Emergency Nursing Mind Map

Military Medical Places

Places this nursing specialty can be employed

Outpatient care facility

Clinics

Nursing Homes

Discharge

Tasks

When a patient is ready to leave the emergency room after treatment, their emergency room nurse handles the discharge paperwork, explaining it to the patient and answering any questions they may have.

Administering Medication

Triage

Method of prioritizing

patients based on medical need.

Charting

Taking Vital

Signs

Emergency room nurses are required to chart all patient medical history, contact information, current condition and medications, and treatment as well as update their electronic medical record throughout their stay in the E.R.

Includes taking blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration, and temperature.

Working Conditions

It is very messy in an emergency room. From people bleeding, to vomit, and other illnesses, its hard to maintain perfect cleanliness in an ER.

The emergency room environment is fast-paced and highly stressful. ER nurses f encounter patients in critical condition, and they might be expected to work in ambulances. Both physical and mental demands on nurses are higher in the ER than in the general hospital.

The emergency room is barley ever quiet as they treat patients in critical conditions while lots is going on

Hazards

Contact with hot surfaces, faulty electrical equipment and may cause skin burns.

Emergency room nurses also may suffer from stress and burnout caused by shift and night work and by other psychological and organization factors.

The Massachusetts Bureau of Labor Statistics reported more than 4.000 health care professionals to experience verbal and physical assault while working in the ER

Emergency room nurses can also be exposed to anesthetic gases, drugs and radiation.

Emergency room nurses may be injured by shard objects like needles, blades and other similar objects

Sick patients in the emergency room present a risk of infection from body fluids

Education

To become a registered nurse (RN) and begin specializing in emergency care, either an associate's degree in nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is required.

After graduating and passing the appropriate certifications, a new nurse may be able to find an ER nursing job at a facility that has a formal internship or offers an orientation program aimed at non-emergency nurses who want to enter into that specialty.

Although you may be able to

work as an emergency room nurse in some locations by simply completing some additional coursework or training after your initial RN degree, you may be able to enhance your employment opportunities by applying for certification. To obtain certification as an emergency room nurse, you must pass the Certified Emergency Nurse Exam offered by the Emergency Nurses Association. This organization also offers continuing education opportunities for nurses interested in emergency nursing.

After becoming an RN, you will typically need additional training to become an emergency room nurse. This may involve advanced nursing courses and/or experience in emergency room settings

Ability to shift gears and accelerate your pace as needed

Personality Requirements

Good observation, assessment and prioritization skills

Multitasking abilities

Ability to maintain calm during chaos

Ability to think fast and on your feet

Confident patient advocate

Good personal coping skills

High stamina

Good interpersonal and customer service skills

Job Outlook