Becoming an emergency room nurse is not for faint-hearted people! In the emergency room, every day is unpredictable, and one decision can change the life of a patient. If you can work in a challenging environment and have the skills of problem-solving and quick thinking, then becoming an emergency room nurse or ER nurse might be the best career choice for you. If you are thinking of working in the emergency room department, you must learn about different types of ER nurses, so let us dive into it.
What is an ER nurse?
An emergency room nurse or ER nurse works in the emergency department of a hospital where they treat patients facing severe or life-threatening problems. ER nurses are also known as critical care nurses or trauma nurses.
Role:
The role of ER nurses or emergency room nurses is to assess the patients, determine the severity of the situation, and immediate care to the patients. There are different types of emergency room nurses in the ER.
Types of ER nurses or Emergency room nurses
Emergency room nurses also known as emergency department nurses work in the emergency room department of the hospitals. There are different types of ER nurses such as:
- Triage nurse
- Trauma nurse
- Charge nurse
- Critical care transport nurse
- Pediatric ER nurse
- Travel ER nurse
- Burn center nurse
- Stroke nurse
- Geriatric ER nurse
- Cardiac ER nurse
Triage Nurse
Triage nurses are the first people to meet the patients. They assess the severity of the patients and provide immediate care. They make sure patients in critical condition should get immediate care than the less critical patients who can wait for the care.
Qualities of a Triage Nurse:
- Calm under pressure
- Quick decision making
- Communication skills and Multitasking
Trauma Nurse
Trauma nurses working in the trauma center or Emergency room (ER) are specialized nurses who provide immediate care to patients in critical conditions such as gunshots, car accidents, or other life-threatening situations. They make sure to assess and stabilize the patient in the “golden hour,” which is the first hour after the patient goes through a traumatic event, performing life-saving procedures such as CPR.
Qualities of Trauma Nurse:
- Calm and composed under pressure
- Critical thinking and quick decision-making
- Strong physical and emotional strength
Charge Nurse
Charge nurses play the leadership role in ER making sure that everything runs smoothly in the emergency room department during hectic shifts. They manage nursing staff and patient assignments and much more.
Role of Charge Nurse:
- Managing smooth patient flow
- Staffing and scheduling
- Supervision of nursing staff
- Collaborate with other healthcare providers
- Making decisions during emergencies
- Resolves conflicts and problems
Critical Care Transport Nurse
Critical care transport nurses are also known as CCTNs. They are specialized nurses who provide patient care to critical patients during their transport to other medical facilities. Their duty is to make sure that patients get high, continuing quality care when they are transferring them to other healthcare facilities. They are found in air ambulance services such as helicopters or ground ambulance services such as ambulances which are highly equipped.
Pediatric ER nurse
Another type of ER nurse or emergency room nurse is a pediatric ER nurse. They provide emergency care for infants, children, or adolescents. Pediatric nurses must know about the developmental stages of children and adapt their approaches suitable for the different ages of the children. It is important to understand that the medical requirements for an infant are different from those of an adolescent. The important things to consider while taking care of children are as follows:
- Different ages of the children and their developmental stages
- Pain management
- Communication skills
- Emergency protocols
- Cultural competence
Travel ER Nurse
As the name indicates, travel ER nurses are the types of nurses who work on short assignments around the country. They travel to places to fill in the gaps where the ER nurses are in high demand. There are many qualities of travel ER nurses such as communication skills, accurate documenting, adapting to the environment, and working in different healthcare facilities and settings.
To become a travel ER nurse, join Skill Gigs now and find the job that best matches your needs.
Burn Center Nurse
Burn center nurses are specialized ER nurses who take care of patients with serious burns that can be life-threatening. The task of burn center nurses is to assess the patient for their burns and provide a care plan accordingly. They manage pain, take care of the wound, change dressings, and prevent it from infection.
Stroke Nurse
Stroke nurses are the type of ER nurses who provide patient care to patients who are experiencing stroke or have been diagnosed with stroke-related conditions. They assess and diagnose the patient with stroke or symptoms related to stroke, administer medications, and monitor their neurological status. They are found in the emergency Departments or NICUs (Neurological Intensive Care Units) within the hospitals.
Geriatric ER Nurse
Geriatric ER nurses provide care to people of age in the ER. They have specialized knowledge to understand their complex needs and provide treatment accordingly. They suffer from different health conditions and might be on different medications therefore geriatric care nurses need to understand the risk of drug interactions and their side effects.
Cardiac ER Nurse
Cardiac ER nurses are the type of specialized nurses who take care of patients with cardiac problems such as heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and more. The role of a cardiac ER nurse is as follows:
- Assing the patient and using ACLS.
- Monitoring and administering medications to the patient.
- Communicating with other healthcare workers.
- Providing patient education.
- Providing Emotional and psychological support.
How is it being an ER Nurse?
The emergency department is a high-paced environment where nurses face different challenges. Emergency room nurses are required to be multi-taskers because the situation is highly demanding, stressful, physically, and emotionally demanding.
What are Triage Nurses vs ER Nurses?
Triage nurses are the first ones to encounter patients once they enter the emergency room. Whereas the ER nurses are the second. The difference is difficult to understand because both can fit the same roles.
What is the difference between an ICU Nurse and an ER Nurse?
Emergency room nurses or ER nurses respond to patients when they enter the hospital with critical conditions. Whereas the ICU nurses take care of critically ill patients during their treatment and respond when they see any changes in their health condition.
Conclusion
If you have the skill of working in a highly fast-paced environment, have decision-making power, and can tackle stressful situations then being an ER nurse can be a career choice for you. In this blog, we have discussed different types of ER nurses that work in the ER. From a charge nurse to a burn nurse, no matter which field you choose, the feeling of saving someone’s life is a different feeling. If you are an emergency room nurse and want to work as a travel nurse, then join skill gigs now and get the best travel ER nurse jobs that perfectly match your needs. Happy travel nursing!
