Has anyone worked in the emergency department as a new grad RN? Do you recommend?

Absolutely! I came into the ED with very little floor experience (3 months at at SNF and 2 years school nursing) and I love it. We also hired several new grads with my residency cohort and we are all thriving. The thing is, no matter where you start or where you have experience, the ED is a completely different game and nothing can quite prepare you for life in the ED. Just as long as you are ready to learn, have a positive attitude, and enjoy a fast paced working environment, you will love the ED. Best of luck to you!

Having both worked on the floor and in the ED I strongly suggest starting on the floor. It gives you an opportunity to learn the disease process in a more controlled setting (I.e. CHF, COPD, etc.).

Why would you want to subject yourself to that high pressure environment before you have had the med-surg experience, developing your physical and mental assessment skills, technical skills, organizational and responsiveness skills, communication skills (patients, families, nurses, doctors, etc.), pharmaceutical skills. If I managed an ED I would not hire a new grad unless they had the med-surg experience. That certainly has it's own ongoing pressures, but it is the best learning experience.