Training to look impressionable for ED?

[guest744967]

Long story short. I am a 5month new nurse working on a sub acute floor. I have this real big passion to work in our ED even before nursing and without blowing my cover I have had many experiences shadowing the ED. However, I have to wait at least 7 more months to try to transfer. So I figure I would do some research and find out how can I make myself more impressionable when I apply for transfer to the ED? I plan on becoming ACLS certified and take a couple EKG classes. I may have to sneak in PALS (since I don't currently work with peds) from an outside agency because I don't want my current manager to know of me wanting to move on just yet until it can line up. I feel that my unit can be downplayed by other units since we don't get a lot of critical care experience. However the floor is turning more med-surg the past year even though we're not "classified" like this. So I know when I apply I am sure I will be up against those with official med surg qualities. I want the training personally and to show this manager in the ED that I am trying to be ready in terms of skills. So is there any other certifications or training I should seek out to help with this before applying there? I'd appreciate it!

[MoshRN]

It all sounds like over kill to me, but whatever... I have yet to know of an ER that doesn't need nurses. Sounds to me like you are trying to build up your resume to make it appear as if you have way more experience than you do. I don't really see anything wrong with your plans, except that it's totally unnecessary. Let the ED that you get hired in pay for all that training. They are more than happy to do it! I guarantee you that the most important thing to those doing the hiring is that you have the right attitude when you walk into that interview! i.e. eager to learn, energetic, and 100% confident that you want to be an ED nurse!

Might depend on if your area is saturated with nurses? Just another angle to think about. Getting the education/certs on your own dime definitely shows enthusiasm and initiative (Most cannot afford this route, understandably so).

Hey ESME12! I did read into that and seen how hard the courses can be and they usually recommend 2yrs ER beforehand. Between signing up for what I can. I am taking the extra in reading anything I can pertaining critical care. Once again thank you all! I just needed the direction in what to help myself stand out for the position when and if it comes open when my year is up.

Get the TNCC book and read it and know it... then, after a few months, take TNCC.

Also, get a copy of Sheehy's Manual of Emergency Care and start working through it. Even consider getting a CEN review book to read through.

[Uncle Rico]

It all sounds like over kill to me, but whatever... I have yet to know of an ER that doesn't need nurses. Sounds to me like you are trying to build up your resume to make it appear as if you have way more experience than you do. I don't really see anything wrong with your plans, except that it's totally unnecessary. Let the ED that you get hired in pay for all that training. They are more than happy to do it! I guarantee you that the most important thing to those doing the hiring is that you have the right attitude when you walk into that interview! i.e. eager to learn, energetic, and 100% confident that you want to be an ED nurse!

I totally agree with your statement. I was recently hired by a ED as a new grad with no experience or certs. I was not going to pay hundreds of dollars for certs without having a guaranteed job, a New Grad with certs is still a new grad w/o experience. My employer is paying for PALS, ACLS, EKG training and TNCC. One of my nursing instructors warned students about jumping directly into certs immediately after school because it exhibits to the the nursing dept that you are ready for a crisis/trauma/etc when actually you aren't because you have no experience.

One of my nursing instructors warned students about jumping directly into certs immediately after school because it exhibits to the the nursing dept that you are ready for a crisis/trauma/etc

No, it doesn't. Nobody with a lick of sense thinks that anybody's ready for the ED simply because they have the certs -- especially if they have no experience.

The reason not to worry about those certs is mostly one of expense, and possibly failing, and looking the fool in front of people who might later be interviewing you.

I just took the ATCN course and was thinking about your situation and when I first took ACLS as a new grad.

The most difficult part of the scenarios for the inexperienced is, IMO, managing the airway and being decisive about securing a definitive airway.

The other challenge for the inexperienced is learning how to easily look past the distractors to the core problems... which generally go back to ABC

Were I you, OP, I'd back out if at all possible.