HELP! Process of becoming an ER Nurse?

Specialties Emergency

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  1. How "worth it" is being an ER nurse? (on a scale of 1-10)

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Hey everyone,

This might sound weird, but I'm a junior in highschool, and I've been really interested in Emergency Medicine since I was 8 years old. I've recently decided that I would like to follow the path in college to becoming an ER nurse (or maybe something else, but something specialized). Here are my questions:

1. How many years total does it take to become a nurse? I've done lots of research online and I still don't really get it. I know that you need to get either a BSN or an ASN, and then take some sort of test (not really sure)? After that, do you need the 2-4 years of Nursing School?

2. Is Nursing School like Medical School (really expensive and hard to get into)? What were your experiences with that? And how smart do you have to be? Me and my family are not very well-off, and even though I'm pretty smart I doubt I could get enough in scholarships to pay off that much in loans (I actually don't want to take in any at all). So is it possible to become an ER nurse and graduate without debt?

3. What's the difference between a nursing practitioner and an ER nurse? The amount of schooling?

4. Do nurses have to go through "residency" like physicians?

5. What's it like being an ER Nurse (from personal experience)?! I've heard that ER nurses connect more with the patients than the physicians. Is that true?

Sorry if this is really long or if it's already been answered, and thanks so much for your time!

-Mimi

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Hey everyone,

This might sound weird, but I'm a junior in highschool, and I've been really interested in Emergency Medicine since I was 8 years old. I've recently decided that I would like to follow the path in college to becoming an ER nurse (or maybe something else, but something specialized). Here are my questions:

1. How many years total does it take to become a nurse? I've done lots of research online and I still don't really get it. I know that you need to get either a BSN or an ASN, and then take some sort of test (not really sure)? After that, do you need the 2-4 years of Nursing School?

Nursing school is the BSN or ADN program that you would get through either a nursing school, community college, or university. Unlike medical school, an undergraduate degree is not required to attend nursing school. The amount of time depends on the type of program you choose: ADN is considered a 2 year degree, but often requires a year of prerequisites prior to beginning the program. A BSN is the traditional 4-year college degree. There are other options out there, including accelerated programs for those already holding a degree and direct entry masters programs.

2. Is Nursing School like Medical School (really expensive and hard to get into)? What were your experiences with that? And how smart do you have to be? Me and my family are not very well-off, and even though I'm pretty smart I doubt I could get enough in scholarships to pay off that much in loans (I actually don't want to take in any at all). So is it possible to become an ER nurse and graduate without debt?

The cost of nursing school depends on the program you choose. There are those that are affordable and those with astronomical costs. Whether you can graduate without debt depends on whether you get scholarships, the cost of the program you choose, and how much you have saved up for school. Also, you won't graduate as an ER nurse; you'll graduate with a general nursing degree and can then apply for jobs in the specialty you want. Just be aware that currently you may not get your first choice out of school.

3. What's the difference between a nursing practitioner and an ER nurse? The amount of schooling?

An ER nurse holds a registered nurse license and is held to that scope of practice. A nurse practitioner has additional schooling, a separate licensure exam, and an expanded scope of practice.

4. Do nurses have to go through "residency" like physicians?

Have to? No, although there are a few hospitals who will offer nursing residencies for new grads.

5. What's it like being an ER Nurse (from personal experience)?! I've heard that ER nurses connect more with the patients than the physicians. Is that true?

Sorry if this is really long or if it's already been answered, and thanks so much for your time!

-Mimi

That I can't help you with as I'm an OR nurse.

One of your resources that you should use is your guidance counselor at school. He or she can help you research local schools and job outlook.

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How many years total does it take to become a nurse?
Somewhere between 2 and 6 years depending on the path which you take.

Generally, you go to nursing school to earn a BS or an AS... you may have to take a few prerequisite classes before you start nursing school. At the conclusion of nursing school, you take a licensing exam known as the NCLEX.

Is Nursing School like Medical School (really expensive and hard to get into)?
Some nursing programs are fantastically expensive but the ones through the community colleges and the public universities are nothing like the cost of medical school. The competition to get into nursing school is nothing like the competition to get into medical school.
What were your experiences with that?
I applied to one school and got in on my first try.
And how smart do you have to be?
You have to be reasonably bright but nursing school doesn't require anything exceptional and there are plenty of courses of study which are much more difficult.
So is it possible to become an ER nurse and graduate without debt?
No debt? It's possible but not likely. Manageable debt? Very likely.

What's the difference between a nursing practitioner and an ER nurse?
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses that have some of the authority as some physicians. They typically have privileges to order and interpret tests and treatments and to prescribe medications. Their privileges are granted by each state and vary widely.
The amount of schooling?
NPs typically have another 2-4 years of schooling on top of basic nursing education.

Do nurses have to go through "residency" like physicians?
No. There are some hospitals that have 'residency' programs for nurses but they are nothing like physician residencies in terms of hours, rigor, or length.

What's it like being an ER Nurse (from personal experience)?!
It depends a lot on where you work. I've been at the tiniest of rural hospitals as well as at a large academic trauma center. Overall, ER nursing is interesting and varied... you deal with all kinds of people... young/old, educated/illiterate, rich/poor, clean/dirty, nice/jerk, etc... and all kinds of conditions... toe fungus to multiple gunshot wounds... you see... anything you can imagine... eyeballs popped out, brain matter, bones... you give all kinds of medications for all kinds of things...

And you work very closely with physicians with whom you're generally on a first-name basis.

If you work with residents (doctors-in-training), you get a lot of, "what do you think we should do?"

I've heard that ER nurses connect more with the patients than the physicians. Is that true?
Sure. We spend a lot more time with the patients than do the docs. Often, I'd prefer to connect a whole lot less with the patients.
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5. What's it like being an ER Nurse (from personal experience)?! I've heard that ER nurses connect more with the patients than the physicians. Is that true?

It's like being on a rollercoaster. Such an erratic uncontrolled environment, your always going through high's and low's due to always getting different patients with different issues and different personalities.

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I think how long it takes to become a nurse varies on the person. I am currently in a Nursing program, but it took me 4 years of pre-req courses to get there. There are so many different routes to getting a degree---so it is a little different for everyone. BSN is typically 4 years. ADN is typically also 4 years (from what I have seen) and then to get a BSN is another 2.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

Hey everyone,

This might sound weird, but I'm a junior in highschool, and I've been really interested in Emergency Medicine since I was 8 years old. I've recently decided that I would like to follow the path in college to becoming an ER nurse (or maybe something else, but something specialized).

Here are my questions:
1. How many years total does it take to become a nurse? I've done lots of research online and I still don't really get it. I know that you need to get either a BSN or an ASN, and then take some sort of test (not really sure)? After that, do you need the 2-4 years of Nursing School?

There are several entry levels in nursing for a RN. You can go to a diploma program that is 3 years typically and associated with a hospital. These programs are rare and are being phased out.

There is the ADN/ASN entry which is an associate degree. These programs are typically community college based or technical school based and usually take 3 years to finish with one year of prerequisites like chemistry, A&P 1 and 2, nutrition. and math/pharmacology.

There is the BSN entry which is university based and typically take 4 years once admitted.

Nursing is very competitive these days are require a high GPA of at LEAST 3.0 with high SAT/ACT or other entry exam tests such as the TEAS.

All three programs will allow you to be eligible to sit for the licensing exam called the NCLEX which you MUST pass in order to receive a license to work as a RN

2. Is Nursing School like Medical School (really expensive and hard to get into)? What were your experiences with that? And how smart do you have to be? Me and my family are not very well-off, and even though I'm pretty smart I doubt I could get enough in scholarships to pay off that much in loans (I actually don't want to take in any at all). So is it possible to become an ER nurse and graduate without debt?
very few students graduate without student loans these days The actual cost varies from school to school and program to program. ADN programs are typicality cheaper however in today's market ADN grads are finding it increasingly more difficult to find a position without a BSN...depending on where you live in the country. It will be near impossible to graduate without debt unless your parents can afford to help you pay for shcool.

Once you are an RN you may specialize. The US nursing programs are generalist in nature and you specialize after graduation...however it is very difficult to get hired in a specialty right out of school.

3. What's the difference between a nursing practitioner and an ER nurse? The amount of schooling?
A ER nurse is a registered nurse with special training after you are licensed as a RN to be a ER nurse. A nurse practitioner is an additional schooling post graduation of another 3-4 years depending on the program if it is MSN or DNP. There is a move to make all NP programs doctorate programs however this hasn't occurred yet.
4. Do nurses have to go through "residency" like physicians?
Some hospitals offer these programs but not all...the ones in my area are only taking BSN prepared grads for these programs.
5. What's it like being an ER Nurse (from personal experience)?! I've heard that ER nurses connect more with the patients than the physicians. Is that true?
What do you mean by connect with patients....the ER is a fast paced environment of partially controlled chaos. You have direct patient contact and close relationships with the MD's but close patient contact and connecting with them is difficult due to the fast pace of the environment.

It is NOT what you see on TV.

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