Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry as they serve multiple purposes within their one role. In fact, many people don’t even know that there are different types of nurses. As a nurse, you can specialize in any number of roles.
For example, you can become a forensic, neonatal, orthopedic, pediatric, or emergency room nurse, to name just a few. That’s why nursing can be such an exciting and expansive role that can suit your personal interests. If you want to become an ER nurse, here’s what you need to know.
Work Experience
If you are fresh out of nursing school and want to become an ER nurse, you should prepare yourself for the reality that it might take you some time to achieve your goal. The reason for this challenge is because many hospitals are rather hesitant to hire new nurses in the ER department.
That’s due to the intense environment, constant demands, and stress nurses are under in the emergency room. As such, you might consider working in an adjacent sector first so it can provide you with the experiences needed to work in the ER. For example, consider working in neonatal or intensive care units.
Additional Training
As we all know, nurses must go through considerable schooling to become certified to care for patients. However, you should also know that certain specialties will require additional training. Think about it, when you work in the ER department, you will see patients of all ages.
That’s why a PALS certification is important for ER nurses. If you didn’t know, PALS is short for pediatric advanced life support, equipping you with the knowledge needed to save a child’s life.
Learn To Multitask
If you were to ask an ER nurse what you need to know about becoming one, they would tell you that you need to learn to multitask. It’s no secret that the ER department is hectic. It will have you flitting from one patient to another, providing unique care to each. It can be challenging to switch your care procedure, but that’s how it is in the ER department.
