Transitioning from LTC to ER nursing

[mxllory]

Hello! I'm posting in hope of gaining some insight into my current situation. I graduated RN school about 3 months ago, and am awaiting my ATT to take my nclex (woohoo!) During my RN program, I challenged the LPN nclex and started working in a LTC/Rehab facility as an LPN. I have been working in this setting for around 6 months. I have learned quite a bit, but this setting is not for me. I always felt it would be temporary, sort of like a stepping stone to my dream career, Emergency nursing. During my last semester of school, I chose the emergency room to do my 90-hour preceptorship in. I learned a lot and loved it. So now my question is, how do I get a job in the ER with exclusively LTC/rehab experience as an LPN? Is it possible? Should I be considering a med surg/ tele position to gain experience? Thanks.

[MotoMonkey, BSN, RN]

If your area is anything like mine, having less than one year of experience would mean that you would likely still qualify to be part of a new grad program (new grad nurse residency program, whatever the hospital may call it), in that case, you would just need to seek out hospitals that have an ER specific residency program and apply.

If there are no residency programs in your area it may be more difficult to get hired into an ED as a new RN. The ER that hired me was the same one where I did my preceptor hours, so don't forget to make a good impression and show them the kind of nurse you would be, they may be more likely to hire you, even if they don't usually hire new nurses.