In the Spotlight: Emergency Nurses
In the Spotlight: Emergency Nurses
Emergency nursing, also known as ER (emergency room) or ED (emergency
department) nursing, is focused on the high quality of care for patients in
emergency situations.
The core value of emergency nursing is the understanding that a nurse on duty never knows what type of challenge is about to walk in the front door. Emergency nurses must be equipped to manage just about any kind of problem, injury or patient. They may have to respond to a simple cut that needs stitches one minute and assist a patient having a heart attack the next minute. Needless to say, professionals in this specialty of nursing agree that there are very few dull on-the-job moments.
Though this area of expertise used to be centered on specifically emergency room nurses, it is now a "role-specific" practice rather than a "site-specific" practice. Emergency nurses often work in the emergency room, but are also valuable when assigned to pre-hospital care, air and ground transport (ambulances and medical helicopters, for example), and pediatric or trauma emergency departments.
Emergency nurses must be able to recognize life-threatening problems, prioritize patient care and carry out resuscitative actions. Emergency nurses are often the first nurse in contact with a patient's family and are expected to provide support and accurate information as needed. Leaders in the field may hold the title of administrator, emergency department manager or head nurse. A professional with special experience in emergency care can take on many alternative roles. Trauma coordinators, case managers, support counselors and EMS liaisons often benefit from an emergency nursing background.
Special Skills and Training Required
No matter where emergency nurses work, it is important they possess certain
skills to be successful in this challenging specialty.
- excellent and fast assessment skills
- ability to manage multiple projects/patients at one time
- confident in decision-making skills
- technically proficient in a wide variety of medical procedures
- supportive and caring for patients and their families
CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) is a certification available for emergency nurses. It is earned through a written examination.
Career Advancement Opportunities are Available
Inova Health System offers a variety of specialty education opportunities for
new graduates and experienced nurses. Click here
for more information on nursing education opportunities.
Job Opportunities at Inova Health System
With four hospital-based emergency rooms - including the only Level 1 trauma
center in Northern Virginia - and three emergency rooms, Inova Health System has
numerous opportunities for nurses. For more information or to apply online, click here.
For additional information about emergency nursing or for certification in this specialty, visit the Web site for the Emergency Nurses Association at http://www.ena.org.
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