“Every shift is not as exciting as a shift on TV,” Carroll says. Where Do Emergency Room Nurses Work? Your ability to handle a situation with care and confidence can make a big difference in a patient’s level of comfort and calm. Admission to most nursing programs are typically based on high school and college GPAs. After earning a minimum of two years of related emergency experience, you can also apply to earn a certification from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN). But because of the nature of ER work, it is also necessary that you have excellent critical thinking skills and good judgement. More info. What made you want to be a nurse in the emergency department? I have always enjoyed helping people and find great satisfaction in providing care to people who need medical attention. Planning ahead during high school is important. Before you can conquer the chaos of the emergency room, you must first become a licensed RN. “The nursing duties are the same wherever you work—except in the emergency department, everything is compressed,” says former trauma and transport nurse Pat Carroll. You need all the info you can get as you research the ins and outs of emergency nursing. Research source In fact, if you take advanced placement (AP) courses in high school, you can earn college credit and be 1 step ahead! Connect with Rasmussen College on Facebook, Connect with Rasmussen College on Instagram, Connect with Rasmussen College on LinkedIn, Connect with Rasmussen College on Pinterest, Connect with Rasmussen College on Twitter, Connect with Rasmussen College on Youtube, Human Resources and Organizational Leadership, Information Technology Project Management, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, How to Become a Registered Nurse (Your Step-by-Step Guide), Superficial injury (an injury that does not affect muscles or organs), Financial Aid and FAFSA (for those who qualify). Rasmussen College is not enrolling students in your state at this time. Then emergency nursing might be the perfect nursing specialty for you. Rasmussen College may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content. If you do not pass the exam, you can retake it as many times as you need to, but you must wait a minimum of 45 days between testing. “I think we could work virtually anywhere,” Elliott says. Emergency Room (ER) Nurses assist doctors in the treatment of critical care patients. External links provided on rasmussen.edu are for reference only. Each specialty demands its own skills and characteristics, which is especially true for those working in emergency nursing. There is no obligation to enroll. Or is that part of the job overblown? After your first shift as an ER nurse, you will probably feel overwhelmed. Also, as the market becomes more competitive, some hospitals are starting to shift away from ADNs altogether and will only hire those with a BSN. You should take as many advanced math and science classes as you can, since this is what your focus will be in college. Keep reading to learn more about the skills and qualities you’ll need in this dynamic nursing specialty. Nurses who specialize in emergency situations are limited only by their own preferences when it comes to choosing a work environment. Nurses are now taking a much more prominent role in the initial and ongoing duty of patient assessment. Learn how to get started in our article, “How to Become a Registered Nurse (Your Step-by-Step Guide).”. Please visit www.rasmussen.edu/degrees for a list of programs offered. The program you select should come from a university that has been accredited—preferably by the US Department of Education.