Emergency Nursing...Do I have to be certified?

Specialties Emergency

Published

I'm really interested in working in the emergency department for my nursing career but do I have to become certified in order to be an ER nurse or does it depend on what the department wants you to have?

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No. You are qualified to sit in for a test to get certifications usually after a year or two working in critical care.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Our ED requires TNCC within a year of hire.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Different ERs require different things. The level one where I used to work required a lot:

BLS

ACLS

ENPC or PALS or APLS

TNCC or BTLS or TNS (trauma nurse specialist - IL-only certification)

CEN (certified emergency nurse) was optional but garnered you an extra $1.00/hour

I now work in a community hospital ER and they require:

BLS

ACLS

and that's it.

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