ER Nurses Day - Is Emergency Nursing Right for Me?
What does an ER Nurse do?
ER Nurses treat patients in crisis situations. Nurses working in the emergency room stabilize incoming patients and run tests as needed... Emergency Room Nurses are required to have the same degree and certifications as any other registered nursing job. They must have a Bachelor degree in nursing and a state license. Additionally, certifications for BLS/CPR and ACLR are helpful to have when perusing this role.
Other Responsibilities:
• Collecting patients’ symptoms and detailed patient history
• Consulting and coordinating with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans
• Performing triage, while considering both physical and psychosocial elements
• Managing basic life support needs and stabilizes patients until the attending physician is available, based upon nursing standards and protocol
• Initiating corrective action whenever information from monitoring equipment shows adverse symptomatology
• Recording patients’ current vital signs
• Working directly under physicians, assisting them during exams, diagnostic testing and treatments
• Preparing and administering (orally, subcutaneously, through an IV) and recording prescribed medications.
• Reporting adverse reactions to medications or treatments in accordance with the policy
• Providing IV therapy
• Cleaning and bandaging wounds
• Providing basic, bedside care
• Maintaining proper supplies and appropriate medical equipment to care for patients
• Reporting any suspected abuse to the appropriate agencies
• Initiating patient education plan, as prescribed by physician
• Teaching patients and significant others how to manage their illness/injury, by explaining: post-treatment home care needs, diet/nutrition/exercise programs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation, as well as provides referrals to other healthcare professionals for follow-up treatment
• Displaying professionalism while completing multiple urgent tasks in a timely manner
• Recording all care information concisely, accurately and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format and on the appropriate forms
Different Types of ER Nurses:
• Trauma Nurses
• Triage Nurses
• Flight Nurses
• Pediatric ED Nurses
• ED Float Nurses
• Geriatric ED Nurses
• Burn Center Nurses
Where do emergency nurses work?
Most ER nurses work in the emergency ward of hospitals or clinics; however, ER nurses can also be found on cruise ships, in Flight Rescue teams, and in schools. Because of their specialized emergency training, ER nurses can work in a variety of different settings.
What are the most common conditions treated in the ER?
ER nurses may encounter many conditions with varying degrees of severity, but the most common conditions nurses encounter in the ER include chest pains, stroke symptoms, difficulty breathing, severe trauma from accidents, burns or mental health crises.
How do I know if Emergency Room Nursing is right for me?
Before making a career move, it’s important to do as much research as you can to decide if a role aligns with your ideologies, skills, and abilities. I write a list of pros and cons based on my research before embarking on a new opportunity.
Pros of Working in Emergency Nursing:
• There a plenty of job opportunities
• Your work will be meaningful
• Each shift will be different, enhancing your ability to adapt
• There are tons of learning and training opportunities
• You will experience more autonomy than other specialties because nurses working in crisis situations need to make faster decisions which sometimes includes doing more procedures than the average nurse
• There will never be a dull moment
• You will get to work in a team-oriented environment
Cons of Working in Emergency Nursing:
• Your work will come with great stress
• Working with patients and families during a time of crisis can be emotionally taxing
• Because the ER is a fast-paced working environment, you’ll almost always be on the move which can be physically draining
Where are the Registered Nursing Jobs Near Me?
Take a few minutes to create a profile and upload your resume and search for open nursing roles near you!
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