To become thoroughly qualified and prepared to work in an emergency room, you will have to complete a course of study in emergency nursing education. Working in a critical care environment differs greatly from working in other areas of the hospital, and requires additional skills. In order to ensure that you are getting a well-rounded emergency nursing education, look for a program that will prepare you to handle a variety of urgent care situations. The best program will also provide advanced training in pediatric and cardiac life support as well as emergency room procedures and protocols. One of the best ways to obtain an emergency nursing education is to actually work in a critical care environment.
Quality programs that offer emergency nursing education cover many aspects of critical care. This includes life support, resuscitation, and pain management. After completing an education program, you should be able to effectively treat patients in trauma. In some hospital settings nurses who work in the emergency room are even referred to as trauma nurses. The training offered in emergency nursing education programs will teach you how to conduct patient assessment under pressure and make critical decisions regarding care.
In the emergency room you will be exposed to a variety of illnesses and injuries. One of the best ways to build on existing critical care knowledge is to spend time working in an emergency room. Each day will bring new challenges as well as offer opportunities to learn treatment and lifesaving techniques. You will also gain the experience necessary to provide the best possible care to patients in life threatening situations.
The most ideal emergency nursing education program will prepare you to make diagnostic decisions with autonomy. Although you will likely work with a team of medical professionals, there may come a time when you have to make a decision independently. Nurses who work in the emergency room commonly have to commonly — that is, stabilize — and treat patients as quickly as possible.
Not all emergency room visits are life threatening. Your emergency nursing education should also provide training on how to conduct a preliminary diagnosis of psychological and mental health emergencies. You will need to know how to treat patients with psychological emergencies with the same degree of compassion and professionalism as you would patients with medical emergencies.
Check with the institution where you received your nursing education to find out if programs in emergency nursing education are offered. Some institutions offer courses that can be used to obtain certification in emergency room nursing. The requirements for certification will vary by location and institution.
