Background & Scope
Emergency nursing is a nursing subspecialty focused on providing immediate clinical attention due to an acute or life-threatening illness or injury. Emergency nurses assess and treat a wide variety of medical conditions and are trained to distinguish conditions that may be able to wait for medical treatment from those that cannot, i.e., triaging. Emergency nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, as they are responsible for quickly assessing and stabilizing patients, to ensure their safety and provide support during a traumatic experience.
The scope of emergency nursing includes assessment, treatment, and ongoing monitoring in the emergency department (ED), as well as in other settings such as ambulances, helicopters, and on-site medical tents. Emergency nurses may also be responsible for performing diagnostic tests, administering medications, starting/running IVs, and providing emotional support to both patients and their families. In addition, emergency nurses often serve as patient advocates by working with doctors and other healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive appropriate care and follow-up treatment.
Emergency nursing is a challenging field that requires specialized knowledge and skills. Emergency nurses must be able to make quick decisions in high-pressure situations and must be able to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to provide optimal patient care. In addition, emergency nurses must possess excellent communication skills in order to effectively communicate with patients and their families, as well as other healthcare providers.
Qualifications, Training, and Certifications
To become an emergency nurse, one must first obtain a basic nursing degree and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). After obtaining a nursing degree and licensure, nurses must complete a specialized emergency nursing course. This course typically includes classroom instruction, simulations, and clinical rotations in the emergency department (ED).
In addition to the required educational qualifications, emergency nurses must possess critical thinking, decision-making, and excellent communication skills. Physical stamina, emotional resilience, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are also required.
Certification is not mandatory for emergency nurses but can be beneficial in terms of career advancement and job security. The two most commonly recognized certifications for emergency nurses are the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) through the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), and the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) through the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA). These certifications require passing an exam administered by each respective organization and demonstrate a nurse’s commitment to excellence in their profession.
Conditions, Diseases, Treatments, and Procedures
Emergency nurses are responsible for assessing, triaging, and potentially diagnosing a wide variety of medical conditions. This includes managing life-threatening illnesses and injuries such as cardiac arrest, stroke, and trauma, as well as more common conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and infection.
To diagnose and treat these conditions, emergency nurses must be able to assess a patient’s condition quickly and accurately. This assessment typically includes taking the patient’s vital signs, conducting a physical exam, interpreting laboratory results, and discussing the patient’s medical history with them. Based on this assessment, emergency nurses must then be able to accurately and efficiently triage the patient.
The treatments provided by emergency nurses can vary greatly depending on the patient’s condition. These treatments may include administering medications and fluids, setting up IVs and other medical devices, performing minor procedures such as attending to wounds and inserting catheters, providing emotional support to patients and their families, and providing education about preventive care.
In addition to the treatments mentioned above, emergency nurses may also be responsible for coordinating the transfer of patients to other healthcare facilities or arranging follow-up care. Emergency nurses must be familiar with a variety of medical equipment and protocols in order to provide safe and effective care.
Related Medical Specialties
Emergency nursing requires collaboration with other medical specialties in order to provide optimal care for patients. The following are some of the most common related medical specialties:
Emergency Medicine: Emergency medicine is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses and injuries. Doctors who specialize in emergency medicine provide care in the emergency department (ED) or in other settings such as ambulances and helicopters and rely on emergency nurses to accurately and efficiently assess patients prior to being seen by the doctor and to effectively carry out orders after being seen by the doctor.
Trauma (surgery): Trauma surgeons are specialized surgeons who are trained to treat traumatic injuries, including those caused by car accidents, falls, and gunshot wounds. Trauma surgeons typically work in trauma centers and may provide life-saving treatment to patients with serious injuries.
Cardiology: Cardiologists diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries related to the heart and blood vessels. Cardiologists may be involved in the care of patients with heart attacks, stroke, arrhythmias, or other cardiovascular conditions.
Infectious Disease: Infectious disease specialists diagnose and treat illnesses caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Infectious disease specialists may be involved in the care of ED patients with influenza, postoperative wound infections, ruptured appendix, and food poisoning.
Medical-Legal Cases Involving Emergency Nursing
Medical-legal cases involving emergency nursing can occur when a nurse is accused of providing inadequate care. Given the severity of illness an injury seen in an ED, deviation from standard of care by an emergency nurse can have serious consequences. Failure to assess the presence of a stroke can result in a missed opportunity to give antithrombotic therapy. Failure to consider myocardial infarction could result in a lost chance to medicate or stent. Missed appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, sepsis, subdural hematoma, cholecystitis, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) could result in significant morbidity or mortality.