Tele nurse wanting to go to ED; advice?

[shakabrah]

My fellow nurses! Would appreciate any advice/tips on this...

I've been working on the cardiac tele unit for about 1.5yrs, I was fortunate enough to get hired quickly after passing NCLEX. At the time I took the job because of course as a new grad, one can't be too picky right?! Anyways now that I've been there over a year, I would like to transition into the ED. In nursing school unfortunately, we didn’t get to choose our preceptorship, but I had the opportunity to do a few rotations in the ED and I absolutely loved it, even though it was challenging and chaotic. I reside in California so it isn't easy to go into a specialty without prior experience like it is in other states. One gets lucky if they can get hired at a hospital right off that bat. Though I am super grateful for the opportunity I was given, I honestly cannot stand to stay where I am any longer. I was advised to stay put for at least a year, and now that I have, I've begun applying to positions in the ED; of course, most of them want at least 6mo-1yr of ED experience, which I do not have. On a thread someone asked a similar question and someone advised to get the CEN certification, which I currently am studying for. Any other words of advice or encouragement out there? I'm getting to the point where I'm applying far from home. I am very willing to commute or relocate for the right opportunity. I've even been considering out of state, but then that just gets a bit more complicated so I'm trying instate first. If I did go out of state, any recommendations from my fellow travel nurses?; I hear some states are better than others. Nursing is a tough gig and its especially tough when one doesn’t vibe where they’re at, I am getting desperate. Any prior floor nurses in my position that transitioned, how’d you do it? Thank you guys and gals!