauma center, and at least a couple of our hospital's LifeForce nurses are originally ER nurses. It can be done. :) And I wouldn't worry about it as a new grad, you sound like you have the experience to be able to keep up fine.

blinks14 · Sep 11, 2008

I know when I was looking into Lifeflight that it was suggested to get critical care experience because a majority of flights are actually transfers of critically ill patients.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Sep 11, 2008

in my hospital you can do life flight with 3 years experience in any specialty (peds, ob, icu, er, etc), so i do not see why it matters where you start (our flight team likes a variety because patients vary). if you can land the er right out of school go for it because it sounds like they will be willing to train and support you as a new grad!!! my hospital will not hire new grads. to get into the er you have to work the floors (medical surgical, cardiac....) for some time. gl.

rideslikethewind · Sep 11, 2008

Wow, I really appreciate the support. I've had many nurses tell me I have to start in Med/Surg to be a good nurse and going straight to ER isn't a good idea. I've got an interview for one ER and have my fingers crossed on another one so far....

krisgrij · Sep 11, 2008

I am right there with you. I graduated in May of this year with my BSN. I too, had worked as an ER Tech for over 8 years in 4 facilities and as an EMT-Intermediate in 2 states, both for large inner city EMS departments where GSW's were nightly occurances. I was SO surprised at how hard it was to convert to a nursing role in the ER.

I did not continue my career after school at the same place I had last been an ER Tech. The hospital was not in good financial shape and the manager was not someone whom I felt had patient care and safety at the forefront of their minds- more like the dollar signs involved. I did however return to first place I ever worked as an ER tech because it had been such a positive experience for me when I worked there before.

Having said this, I would recommend that you think very hard at your strengths and weakness. I knew I was weak in time management and keeping up with the status of 6-7 patients at one time. However, I was too proud and arrogant to admit it to myself. Those first few months were ROUGH! I have had no problems with technical skills or procedures, but what did catch me completely off guard was the amount of little things that bog you down so quickly and make time fly too quickly. If you are returning to a facility that you know, paperwork that you know, computers that you know and policies and protocols that you know then you should be good. If not, ask the recruiter if you can arrange a day to shadow an ER nurse at the facility to truly see the full scope of what you will be getting into.

Also, (I had to be firm about this with several prospective hiring managers- Don't let them shortchange you with an abbreviated orientation time! Just because we had prior EMS and ER experience does not mean that we deserve less training as a nurse! Take full advantage of your preceptor and the longest amount of time they will grant you. This will secure your confidence and your core knowledge for that unit. It may save a patient's life and it may save your license down the road!

I want to encourage you, lift you up and promise you that those first few months may seem impossible and tedious, but it will start to click and run smoothly. It's a little weird to sign your name as RN, instead of ERT for the first time, but man does it feel good!!

K. Grijalva RN

ER nurse Atlanta GA

rideslikethewind · Sep 15, 2008

Thank you so much for being so candid with you experience. It won't be in the ER I'm working in now so it will be very different. Some days I think I'm up for the challenge and other days I'm not so sure! Graduation is coming up fast...

Do you ever regret going straight to the ER instead of getting floor experience?

TraumaNurseRN · Sep 16, 2008

My understanding is ICU experience would be very helpful in Life Flight but not necessarily a requirement.

I have never worked anywhere but the ER as a nurse. But I would think knowing the specialty lines might be real helpful as a flight nurse and you would get more of that in most ICUs vs ERs. Since you have the medic experience I think your resume is quite nice with either combined.

deeh · Sep 16, 2008

I think you should go straight to the ER. I am a new grad for 8 months on a cardiac telemetry floor. You get great experience, and it is very fast pace. I started of with 5 pts, discharged all 5 pts and received 5 pts. Some with heparin and cardizem drips, and also cardiac cath pts with sheaths to pull. So if they wont hire you in the ER ( which I know they will with your experience) then go to cardiac telemetry. You learn to read EKGs, and I also got a chance to see on the monitor a dying heart, but I want the ER too so i am going to transfer when my year is up in JAN. GOOD LUCK!!! :specs:

ThrowEdNurse, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2008

If you want to be an ED or flight nurse it only makes sense to get experience and train in emergency medicine. That is where you will learn the relevant stuff. Electricians don't practice as plumbers to improve their electrical skill. You'll do great in the ED.