There are several types of emergency medicine careers a person may consider. Among the most common are emergency medicine doctor, surgeon, and nurse careers. Some nurse practitioners also specialize in the emergency category of medicine. An individual also can enter the emergency medicine field as an emergency medicine technician. Likewise, there are radiologists in emergency medicine careers as well.
An individual who is considering an emergency medicine career might choose to become a doctor or a surgeon. Doctors evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who have emergency medical needs. They also order further testing and prescribe medication when required. Surgeons also play a role in the evaluation and diagnoses of critically ill or injured patients and then treat them using surgical procedures. Like other doctors, they can also order testing and prescribe medications.
An emergency nurse practitioner also provides emergency illness and injury care. These nurses typically have more education and training than registered nurses and can often provide much of the same care as a doctor. In fact, an individual may receive evaluation and treatment from a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor.
Nursing is also among the most common emergency medicine careers. An emergency medicine nurse helps to evaluate and treat critically ill and injured patients under the supervision of doctors. These nurses often help to carry out required testing and monitor patients as well. They also typically make a record of the symptoms a patient is having as well as his vital signs, and try to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. Nurses in this position usually spend more time with patients than doctors do.
A career as an emergency medicine technician also falls in the category of emergency medicine careers. An emergency medical technician is a person who travels to patients who are in the midst of emergency medical situations. Usually, his job is to provide evaluation and care as necessary and keep the patient as stable as possible while transporting him to a hospital or urgent-care facility.
The job of an emergency radiologist is also among the emergency medicine careers. An emergency radiologist usually performs diagnostic imaging tests on individuals who have illnesses and injuries that are classified as emergencies. For example, an emergency radiologist typically performs such diagnostic tests as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and computerized tomography (CT) scans and then interprets them. Their interpretations of test results help emergency medicine doctors to diagnose and treat patients. Additionally, emergency radiologists also provide some treatments that involve the use of radiology.
