njedrn

Has this happened at any other HCA Hospital? I recently appied to a few... havn't heard anything yet, but it's only been a few days...

Although it's not your desired start, specialties like OB, ER, ICU, usually need a base of Med-Surg experience. Although not for sure, most hospitals will hire new grads into a general med-surg floor. Once there, make some friends on the unit that you want. You can even often times take courses offered to specialty RN's even if your not "required" to by the med surg floor. For example - a great course would be NRP, for most OB units it's required, but you could take it as an elective, meet some faces and get your foot in the door. Then, once you have some experience, you will have a leg up because you will already have some coursework under your belt. Believe it or not, hospitals that have to "train the green out of you" actually spend alot of money to do so...so just keep at it. Try to make yourself look so good, that it would hard for them to turn you down... Best of luck to you. ~NJEDRN

After graduation I started directly into an ER. I spoke with MANY nurses looking for advice and input. I received a mixed response - some said go ahead, some said to do med surg first. What I can say, is that I made the right choice for me. It was a hard road going from a brand new graduate to a competent ER nurse. Many skills to learn, practice and master, along with a crash course in assessments and critical thinking made the first 6 months challenging. I attribute my survival to my excellent preceptor. She spent so much time teaching, showing and practicing with me that I would have been lost without. Hope this helps.