An emergency room nurse is a hospital employee who provides care to patients who require immediate medical attention. A professional assists doctors in determining the severity of a patient’s injury or illness, as well as preparing diagnostic equipment and providing post-treatment care and counseling. Nurses can also perform first-aid procedures, administer medications, and apply casts to relieve doctors of some of their responsibilities. Because patients present to the emergency room with a variety of health issues, a nurse must have a broad understanding of trauma and disease.
An emergency room nurse’s primary responsibility is to assess the severity of patients’ conditions in order to prioritize the use of limited emergency room resources. Patients who are in excruciating pain or appear to be suffering from life-threatening conditions are given priority. However, determining the urgency of a situation is not always easy, and a nurse must be able to spot subtle signs that a patient requires immediate attention.
When a patient is admitted to a room, a nurse collects information about their symptoms, checks vital signs, and, if necessary, administers first aid. Stopping bleeding, immobilizing extremities, cleaning wounds, and administering intravenous fluids are all skills that an emergency room nurse must possess. When a doctor is available, the nurse describes the patient’s condition and provides professional advice on diagnostic and treatment options. To ensure that patients are as comfortable as possible during procedures, the nurse provides both physical and emotional care. A nurse may arrange for follow-up medical care and explain how to take medications and care for an injury at home after treatment.
Long shifts under stressful conditions are common for emergency room nurses. To ensure that patients receive the best possible care in a timely manner, maintain a calm, confident demeanor. Most emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and nurses are frequently required to work a rotating schedule of daytime, overnight, and weekend shifts. In addition, when nurses are not at the hospital, they frequently assume on-call status to ensure that they are available in the event of a disaster or epidemic.
To become a registered nurse, a person must typically complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program and pass a licensing examination. A nurse can take an additional test to become a certified emergency room nurse after one to two years of experience. While working in hospitals, many professionals pursue continuing education to earn master’s degrees in their fields. A person with a master’s degree and the necessary training can become a nurse practitioner and work in a hospital administration position.