The profession of nursing attracts lifelong learners who love rising to new challenges. If you’re already working as a registered nurse, you can take your skills to the next level by moving into the specialised field of emergency nursing.
In this guide, we’ll take a close look at emergency department (ED) nursing – including what the job involves, who it’s suited to, and what kind of qualifications are required. If you’re thinking about becoming an ED nurse, we’ve also got tips for maximising your career potential.
What is an ED nurse?
ED nurses provide critical care to patients in emergency wards who need urgent medical attention. If your goal is to work as an emergency department nurse, you’ll need the ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations, since you’ll be treating patients with life-threatening injuries and/or symptoms.
ED nurses are required to identify what’s wrong with their patients, and work quickly to stabilise them. Although all types of nurses have similar responsibilities, ED nurses need to work at an accelerated pace because when there’s a medical emergency, every second counts. It should be noted, however, that emergency nursing isn’t always fast-paced – you might also be required to perform tasks such as update a patient’s electronic healthcare record and maintain medical equipment.
What does an ED nurse do?
As a nurse in an emergency department, you’ll be working with a team of other healthcare specialists such as radiologists and emergency physicians.
The general responsibilities of an ED nurse can include:
- Identifying and evaluating a patient’s symptoms
- Administering medications
- Treating wounds by washing, sanitising and bandaging
- Conducting preliminary assessments of patients in order to determine how urgently they need medical attention (known as ‘triage’)
- Updating a patient’s medical record while making note of any allergies and/or current medications
- Taking blood samples for diagnostic testing
- Connecting patients to catheters or IVs
- Communicating medical information to the patient’s family members, and providing support
How do I go from being a registered nurse to an emergency nurse?
On-the-job experience is essential if you want to become an ED nurse. If you’ve been working in a hospital as a registered nurse, and you want to transition into emergency nursing, you should put yourself forward to work shifts in the emergency department. This will give you valuable experience that can lead to an ongoing career in this field.
If working as an ED nurse is your professional goal, you should talk to your workplace supervisors. The advice and/or mentorship of more senior healthcare staff is invaluable for nurses who’d like to specialise in areas such as emergency, ICU or perioperative nursing.
How do I become an ED nurse in Australia?
If you’re a registered nurse and you’d like to become an ED nurse, you’ll need to gain experience working inside the emergency department of a hospital. This is the most common pathway to becoming an ED nurse in Australia.
You might also be required to complete certification programs that are relevant to emergency nursing. Common qualifications include a certificate in Advanced Life Support (ALS) and a refresher course in Triage.
And if you’re already working as an emergency nurse, you might like to consider studying for a Graduate Certificate in Health (Emergency Nursing) at Federation Uni Online. This course provides an invaluable opportunity to build upon your existing knowledge of the major body systems, and be recognised as an expert at managing patients who require specialist treatment in an emergency care setting.
Throughout the course, you’ll examine key aspects of emergency patient care and nursing practice, whilst also extending your analytical, leadership and communication skills. You’ll develop essential tools to manage and prioritise these patients, and learn core concepts relating to acute illness, disease and trauma.
A Graduate Certificate in Emergency Nursing will boost your confidence and your employability – opening the door to a variety of leadership roles as an emergency nurse specialist.
Is ED nursing stressful?
Working as an ED specialist does come with significant challenges. These can include:
- The fast-paced nature of the job
- The need for you to manage multiple patients with diverse needs
- Dealing with patients (and family members) who are distressed
- Treating patients who have sustained catastrophic injuries
- Communicating effectively with paramedics, doctors, patients and other nurses
Emergency nursing is best suited to people who thrive in busy environments, and are able to maintain their composure in stressful situations. ED nurses perform one of society’s most important roles, so the negatives are usually outweighed by the knowledge that your job really does matter. Helping people at their most vulnerable is a privilege, and it’s the reason why Australian nurses have high levels of job satisfaction.
However, it’s important for ED nurses to look after their own physical and mental wellbeing, so they can continue to help others. Tips on how to do this can be found in our article: How to Maintain a Healthy Work-Life Balance as a Nurse.
How can I succeed as an ED nurse?
If you want to learn advanced level emergency nursing skills, studying for a Graduate Certificate in Health (Emergency Nursing) is a smart move. This will guarantee that you can give your patients the best possible care, while also making it possible to rise through the ranks to become a leader in your profession.
You can also find tips for career success in our article: How To Be a Better Emergency Nurse.
Take your nursing career to the next level
To find out more about our Emergency Nursing program and other nursing courses on offer at Federation Uni Online, please feel free to get in touch with our helpful Course Consultants .
You can also apply online today if you’re ready to get started!
