Emergency Nurses

Nurses typically obtain some experience (one to three years) as a staff nurse before entering emergency nursing. Some employers may hire recent nursing graduates with no experience in emergency nursing, but they need at least a bachelor's of science in nursing and preferably a graduate degree.

Emergency room nurses should like working in a fast-paced environment that requires lifelong learning. This is a very intense nursing field and nurses should be able to make critical decisions quickly and intelligently. New medical technology is constantly being developed and implemented, and emergency care nurses should be technically inclined and skilled in operating medical equipment.

Emergency nurses must be able to deal with major life and death crises. Because of the suddenness and perhaps seriousness of their loved one's illness, family members and friends may be difficult to deal with and the nurse must display patience, understanding, and composure during these emotional times. The nurse must be able to communicate with the family and explain medical terminology and procedures to the patient and family so they can understand what is being done and why.

Emergency nursing is a very intense nursing specialty, as patients require immediate attention, constant care, and monitoring. Many facilities require nurses to work 12-hour shifts, which can be very exhausting. In addition, emergency nurses are often on call in the event of a disaster, severe accident, or some other situation where additional staff may be needed.