Nursing has it all — drama, excitement, joy, and unfortunately, sometimes tragedy and heartbreak. Nurses undergo stringent education to handle the life-and-death situations they will encounter in their profession, and some of the most critical medical occurrences happen in the emergency room (ER). Nurses who work in the emergency department (ED) are challenged daily and they need to be prepared for the unexpected as they provide optimal patient care.
Do You Have What It Takes to Be an ER Nurse?
You may have decided that you want to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), but haven’t decided what kind of nurse you want to be. If you are thinking about becoming an emergency room nurse, you have to meet certain criteria. This type of nursing is not for the fainthearted. These nurses have a significant impact on the patient and the patient’s family. The following are some traits of an ER nurse:
- Good-natured.
- Patient-focused.
- Quick-thinking.
- Accurate.
- Multitasking.
- Team player.
- Observant.
- Decisive.
- High-energy.
- Unflappable.
- Not squeamish.
What Does an ER Nurse Do?
ER nurses are part of a team, working with physicians, technicians, and other healthcare professionals in critical care settings. They provide evidence-based care to individuals with medical conditions and injuries, which many times are the result of trauma.
Nurses in the ER assess and monitor the patients’ condition and administer care. The duties of an ER nurse may include the following:
- Cleaning lacerations.
- Dispensing medications.
- Inserting intravenous (IV) catheters.
- Operating medical equipment.
- Performing complex procedures.
- Taking blood samples.
When patients arrive at the ER, nurses triage them by noting their symptoms and recording a medical history. They then prioritize the patient based on this assessment.
For example, patients who are unconscious or not breathing take priority. Patients with urgent symptoms like headache, confusion and stiff neck — signs of encephalitis or meningitis — take precedence over those with a sore throat or back pain.
If the patient is in unstable condition, the first thing an ER nurse does is to work to stabilize the patient before beginning treatment.
How Do ER Nurses Stabilize Patients?
Emergency department nurses are required to perform a number of medical procedures. For patients in distress, nurses may have to assist in the following procedures:
- Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Delivering a baby.
- Administering first aid.
- Intubation.
- Setting a broken bone.
- Suturing.
- Performing a tracheotomy.
- Blood transfusions.
What Other Ways Do ER Nurses Help Patients?
Many patients are often afraid or unsure of how to follow up on their healthcare once they leave the ER. Nurses support patients by giving them and their families an after-care treatment plan and other guidance. In addition to providing and coordinating patient care, ER nurses educate patients about health concerns. Here’s a partial list:
- Alcohol and drug abuse.
- Bicycle and motorcycle helmet safety.
- Gun safety.
- Domestic violence prevention.
- Safety rules for child passengers.
What Kinds of Medical Emergencies Do Nurses See in the ER?
Patients come to the ER for a variety of illnesses and injuries that require immediate attention. Nurses may come into contact with patients who have sustained injuries in an accident or due to violent crime. During a busy ER shift, nurses may be faced with patients suffering from the following:
- Broken bone.
- Dangerously high fever.
- Drug overdose.
- Gunshot.
- Heart attack.
- Poisoning.
- Stab wound.
- Stroke.
What Types of Patients Do ER Nurses Treat?
ER nurses care for patients of all ages, ethnicities and races with innumerable health concerns. Some may have pre-existing chronic conditions such as asthma, cancer, heart or kidney disease, diabetes or mental illness.
Typically, ER patients come and go quickly, so nurses do not have time to establish long-term relationships with them. Some ER patients suffer from serious injuries due to natural catastrophes, violence or unfortunate circumstances. These various ER patients may be victims of the following:
- Car accidents.
- Earthquakes.
- Floods.
- House fires.
- Mass shootings.
- Terrorism.
- Work and industrial accidents.
Where Do ER Nurses Find Jobs?
Most ER nurses work in hospitals but they can also find employment in a multitude of other settings. For instance, they can be found in the following places:
- Corporations and businesses.
- Crisis intervention centers.
- Federal or state governmental agencies.
- Helicopters and airplanes.
- The military.
- Correctional facilities.
- Poison control centers.
- Research institutes.
- Schools of nursing.
- Urgent care centers.
How Do You Become an ER Nurse?
A BSN is the recommended degree for an ER nurse. You should complete a BSN program at an accredited nursing school like the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). UT Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation offers an online BSN degree program that has no traditional semester breaks so you can complete it in as few as 15 months. You will learn through technology-enhanced courses, and UT Arlington faculty will supervise your clinical experiences at partner hospitals throughout the state of Texas.
Once you have earned your BSN, you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) so you can receive your license to practice as a registered nurse (RN). While certification is not mandatory, many employers prefer that nurses have the additional credentials.
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) does not require, but suggests, that you have two years of experience in an emergency room department before taking the Certified Emergency Nurse Examination to become a certified emergency nurse (CEN). You will have to get re-certified every four years. Here are some other certifications ER nurses can obtain from the BCEN:
- Certified flight registered nurse (CFRN).
- Certified pediatric emergency nurse (CPEN).
- Certified transport registered nurse (CTRN).
What Is the Salary and Job Outlook for ER Nurses?
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not have a separate listing for ER nurses but it did report that, in May 2016, the annual median income for RNs was $68,450.
The job outlook for all RNs remains steady. The BLS predicts that there will be a 15 percent increase in employment for RNs from 2016 to 2026.
Now that you’ve had a glimpse into the world of ER nursing, you can make an informed decision about your future in nursing. If you decide ER nursing is for you, you will be at the forefront of patient care, which is demanding and rewarding in both the little and big moments. Just imagine helping a frightened child with a sprained ankle, calming anxious parents of a newborn with a high fever, or saving the life of a person who is going into cardiac arrest or dying from a stab wound. You can be a part of the fast-paced, exhilarating ER nursing specialty.
Learn more about the University of Texas at Arlington online BSN program.
Sources:
Emergency Nurses Association: About Emergency Nursing
EveryNurse.org: Becoming an Emergency Nurse
Chicago Tribune: Real nursing stories: Life in the ER
Discover Nursing: Emergency Nurse
Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing: Get Certified – CEN
U.S. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses
How Stuff Works: Health — 10 Injury Treatment Priorities at the Emergency Room
Nurse Theory: What Is an Emergency Room Nurse?
