Questions for ER Nurses

Trauma Columnist · Dec 8, 2005

What kind of education is required to become an ER nurse?

Hi Selene - will try to answer your questions. In order to become an ER nurse, you need to be an RN although some hospitals do hire LPNs for the ER.

What is the average salary for an ER nurse? This varies tremendously from one part of the country to the next. Here in central IL, new RN grads start at $17.80.

What kind of hours do they work? 24/7

Would you recommend it? Yes, indeed - I love the ER.

Altra, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2005

What kind of education is required to become an ER nurse?
Hi Selene - will try to answer your questions. In order to become an ER nurse, you need to be an RN although some hospitals do hire LPNs for the ER.
What is the average salary for an ER nurse? This varies tremendously from one part of the country to the next. Here in central IL, new RN grads start at $17.80.
What kind of hours do they work? 24/7
Would you recommend it? Yes, indeed - I love the ER.

Ditto everything TraumaRUs said ... I love the ER too! :)

At least in my area, ER nurses are not typically on any different pay scale from other hospital RNs - check w/hospitals in your area & see what they are paying new grad nurses. Good luck to you. :)

xxlilkacixx · Dec 8, 2005

The ER seems like an exciting part of the hospital to work in, but I always wondered how much follow through you get from your patients? I mean, once you send them to the ICU or to surgery or to a room do you ever hear what happened to them?

selene · Dec 13, 2005

:) thank u very much..

very helpful

student4ever · Dec 13, 2005

The ER seems like an exciting part of the hospital to work in, but I always wondered how much follow through you get from your patients? I mean, once you send them to the ICU or to surgery or to a room do you ever hear what happened to them?

Not often, though some family members will stop by and tell you how they're doing. Especially for us, since we're not a trauma facility, we stabilize trauma pt. and they're out the door, over the mountain to the nearest level I trauma center. We rarely find out if they lived or died. However, living in a medium/sized town, there are often pts that I helped take care of who recognize me in the grocery store/walmart/wherever and come up to say thank you, and to tell me they feel much better now! But most of the time, I'm glad I don't know what happens to my pts after they leave my care. I like it that I don't have time to get really really attached to my patients, it gives me a clearer head about the best care to give. And if they die, then I shed a few tears over it, say a prayer for them, and go one. There's always someone else needing my time, energy and compassionate care.