Are you considering becoming an ED Nurse but unsure exactly what it entails? Let’s dive in and figure out if ED nursing is right for you!
What is ED Nursing?
ED stands for Emergency Department Nursing, formerly known as Emergency Room. These nurses work in the emergency department in a hospital. ED nurses see a variety of patients from minor injuries or pain to extreme life-threatening injuries or ailments in patients of all ages. The emergency department is where patients are triaged to determine their emergent needs. For example, if a patient comes in complaining of a severe headache, they might be able to receive pain medications in the ED without having to be admitted to the hospital. But if the patient came in for signs of stroke, then the patient is likely going to be treated urgently in the ED and then admitted to the hospital and sent to another floor for future care.
Patient Load
As an ED nurse, you will be caring for quite a few patients throughout one shift. In California however, you are only going to be caring for at most 4 patients at one time. A 1 to 4 nurse patient ratio. If there is a severe trauma patient coming in or a patient who has ICU or PICU needs, then the ratio may vary to 1 to 2 or even 1 to 1. It really just depends on the severity of the patient.
ED Nurse Job Description
For each patient in the emergency department, you are going to be responsible for a focused assessment. Meaning you are assessing the reason why they’re there. For example, if the patient is in for a broken leg, then you are going to assess the skin and the pulses of that leg. You aren’t going to necessarily do a full body or skin assessment since they’re in for the emergent treatment of their leg. You will also be monitoring vitals, treating pain, and stabilizing patients to then be sent either home or admitted to a floor.
ED Nurse Skills
Emergency department nurses are going to be inserting a lot of IVs, as almost every patient who comes thru the ED doors are going to require one for either IV pain meds, fluids, or preventative measures. ED nurses are pro’s at providing emergency medicine to all patients. They know how to run a code, maintain open airways, and administer emergent medications according to doctors’ orders. They assist doctors with emergency bedside procedures and are able to apply and read cardiac monitors and rhythm strips. ED nurses can perform neurological assessments and collect labs for things like toxicology reports. Additionally, emergency department nurses care for psychiatric patients and treat them accordingly.
ED Nurse Salary
Emergency Department Nurses pay varies by state, location, and hospital. According to ZipRecruiter, ED Nurses in California on average make about $47.76 per hour, equating to $99,347 per year. Nationally, ED nurses make about $105,152 per year.
So, What Makes a Good Emergency Department Nurse?
A good ED nurse is someone who likes the hustle and bustle of triaging and treating a lot of patients in one shift. While they may only see up to 4 patients at once, caring for 50 to 100 patients a shift isn’t unheard of. They are constantly thinking on their feet and predicting patient decline. ED nurses are running codes and treating trauma patients all while staying cool, calm, and collected. They don’t let the stress or pressure get to them. They are confident in their ability to treat trauma patients.
Want to Know More…?
Are you interested in learning more about ED Nursing? Head on over to the Specialty Nurse Interview Series to Meet Jimmy, an ED Nurse! and Meet Jordan, an ED Nurse!
Do you want to be an Emergency Department Nurse? Comment below!
Trying to get a job? Check out these helpful posts!
- Common New Grad Nursing Interview Questions
- 12 Popular New Grad Nurse Skills for Your Resume
- How to Know if You Should Take the Job
- Landing Your Dream Job Series
Looking into other nursing specialties? Follow along on the Specialty Nursing Series and the Specialty Nurse Interview Series!
- What Makes a Good Med Surg Nurse?
- What Makes a Good ICU Nurse?
- What Makes a Good Peds Nurse?
- What Makes a Good OR Nurse?
- What Makes a Good NICU Nurse?
- What Makes a Good Labor and Delivery Nurse?
- What Makes a Good Psych Nurse?
- What Makes a Good PICU Nurse?
- What Makes a Good Onc Nurse?
- What Makes a Good School Nurse?
- What Makes a Good Home Health Nurse?