Selling myself for an ER position?

Have you tried applying for an internship? I know new grads as well as experienced nurses go through internships (esp if an experienced nurse is changing specialties).

Sometimes it's who you know not what you know...

Have you tried applying for an internship? ... Sometimes it's who you know not what you know...

I have looked at all the hospitals in a 50-mile radius from me and none of them (that I could find on their websites) have internships. And you're right about "who you know" but I'm hoping that my ambition and excitement will overpower that... LOL.

Good news: I have an interview TOMORROW -- I guess I will just do my best to communicate my willingness to learn and emphasize the qualities that I think make me a good candidate. I know I have a short work history but I have kind of a diverse variety of experience and I've never NOT gotten offered a job I've applied for, so being worried and trying this hard is a little new to me...

Thanks for your reply!

-A

Someone with psych/corrections experience should have very keen assessment skills to differentiate between a medical versus psych condition-it wouldn't hurt to emphasize this on your interview. Rapid, focused assessments are essential in emergency nursing, as is the ability to multi-task, contantly reprioritize and keep what's left of your sanity in what can be an insane environment.

A suggestion for you is to look at the emergency nursing association's website http://www.ena.org to familarize yourself with some of the issues relevent to the ED. If you fit some of the knowledge gained into your interview, it may show a potential employer that you have a grasp of what you would be getting yourself into. Even better, if you find ways to match your experience/talents to specifics involving emergency nursing. Also, you could join the ENA online and go into the interview saying that you were so committed to becoming an Emergency Nurse that you joined-personally, I did this prior to interviewing for ED positions and it worked for me.

Good Luck to you on your search. Let us know how it goes.

PS I just remebered an interview question where I was later told that my answer is what got me the job offer: "What makes you think that you would be a fit in our ED?" "I have an extremely warped sense of humor that doesn't fit in anywhere else"

If you've thrived in psych & corrections there's no reason you can't succeed in their very close cousin, the ER.

The major new territory for you will be the critical care aspect. Think about how you can best present this during interviews. Show interest and willingness to care for critical patients.

Good luck to you. :)

Well, hopefully you won't have to read this without already having that ER job you are interviewing for. But, if you do...maybe getting your EMT, or first responder cert might help. Joining a volunteer fire department, and getting some pre hospital experience would certainly lend well to your resume.

Just a thought....

Again Good Luck,

Me

Maybe you should consider 6 months of tele or ICU ?

ACLS, BTLS, and PALS may also may be helpful in the hunt. Useful even out of the ED. I am a DON and ED manager in a small hospital (5) ED beds. I look for "Jack's/Jill's of all trades" tend to make excellent ED nurses. If you have not tried a smaller facility it maybe worth while. A nurse manager could double their money with Psych/ED nurse. Good luck!

go for it, good luck

Thanks to everyone for all the support. I am SO excited! I left the interviews at 11:45am (this morning) and after I had lunch with my little brother, I stopped by an agency I do PRN work for to pick up some time sheets. They told me to quit applying at hospitals where they were trying to get me hours -- jokingly with a laugh and a smile of course -- and said that they got a call just before their lunch break (noon) to give me a reference for the same hospital I interviewed at just that morning. By this afternoon I was called with a job offer.

I am stunned and excited. I guess a lot of passion and determination goes a long way -- all I have left to do now is absorb information and knowledge like a sponge!

Thanks to all of you again for the helpful comments, advice, etc. Much, much appreciated -- I won't be a stranger!

A week after my sister became a CNA, she landed a position in ER with NO experience whatsoever. Just a minute ago, I asked her what advice to give you and she said to basically BE YOURSELF! :) Don't worry, be confident that you can do this job and give the impression that you are the one for that ER position. Hope that helps!

I am in a slightly similar situation with finding a job. I have only 4 years experience in OB working at a large hospital. I recently relocated and have applied for several jobs. it seems with the "nursing shortage" someone would be interested in interviewing me. I feel i have a good resume, charge experience, teaching/precepting experience, but only 1 callback from an application (she left a message) and when i tried to call her back she has like dropped off the face of the earth. Although I would like to stay in the same general area I have been working it looks like i am going to have to try and go a completely differernt route and apply for multiple ER positions they have posted and hope to heck they offer some kind of fellowship/classes. so frustrating!