Seeking Advice About Jobs

[LMH2687]

Hey there. I am a nursing student who will be graduating in August 2014. I had a few questions regarding potential jobs. I've always had the idea that I would enjoy nursing in the emergency dept due to the fast paced environment and the fact that I haven't been overly excited about any of my other clinical rotations. I found out that we (my classmates and I) could apply early before graduating just to get the process started. I applied and interviewed with the E.D. manager in late April. At the time of my interview, the E.D. manager said I could do a 4 hour shadow in the department to make sure I liked it and then we would wait to do the peer interview (3rd and last step) until I had a scheduled NCLEX date in August since I was interviewing with her so early. I completed the 4h shadow and loved it, but was happy to know I would have the rest of the summer to make sure I didn't want to apply anywhere else.

Well, the E.D. manager called me this week and requested that I do the peer interview now vs waiting until August so she could offer me a job if it goes well, but this past week I started my management/capstone and really like the manager on this intermediate critical care unit, something I didn't expect. Our instructors said many times we get job offers through our capstone. Now I want to at least wait until I orient on the intermediate critical care floor to see if I would like that, but the peer interview for the E.D. is next week and I don't start orienting to the intermediate critical care floor until the week after my interview.

If the peer interview goes well with the E.D. staff, I'm at a loss on how to tell the E.D. manager that I would want some time on my current floor in capstone just to make sure I only want the emergency dept.

I hope this makes sense. I would love any type of feedback you may have whether it's good or bad. Thanks so much!

[Asystole RN]

Getting a job in an intermediate care floor is about 1,000 times easier than landing an ED job as a new grad.

Don't be silly, most new grads would kill for an opportunity to get into an ED.

[chartreuse]

Getting a job in an intermediate care floor is about 1,000 times easier than landing an ED job as a new grad.

Don't be silly, most new grads would kill for an opportunity to get into an ED.

This. And also, a bird in the hand... Always give yourself options and in this market don't turn away a good job in a department you know you like. Best is the enemy of good, or whatever that saying is! Not to be a Debbie downer, but until you have an official signed offer in writing, don't assume it's in the bag, so definitely don't shoot yourself in the foot in that way, either.

[llg, PhD, RN]

There is no need to tell the people in the ED anything at this point. If asked, just say where you are doing your capstone and say "neutral things," such as that you hope to learn a lot there, etc.. In a way, the timing is good because you won't have to lie about anything.

[LMH2687]

Thank you, guys so, so much! I appreciate it! I don't feel comfortable lying, but as stated, nothing is a done deal anyways. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. You guys are great.

[tarotale]

think about this. If you have beginning experience in ED, you can practically go almost everywhere except couple departments that prefer ICU experiences over ED (but that still depends on facilities). This is THE biggest and worst disadvantage in any medsurg; it's too damn hard to get out of it unless by internship or heck of luck... or of course some networking. Choose ED, it will be busy and tough, but you will learn a lot that will help you in your career and most importantly, you can go to lots of places if you have ED experience; I really regret not trying harder to get into ED when I graduated and landed a god-$#@# medsurg job. Good luck