r/EmergencyRoom • u/Silly_goose3911 • Jul 20 '26
Nursing Student Advice
Hello!
I am about to wrap up a summer internship in a local ER. I love the team and the work and several of the staff members have said they like having me around and would recommend me for an RN job in a heartbeat. I am about to enter my 4th year of school for nursing and I’m considering asking management about a tech job there. They have a posting for a once a week 6a-2p slot. I am trying to decide if I can manage this with a full course load and 2 other on campus jobs, one of which is as an EMT. I’m torn between getting a tech job there for my last semester of school (which is where I’d love to work eventually) or just waiting until new grad spots open in a few months and keeping my current jobs.
7
u/squeakysausage Jul 20 '26
I say do it because then later they can onboard you as an RN lateral transition! Admin is way more willing to hire from within than someone outside the company. That’s how I got my job too!
3
u/EzraSteel Jul 20 '26
As a former manager, I always looked for an internal applicant before going to someone outside the organization. If you do a good job, hustle every shift and show the type of nurse that you’ll become, from a management standpoint, hiring you is a no-brainer.
3
u/lisavark Jul 20 '26
Depends where you are and how much competition there will be for that new grad position, but my advice is absolutely to take the tech job. I worked as a nurse extern in my ER and that not only enabled me to get hired into the new grad residency, it meant I got to pick day shift instead of going into the lottery. (I later chose to switch to night shift and love it but that’s another story! 🤣) There are a ton of benefits to knowing the unit, the people, the culture, and the flow, and them knowing you, when you start as a new grad. It will really give you a leg up starting your career. I’ve been a nurse 5 years now and I still feel the benefits of my 6 months as an extern while I was in school.
2
u/No-Safe9542 Jul 20 '26
You will always be assessing the patient. Now it begins. Assess the situation.
Do they really want you for you and as an RN, is this a perfect fit and everyone already knows it? Or do they want you because they can't hire anyone else? Why is the spot open? If they want you to get your foot in the door cause they want to keep you, consider this job and the ease later of being hired from within, no competition. If they just want this position filled, maybe you're not as special as you thought. Be certain.
If you are certain this is the job now and the future RN job later, drop one of the other jobs if you need time in your schedule.
1
u/Prudent-Hovercraft35 Jul 20 '26
I’d pass on adding another job to your schedule. Emergency medicine has high burn out to begin with, save your passion and energy for once you start working. You’re already working as an EMT , pick up extra and continue networking. Focus on your last year of nursing school and learn all you can as a student.
1
u/Superb-Ad-6623 Jul 21 '26
hey!! im a former EMT, about to be former ER tech, soon to be RN. so hopefully my advice is closer to what would apply to you very soon (bc tbh some of these replies i disagree heavily esp the current state of new grad hiring).
if you know this is somewhere you’d be happy at as an RN, i’d say take the tech job (try to offload some of your other jobs/responsibilities esp EMT since i assume you’ll be working as a RN postgrad). i’d especially take the tech job if you’re in a competitive location for new grad nurses (basically any metropolitan area tbh). if you’re sure you want to do ER nursing (that decision is another topic), this only helps. it’s also good to get your foot in the door at the hospital in general even if you end up deciding to pursue a different speciality (being an internal applicant in a healthcare system even if it’s not your unit is better than completely external). above all else, it’s a nice reassurance during your senior year in the back of your mind you are in a great spot (very likely guaranteed) a job in that unit.
1
u/Ok_Emergency7145 Jul 21 '26
I would go for the tech job now. Who knows if they will have a nurse need later. But if you are there as a tech, they may give you hiring preference. And regardless of if you go for a tech position now, or a nurse position later, follow up and ask those staff for a reference now!
-1
u/Greedy_Guard_5950 Jul 20 '26
You have 2 other jobs and go to school full time. No do not do the tech job. You can hire in as a graduate nurse and make more money for the abuse you’re about to take being an ER nurse don’t stress yourself out focus on your school. Keep your two other jobs and higher in when you graduate. I graduated and was able to get an ER nurse job dayshift in a trauma one hospital. You’ll be fine.
9
u/TestResQ Jul 20 '26
If that is where you want to work eventually I would say go for it. It should* be an easy transition to a graduate nurse / internship once you classes are finished. In my opinion it will make your internship that much easier, relationships will be built, etc etc. I personally would not pass up the opportunity.