Emergency Room Nursing Certification – Positive Impacts
Hiring managers appreciate adaptability coupled with state-of-the-art clinical skills. Becoming a Certified Emergency Nurse is always a plus.
Fast and accurate decision-making is vital for nurses working in hospital Emergency Rooms. However, ER nursing also
requires adaptability to change. The daily volume of ER-arriving patients – as well as treatment needs – can vary
tremendously. Hiring managers always appreciate adaptability coupled with state-of-the-art clinical skills, so being a
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) is a good idea. Furthermore, this certification (which is solely granted by the
Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing ) is typically necessary if you wish to join the
permanent staff at a teaching hospital ER.
What Makes an Outstanding ER Travel Nurse?
Critical thinking and good communication are two of the personal qualities associated with nurses considered “experts”
in ER triage nursing, according to the Journal of Emergency Nursing. Other
qualities noted were assessment abilities and intuition. Many administrators feel that the ability to function under
pressure is even more important for ER nurses than those in other specialties. Meanwhile, a
medical research article in 2020 focused on resilience as an
essential quality of ER nurses. Though there is no such thing as an "easy" ER shift, the study did note that less
resilience may be required of E.R. clinicians working long-term on the night shift.
How Can You Obtain Certification as an Emergency Nurse?
You'll need to pass the three-hour CEN exam containing 175 questions. Five of the clinical areas covered by the exam
questions are:
Nurses seeking to take the CEN exam must possess current RN licensure. Although two years of emergency nursing
experience is recommended, it is not required to receive CEN certification.
Job Outlook for Emergency Room Nurses
According to career site Zippia.com, Emergency Department nurse demand is expected to grow 6% from 2018 to 2028. This
coincides with BLS numbers that predict that RN employment overall will grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than
the average for all occupations.
Four Benefits of Holding BCEN Certification
Emergency Care and Travel Nursing
As always, the nursing shortage across the US is continual. Whether due to nurses aging out of the workforce,
higher-than-normal patient census, or general burnout among full-time staff, travel nurses have been enlisted to cope
with the situation. Obtaining a BCEN certificate can improve your options for placement as a travel nurse – and improve
your eligibility for the highest-paying positions in your location of choice.
- Cardiovascular emergencies
- Genitourinary, gynecological, and obstetrical emergencies
- Gastrointestinal (GI) emergencies
- Psychosocial and medical emergencies
- Orthopedic and trauma (wound) emergencies
- Your certification indicates to employers that you have determination, time management skills, and a desire to advance in your career. Certification can also facilitate transfer from other nursing units to work in an emergency setting.
- RNs with less than three years of experience in the nursing field can be better-positioned to be candidates for an open nursing position if they earn this certification.
- A CEN on your resume can boost your chances of advancement to a supervisory role.
- Travel nurses seeking a permanent, full-time position may be at an advantage in acquiring a position in a hospital or outpatient surgical setting. Your certification will be highlighted on your submission profile -- so that hiring managers won't miss it.
ER Nurse Salaries and Job Descriptions
Last Modified On: Jan 24, 2022
The next stop on your travel journey awaits.
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