ER RN

[kardz33]

Situation: ER RN for 1 year.

Background: BSN in 8 weeks. Have the obvious certs; BLS/ACLS/PALS/TNCC

Question: I'm wondering about clinical skills certifications that may fall under specialty categories such as PICC line insertion. I have no idea about PICC line certification, where to get it, best place to go for that skill and education, etc.

So...I am wondering if I can get a recommendation on that and solicit any thoughts.

Secondarily, it makes me wonder...are there any other specialty skills certifications I can obtain? I'm aware of the national certs, CCRN, PCCN, etc...but i'm curious if there is anything out there specifically on clinical procedures RNs can do like that of PICC insertion? Or is that it?

Thanks in advance,

R

[Kareegasee]

I can't speak from an ED standpoint, which I know is what you asked for, but ICU can offer several specialties that may interest you? Obviously, 12 hours spent almost exclusively with 1-2 patients in the ICU is longer than any direct interaction that ED RNs get to have (which is the whole point, right?) Emergency care focuses on primary assessment, ABCs, triage.. But 12 hours with the same patients means we really have to know the nitty gritty details.. so we develop specialties of our choosing. Stroke patients, CRRT, OB patients, ECMO, LVADs, etc. Many of these patients require 1:1 care. If you really want to get your hands dirty, ICU may be something to consider. I'm sure with a solid year of experience in the ED, you could transfer without a problem. :) Hope you find what you're looking for!

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Hi,

In the ER you typically would not need to know how to insert a PICC line, as most hospitals would not opt to do that in the ER. Patient's would either go to radiology to have it placed or would have it placed by a PICC nurse. Most hospitals would not invest the time or money for an ER nurse to become PICC trained since most ER are way to busy to sacrifice a staff nurse to do this procedure on a regular basis. Also you have to do so many a month to retain that certification and you also have to be watched doing several to become certified, so it really isn't something you can do on your own.

I think you have all the main certs. You can become a CEN, but i believe you have to be an ER nurse for at least two years. A lot of hospitals will refund you the money you paid to take the test as long as you pass.

You can also do ENPC, STABLE, and PEARS, which are all pediatric courses.

Annie