Survey: Should new grads work in the emergency room?

flaerman · Jun 24, 2002

I began my nursing career in Jan 1986 and started out on a tele unit before we became a med/surg unit. At that time new grads rarely got anything other than the floor and that was fine, I learned a lot. My career has spanned 3 states and 16 years, with almost the last 5 of which in the ER. I am a preceptor and night charge nurse on my unit and have precepted new staff in the ER. With the current nursing shortage and unable to recruit experienced staff we have decided "growing our own " is the logical way to help with the staffing shortage. New grads are fresh and knowledgable, eager to learn and succeed, and can become become productive staff members with proper mentoring and support. In a perfect world a little floor experience is good as well, but so is hands on. Not everyone is cut out to do well in the ER environment and they should be re-directed to other areas for the good of themsleves and our patients. The ones who are cut out for ER can and will do well. It takes a little time and work/support, but in the long run it can work out. No one is born a nurse and we all to learn ourselves. So remember what it was like when you started, mentor and support these new grads. They are the future of nursing.-----Paul

MollyMo · Jun 27, 2002

I don't think new grads should go straight to ER, but I don't think Med/Surg experience first is the answer either. Critical Care would be a better option for a while, then go to ER.

alansmith52 · Jun 29, 2002

there is a shortage. new grads should be trained to work everywhere. sometimes a new grad is looking to work in a certain dept, and if your hosp won't hire them belive me another will. and I am not a new grad Iam an ICU nurse and we are taking new grads as well. times are diffrent. get a grip.

matt.