Emergency room nurses are very important to the daily operations of hospitals around the world. They are the friendly faces that greet patients during their hospital visits. They provide specific plans of care for patients related to the prescribed injuries. New ER nursing jobs are created each day for certified, qualified nurses. The shortage of certified emergency room nurses makes this position one of the most promising careers in the medical field.
Emergency Room Nurse Job Description
The responsibilities and duties of nurses who work in emergency rooms include monitoring and attending to patients admitted into intensive care units and emergency rooms. It may be necessary to administer medications in these settings. These nurses may also have to help fellow physicians with tasks that are related to medical care in the emergency room or ICU settings. A basic summary of an ER nurse’s duties are that they evaluate, assess, plan, and implement care that is centered on patients in a nurse’s unit.
Emergency Nurse Certification
It is necessary to fulfill certain educational requirements before becoming an ER nurse. The educational options include pursing certification from a diploma program, a two-year associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. These options make it possible for anyone to earn an entry-level position in nursing to become an ER nurse.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) seems to be the standard that most employers seeking qualified nurses are looking for in an employee. Some employees may accept diplomas or certificates from accredited hospitals or colleges and universities for nursing positions. It is also important to gain the credentials to become a registered nurse to work in an ICU or ER unit.
Nurses receive advanced knowledge and skills by earning the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN); they can become an advanced practice nurse after gaining the necessary certification. This level of education can provide opportunities for higher salaries in positions with greater responsibilities. This master’s degree in nursing is necessary to gain supervisory or administrative positions within intensive care units or emergency rooms.
Certification is available after a minimum of 6 months of related experience, depending on the state in which the nurses practice. It is also necessary to graduate from an accredited educational institution to qualify to sit for the examination.
It may be a wise choice to contact the local state board of education for nursing before enrolling in a college or university to receive a list of schools that are accredited in a particular state. Obtain an application from the emergency nursing board of certification to take the examination.
Emergency Room Nurse Salary
The salaries for certified ER nurses are very substantial. The salaries depend greatly on the location and experience of the nurses. Working in areas where there is a shortage of qualified registered nurses can drive the income potential higher than the average nursing salary. A few of the locations in which there is currently a great need for certified emergency room nurse are California, Alaska, New York, South Carolina, Arizona, and Texas.
Becoming a travel nurse can also raise the annual salary significantly. Travel nurses travel to emergency rooms and intensive care units where there is a shortage of certified nurses to work for a specified amount of time—usually less than one year. In addition to the very attractive salary, traveling ER nurses can benefit from bonuses, relocation assistance, and more.
According to data obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salaries for emergency room nurses are $52,330. The rapid aging population and the shortage of qualified emergency room nurses can increase the wages substantially.
ER Nurse Jobs Outlook
Graduates of nursing programs have a very promising future as emergency room nurses. The increase in demand is said to be a 10% increase over the next 10 years. The American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN) projects the increase to be as high as 27% over the next decade. All of these statistics make positions as emergency room nurses very enticing. Couple these numbers with the massive shortage of nursing personnel and certified emergency room nurses and there is a very bright future ahead for ER nurses.
The greatest shortage of nurses is in hospitals so emergency room nurses do not have to worry about the recession or the shortage of jobs as they graduate accredited nursing programs across the country and begin seeking employment.
Emergency room nurses have special skill sets that are greatly needed in emergency rooms and intensive care units. It takes special people to fill the many available positions for certified emergency room nurses.