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I'm currently getting my preqs out of the way for Ivy Tech's program. I'm very interested in ER or Perioperative nursing. I'm curious to what common exp is required to be hired for the ER department or does it totally depend on the facility itself. I'm trying to figure out what are the entry level specialties. What kind of specialties can I expect to get into as a fresh graduate? I'm also a male. I dunno if that is to any advantage in any way. Thank you!

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Specializes in surgical, OR, Med-Surg.

It probably is facility-based. When I had my clinical in the ER, there were some nurses that had being doing that since day 1 immediately after graduation with Zero experience. With OR, I don't know. All of the nurses that I worked with had been doing Med-Surg or OB/Peds....

You will love OR, it is a completely different side of nursing. Ask the Anesthesiologist if you can stand up there at the head of the bed - its the best view, since you won't be scrubbing in.

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Its interesting that you want to be an OR or ER nurse as a new grad, because I am a new grad, and was called into interviews for both ER and OR positions, and offered both of them. I was competing with experienced nurses for the OR position. I had 1 yr experience as an EMT, and a 200 hour preceptorship in a level 1 trauma.

I accepted the ER position, because after asking experienced nurses, they told me that its very easy to go OR. OR is very specialized, while ER will offer a variety of opportunities to challenge our skills and clinical judgement.

OR offers great hours (usually). I still accepted ER even though it is a night shift.

Having my EMT experience really helped with my ER position offer.

Having experience in leadership, teamwork, and group dynamics helped with OR. They told them at the beginning of that interview that OR is team-oriented and they are more concerned about hiring a good team member than hiring the most experienced nurse they could find.

But ABOVE ALL- my biggest piece of advice is to work as a care partner/tech on the floor you want to eventually work on after you graduate. Its almost a guarenteed job.

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Specializes in labor & delivery.

It is up to the facility. I know a couple of new grads hired right into ICU and ER...no experience except that they were able to do their preceptorships there. It was only 2 weeks, so it wasn't like they had a lot of time to learn much. They are still there and loving it. Good luck to you....go for it!!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hey! I live in IN and I went to Ivy Tech and my advice to you is to go somewhere else for nursing school. Ivy Tech is ridiculous to try and get into their nursing program because even with a 4.0 and a great TEAS test score, you may be wait listed for 2 years. Furthermore, a lot of I.T. campuses are losing their accreditation and many nurses that I know who have been I.T. students do not recommend going there. I transferred to University of Indianapolis and I like it much better! Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I believe it's facility based. I was hired to ED straight from school, but I did work as an extern on a med/surg flood at the same hospital. I truly love ER. I love the variety. Wouldn't trade it for anything even though other specialties have better hours.

good luck

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Hey! I live in IN and I went to Ivy Tech and my advice to you is to go somewhere else for nursing school. Ivy Tech is ridiculous to try and get into their nursing program because even with a 4.0 and a great TEAS test score, you may be wait listed for 2 years. Furthermore, a lot of I.T. campuses are losing their accreditation and many nurses that I know who have been I.T. students do not recommend going there. I transferred to University of Indianapolis and I like it much better! Good luck!

Look at the NCLEX-RN results for any school of nursing you want to attend. That's the most telling of the level of grads they put out. Check with you local Indiana Board of Nursing. :nurse:

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Look at the NCLEX-RN results for any school of nursing you want to attend. That's the most telling of the level of grads they put out. Check with you local Indiana Board of Nursing. :nurse:

That is wonderful advice and exactly what I did! :D

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

If you are interested in the ER you might want to get an EMT license and work as an EMT. You can get an ER tech job and that will get your foot in the door and you will gain valuable experience. :)

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If you are interested in the ER you might want to get an EMT license and work as an EMT. You can get an ER tech job and that will get your foot in the door and you will gain valuable experience. :)

This is so true. MANY of our nurses are prior techs. Our hospital however, requires techs to be paramedics of military coreman.

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Definitely facility based. My hospital hires new grads in to the ED selectively, and I have several classmates who are also starting in emergency departments. OR seems much more competitive to get in to as a new grad- I only know of 1 person from my class who started in the OR, although there are probably a couple others that I just don't know about.

Tech experience is definitely good, and getting ACLS and PALS certification if you can afford it is a good idea if you decide to try for emergency over OR.

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