Emergency Trauma Nurse Practitioner Programs

Should I Become An Emergency Nurse Practitioner

Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner

A career as an emergency room nurse practitioner can be demanding, but it can be incredibly rewarding too. As an ENP, you will have the opportunity to acquire and develop valuable skills, while providing safe emergency care for patients. Emergency departments typically see high volumes of patients, so ENPs are comfortable or used to working in dynamic, fast-paced environments, and develop the ability to quickly diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions.

Strong communication, efficiency, multitasking, and patient prioritization can be useful skills for this health care job. Depending on the state they work in, ENPs are sometimes even authorized to work independently of physician supervision, which may be a plus for those who value autonomy. Overall, there is a growing demand for nurse practitioners. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , nurse practitioner careers have a projected growth rate of 45% between 2019-2029, which is significantly faster than the average.

Emergency Nurse Skills Knowledge And Qualities

Emergency nurses must be able to sit, stand, walk, reach, squat and lift throughout their eight- or twelve-hour shift. They must have good manual dexterity, hearing and vision. They must understand principles of human development, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, They must also have a working knowledge of the many legal issues impacting health care such as consent, handling of evidence, mandatory reporting of child and elder abuse, and involuntary psychiatric holds. They must be adept and comfortable working with patients of many different backgrounds, cultures, religions, ages and types of disabilities. They must be calm and professional at all times, especially when dealing with situations which are difficult, emotional or disgusting. Emergency nurses must also know how to care for themselves physically and emotionally.

Trauma Nurse Work Settings And Roles

Trauma nurses work with emergency patients and critical care patients. Settings include trauma centers, emergency rooms, and ICUs, among others. Air transport services also utilize nurses with trauma skill and background.

Trauma centers are designated by level. Level I and Level II trauma centers tend to be located in metropolitan areas. Level III and Level IV trauma centers are often found in rural areas. Frequently, patients with critical needs are flown to trauma centers in metropolitan areas.

A video produced for National Nurses Day introduces an RN working in a Level I trauma center in Georgia, who is often on the receiving end of air lifts .

Trauma nurses have some roles beyond direct provision of care. Roles can range from on-site leadership to statewide system development. The Society of Trauma Nurses has reported on their contributions at the systemic level .

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Types Of Online Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Degree Programs

There are three general types of online acute care nurse practitioner degree programsMSN, DNP, and post-MSN certificate. Below is a description of each of these program types and what candidates they accept. Students should note that all three of these types of online programs require students to be actively licensed as registered nurses. They also typically require students to have graduated from a nursing program accredited by either the CCNE or ACEN.

How Many Days Per Week Are Students In Class And In The Clinical Practicum

As an Emergency Nurse Practitioner, you will treat ...

Full-time students will be in either class or clinical practicum about four or five days per week, depending on the semester. Part-time students, while taking clinical courses, will be in either class or clinical practicum approximately three to four days per week. Refer to the plans of study to view the number of didactic and clinical hours required during each semester. This specialty strongly supports student-centered learning and many of the courses are Web-enhanced. The aim of the specialty is to provide students with the materials and guidance needed for self-directed, autonomous learning. Course content will be available through the online site Blackboard. Students are responsible for keeping up with online coursework.

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Top 3 Emergency Nurse Practitioner Programs

Most students aspiring to work as emergency department NPs select the Family Nurse Practitioner or Acute Care Nurse Practitioner tracks. But some schools offer more focused NP program specialties, specifically for prospective emergency department nurse practitioners. Which emergency-specific programs are best?

1. Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt Universitys Emergency Nurse Practitioner Program is packed full of quality curriculum. A dual specialty Family Nurse Practitioner/ Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program with an Emergency Care focus, the program prepares students well for careers as emergency NPs. Vanderbilt Universitys Emergency NP Program grads boast a 100% pass rate on the national nurse practitioner certification exam. Faculty place local students in clinical sites saving them the trouble of finding their own clinical preceptors. In the past two graduating classes, all students have been hired immediately upon graduation.

Located in up and coming Nashville, TN, students will find themselves not only with a quality education but also a fun city to explore featuring good eats and plenty of live music.

2. Emory University

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Emorys Emergency Nurse Practitioner Program is built upon its Family Nurse Practitioner Program but with an emergency medicine focus. With over 700 hours of supervised clinical hours, Emorys Emergency NP Program grads are ready for practice upon graduation. In fact, Emory grads have a 100% pass rate on the national NP certification exam and have no problems finding jobs after graduation according to faculty.

Emory is proud of the diverse experiences offered within the Emergency NP Program. Students have the opportunity to work in a Level I Regional Trauma Center, have classroom instruction in forensic issues in emergency settings and work with a variety of medical professionals to name a few.

3. University of South Alabama

While you can become an emergency department nurse practitioner with a simple family nurse practitioner or acute care nurse practitioner degree, a specialized emergency NP program may leave you better prepared for working in an emergency setting. These programs offer a quality, specialized option for aspiring emergency department nurse practitioners.

What better place to attend your nurse practitioner program than the Golden State? Whether you

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Concentration Courses In Online Agacnp Programs

Classes that are specific to adult-gerontology acute care typically focus on critical health conditions that affect adults from young adulthood through old age. Emphasis is also placed on the aging process, health risks facing patients at different stages in their adult lives, and the importance of lifestyle changes in preventing serious disease.

Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse

How to Become an Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) ENP salary, job role, and certification exam

The Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse designation is applied to a registered nurse who has demonstrated expertise in pediatric emergency nursing by passing a computer-administered examination given jointly by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing and the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board . The certification exam first became available on January 21, 2009, and was accredited by ABSNC in May 2015. The certification is valid for four years, and can be renewed either by passing another examination, by completing 100 contact hours in the specialty, or by completing 1,000 clinical practice hours and 40 contact hours in the specialty.

As of 2020, the BCEN and the PNCB have designated over 5,200 active CPENs. The CPEN exam has 175 questions 150 are used for testing purposes . The passing score is 87% and the candidate has three hours to take the exam. The test is administered in AMP testing centers internationally.

Applicants Without A High School Diploma Or College Degree In The Us:

If you do not have a degree from a U.S. high school, college, or university, you are required to demonstrate English proficiency.
If you have completed coursework outside of the U.S., you must have your transcripts evaluated.

More information.

This program is not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, due to the amount of online courses.

If you have questions regarding the admissions requirements or process, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Scholarships to avoid errors that could delay the processing of your application.

Emergency Nurse Practitioner Salary & Employment

According to salary.com, compensation for emergency nurse practitioners can range from $99,099 to $118,631 per year. The median annual salary is $106,628. Salary is dependent on city/state of employment, years of experience, additional certifications or degrees held, and the organization.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not list data specifically for emergency nurse practitioners, advanced-practice nurses, in general, have a promising career outlook. Because of the physician shortage, aging population, and healthcare legislation, demand for nurse practitioners is expected to rise 31 percent by 2024, which is faster than average.

Advanced Practice Nurses In Emergency Care

Nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists frequently work in emergency settings and are eligible to obtain national certification, although no advanced practice emergency certification is currently available.

Nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists can serve in their primary specialty patient population focus, with emergency care as a subspecialty. According to a survey conducted by the Emergency Nurses Association, 43 percent of advanced practice nurses working in emergency care were family NPs, 13 percent were acute care NPs, 12 percent were adult care NPs, 7 percent were pediatric NPs, less than one percent were womens health NPs. All other survey respondents were clinical nurse specialists.

Working As A Trauma Nurse

Training and Care: Trauma nurses are specially trained in life saving techniques and skills that are to be used during emergency situations. CPR, the use of a defibrillator and other specialized equipment is important and often crucial for nurses in this department. Learning the ability to stabilize a patient and deal with the pressure of fast blood loss, heart problems, and intensive wounds is normal procedure for a trauma nurse.
Job Outlook: The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics lists trauma nursing under the area of registered nurses, which means that it has a job outlook of a 19% growth rate by the year 2022. This is a faster than average growth rate among the field of medicine and in many industries across the United States.
Rate of Pay: According to Education Portal, trauma nurses have the ability to earn $65,470 annually, although this is a median salary reported from 2012 for registered nurses, rather than the niche of trauma nurses. Nurses have the ability to earn higher wages and more responsibilities through additional training, certification and experience.

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The Role Of The Emergency Nurse

The role of the emergency nurse is to evaluate and monitor patients and to manage their care in the emergency department. They may also supervise licensed practical nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel . It can be a challenge to get everything done quickly and correctly in an ever-changing environment. Some ED nurse functions are common to other nursing specialties, while others are specific to emergency nursing. These can be divided into 1.) assessment, 2.) planning and managing care, 3.) tasks, 4.) communication, and 5.) teaching.

Assessment. Emergency nurses interview a patient to get a health history, a list of current medications being taken and allergies. He or she performs a physical examination. This is often a limited exam based on the patient’s chief complaint and only infrequently a complete head-to-toe examination. The ED nurse periodically reassesses the patient to detect any changes, either improvement, decompensation or no change. This may be done after a treatment is given to evaluate its effectiveness or at certain time intervals as appropriate for the patient’s condition.

Planning and managing care. The ED nurse must have a plan of what to do for the patient, when and in what order. Managing an ED patient’s care includes decisions such as whether the patient can go to X-ray before getting blood drawn, what tasks to delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel , and how many visitors are allowed in the patient’s room, among others.

Core Classes In Online Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs

Students of online acute care nurse practitioner programs will generally complete a set of core graduate-level nursing classes prior to progressing to courses that focus on their specialization. These classes cover fundamental advanced practice nursing topics, such as advanced human physiology, health care policy, nursing research methods, and evidence-based practice. Below are several examples of the classes that typically comprise the core component of online acute care nurse practitioner programs.

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What Is A Trauma Nurse’s Role

Trauma nurses provide triage, diagnosis, and care for patients with critical injuries and illnesses. They provide immediate emergency care including CPR and first aid, prepare patients for surgical procedures, and assist in emergency surgical procedures. They also serve as liaisons between physicians and families and, when needed, law enforcement.

Dnp Emergency Nurse Practitioner

APRN Specialties – Emergency Nurse Practitioner

The online D.N.P. Emergency Nurse Practitioner option for master’s-prepared family nurse practitioners is intended to prepare nurses to practice in emergency and urgent care settings. Graduates are educated to effectively advance the management of individuals, families and the population to improve the safety and quality of patient care. In addition to obtaining the D.N.P. degree outcomes, this option allows you the following opportunities:

Obtain specialty certification as an emergency nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board
Expand your practice to include urgent care facilities and hospital-based emergency departments
Provide care congruent with the Emergency Nurses Association Competencies for Nurse Practitioners in Emergency Care
Increase your marketability as a provider with multiple certifications

This program is completed in 24 months and is designed with flexibility in mind. Courses are offered online with minimal campus visits.

What Is An Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

An acute care nurse practitioner cares for patients by providing immediate and significant treatment due to sickness, recovery from surgery, injury, and the management of complicated medical disorders. They have the training to deal with difficult patient situations, assess a patient’s urgent health state, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and establish a treatment plan to stabilize a patient.

An acute care nurse practitioner can specialize, too. At one time, an acute care nurse practitioner could get certification in acute care, pediatrics or adult-gerontology acute care. Since 2014, the certification exams have only been available for pediatric or adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners.

Whatever specialty you choose, the primary goal is to provide a broad spectrum of care for patients with acute and complex issues. Nurse practitioners can work in a variety of settings, including emergency rooms, acute care units and trauma settings. They may also find roles in long-term care facilities and urgent care clinics.

What Is An Online Emergency Nurse Practitioner Program Like

An Emergency Nurse Practitioner is a licensed practitioner that has specialized clinical competencies to provide care across the lifespan, building upon their nurse practitioner knowledge and skills. Nurses pursuing an emergency NP degree or certificate typically learn to treat patients in emergency departments, trauma centers, and urgent care facilities. They learn to stabilize patients with potentially life-threatening injuries, manage acute and chronic illness in patients, and make emergency nursing decisions. Nurses in online programs have the same requirements as nurses in on-campus programs.

Education Requirements And Training

Nurses who wish to progress to advanced-practice nursing, who value leadership and autonomy, and who enjoy a challenging and sometimes chaotic work environment are poised to make excellent emergency nurse practitioners. Being able to work well under pressure, make rapid decisions, and work with all members of the health care team are other important attributes.

Emergency Nurse Practitioner Resources

Why Choose a Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) Specialty ...

The following list encompasses professional organizations that may be helpful in furthering your career as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner and provide relevant resources.

American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners: A membership-based professional organization for nurse practitioners providing emergency care.
American Nurses Credentialing Center: A certification body for nursing board certification, and the largest certification body for APRNs in the United States.
Emergency Nurses Association: The ENA is an American professional organization that represents emergency nursing. Consisting of 40,000 members, ENA examines issues relevant to emergency care, publishes professional guidelines, and issues a peer-reviewed journal.
Society of Trauma Nurses: A professional nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring optimal trauma care to everyone through initiatives focused on trauma nurses related to prevention, education and collaboration with other health care disciplines.
Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association: A membership-based, non-profit organization whose members represent trauma nurses from around the world. Members are trauma care nurses in clinical, administrative, research, and educational roles.

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Web Accessible Programs Designed For Busy Nursing Professionals

The Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate is designed for nationally certified Family Nurse Practitioners who desire or may be currently working in the Urgent Care or Emergency Department setting. Our two semester certificate curriculum allows students to be eligible to apply for the national certification exam as Emergency Nurse Practitioners. As the first college in the nation to develop a web-accessible nursing program, we are experienced in providing the support you need to succeed with distance learning. To provide flexibility and eliminate the need to commute daily to campus, we use:

Web-accessible curriculum and self-directed learning.
Procedural skills at the Pomona, CA, campus face-to-face once per semester.
An Urgent Care and Emergency Department practice immersion completed in your own community.