New Graduate Nurse Looking for Advice

[newnursegirl, BSN, CNA, RN]

Hello, I am a new graduate nurse who recently passed my NCLEX. My dream is to be a ED nurse. I applied to all the GN residency positions for ED in my area, but had no luck getting offers back for emergency department. I have been given the opportunity for Telemetry GN program, in an amazing hospital, which would last a year. So my options are

1) Take the tele position at the good hospital to get my foot in the door, get experience, and hopefully transfer to ED after a year of experience within the system.

2) Get a temporary home health/rehab RN position and build up my resume/experience for the February GN programs, where I have another shot at applying for ED, but no guarantee I will get any offers.

 

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[Wuzzie]

The tele position will get you a strong foot in the door for the ED as well as the hospital. 

HH is not a great place for new grads and rehab, while a terrific specialty, will not have the same weight as the tele position. 

[barefootwisteria]

Take the tele position. No doubt. You will learn so much and it's a foot in the door, a step in the direction of your goal. You said yourself that it's an amazing hospital. Do it!

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Definitely the tele position. Good luck!

[newgrad000003]

Tele without a question; it'll prepare you far better for the ED at any hospital when you cross that bridge.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

Definitely take the tele position. I was a hiring manager in Home care and would never hire a new grad. The reason being, in HOme care, you are making visits to patients homes, performing a skill, teaching the patient and their families, as well as doing assessments on each patient. I just think when you are working in a position where there is no help or backup, you get a good baseline of experience.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

As many echoed, I would highly encourage you to take the telemetry position. In cardiac/medical telemetry you will learn invaluable skills such as cardiac rhythm interpretation, time management, delegation, prioritization, and clinical pathways for common disease processes. These skills will easily transfer to the emergency department when you are ready to transition. Do not feel discouraged about not landing the new grad role in your desired specialty, the beauty of nursing is that there is growth both upward and lateral! 

[Ruth E. Raleigh]

Take the Telemetry position.  In order to do home health, a nurse needs to develop his/her assessment skills first in knowing how to assess patients cardiovascular/respiratory status, and general overall condition.  ER is very fast paced and at times there can be a lot of deaths.  Deaths also in telemetry, but not nearly at the rate of ER or intensive care unit.  In telemetry, build your skill set and marvel at your successes.  This helps build skill and confidence.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Take the Tele GN, it is a coveted spot and congrats on landing the offer!

[orrndavid]

Take the tele position.  May I just add that hired positions for new grads are stressful at best.  Very stressful.  I am not concerned with nurses who don't know.  We can teach you, if you are willing.  I am more concerned with nurses who don't know they don't know and continually buck the system because they think they do know it all.  They are the ones who will fail, get sued, fail some more.