If you want to work in a nursing specialty where you work with patients of all groups and conditions, you may be interested in becoming an emergency room nurse. Nurses who are trained to work in emergency room settings work in fast-paced facilities where they must help patients with everything from trauma arrests to emergency deliveries. If you are interested in learning more about the role of an emergency room nurse, read on and learn everything that you need to know.
What Do Emergency Nurses Do?
The role of a nurse in an emergency department depends on the patient’s condition and complaint. In the typical setting, an ER nurse will assess patients as they wait to see the physician, according to the Emergency Nurses Association. If the patient is suffering from a life-threatening ailment, they will rapidly assess their condition and contact the right people. They might read cardiac rhythms, cast bones, and place chest tubes. If patients are suffering from minor injuries or illnesses, the nurse will deliver care to ensure they are comfortable.
Where Do Emergency Nurses Work?
If you are a specialist in emergency nursing, you could work in a variety of different settings. While it is most common for you to work as a nurse in the emergency department of a hospital, there are a lot more options than you might initially think of. If you are curious to learn where you might practice once you have trained to deliver emergency care, here are some of the places that you could practice:
- Administrative Departments
- Schools of Nursing or Universities
- Research Departments with Schools and Institutes
- Emergency Care Clinics
- EMS Transport Senters
- Helicopter Flight Nursing
- Poison Control Centers
- Military Care Units
- Telephone Triage
- Crisis Intervention Centers
- Corporations
- Correctional Facilities
- State Government Agencies
How Do You Become an ER Nurse?
If this is the specialty area that you want to practice in, the first step to getting qualified for good positions is to become a Registered Nurse by passing your NCLEX-RN exam, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Before you can sit for the exam, you must earn a nursing degree from an accredited program. This is a form of general training for nursing and not specific to emergency care.
Many emergency departments are suffering from a shortage of nursing staff members that are available to fill shifts. Because of this, many departments are willing to hire new graduates and train them. You may have to complete an internship program before you are officially hired into the specialty fresh out of school. You will also have to complete a 3 to 6-month formal orientation so that you know what is expected of you as a nursing staff member.
Other Types of ER Training
Taking advanced courses in emergency medicine can definitely help you expand your knowledge before you try to work in the field. If you want to get more attention or you are interested in earning more than an entry-level professional, you should consider going for your Emergency Room Nurse Credential through the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. To earn this credential you must be registered and pass an exam to show that you are a competent ER nurse.
Related Resource: Telemetry Nurse
There is a huge demand for ER nurses in the United States. Since the gap between supply and demand is growing, more and more schools are offering advanced training programs to prospective specialists. Become a nurse, study emergency content and then you will be able to land a position as an Emergency Room Nurse.
