The Many Faces of Emergency Nursing
By Janie Schumaker
Photo Courtesy of Houston Methodist Hospital
The skill , leadership , compassion , and tenacity of emergency nurses have never been clearer or more recognized . Learn how to prepare to be a standout candidate and map your journey to success in every emergency nursing specialty .
What has always been true about emergency nursing from the time I first set foot in the emergency department ( ED ) as a novice nurse nearly 30 years ago is the need for clinical know-how and staying on top of the latest advances . The ED offers nurses the ability to make a difference with care and compassion on what is often a patient ’ s very worst day . Emergency nurses experience the excitement and challenges of healthcare ’ s most dynamic , fast-paced , and uncertain environment while juggling the workload and managing multiple stressors . Back 30 years , more often than not , nurses with little to no emergency experience were floated to the ED and physicians assigned to cover the ED were often pulled from their true specialty areas . Emergency care was still in its infancy , having not yet risen to become the respected and desired specialty it is today .
Now that the emergency specialty has matured , the need for clinical expertise and continuing education has never been greater . The modern emergency care landscape includes electronic health records , layers of regulations , and complex-but-beneficial quality , accountability , and transparency measures . Care can include patient boarding , managing workplace violence , and handling an influx of patients struggling with mental health issues .
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