How to Become an Emergency Room Nurse

By Scott Winy

If you're looking to get your nursing certification then congratulations are obviously in order! Nursing is one of the most exciting and rewarding professions there is, and you cannot say enough about how interesting the day of a nurse is no matter his or her specialty and setting. And while getting a certification is not difficult by any means, there are some things you might want to consider when you pursue yours. You can make it much easier on yourself if you understand a few basic tips.

Emergency Nurses have to maintain a vast knowledge of many areas of patient care including obstetrics, geriatrics, gynecology, cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, and general medicine. They encounter many different types of injuries and illnesses every day, handling critical and non emergency issues. Acquiring a CEN certification is not a requirement for employment at a majority of hospitals, so nurses that pursue and obtain this certification are showing their employers or perspective employers that they are overachievers.

Qualifying for the exam only requires you to be a RN with a current unrestricted license while it is recommended to have at least 2 years of emergency room experience, it's not required. The exam fee is for the initial first test is $360 with a discount for ENA members for only $220. Renewal tests are considerably less at $190 and 320. The exams are offered at special testing centers, you must sign up for your exam by phone or internet, a 3 hour period is provided for completing the exam.

It's good to note that you can often get a nursing certification online. This is good for nurses that are already working and who don't have a regular schedule during which they can visit a classroom. And really, what nurse does have a regular schedule in which he or she can fit visits to a classroom or lab?

If you are considering becoming an ER nurse, you should first think about whether you have the personal traits that are required to fulfill the job duties. You will need to be versatile enough to treat practically any kind of patient and tough enough to handle traumatic situations where life threatening illnesses, injuries, overdoses and traumas are involved. You will also need the skills to handle all sorts of equipment and work alongside doctors in all capacities from diagnosing and treating illnesses to administering medicine to recording medical histories.

If you're wondering about being qualified for a nursing certification, keep in mind that qualifications will probably vary according to the specialty you choose. But chances are if you're already a nurse then you're qualified! The school you choose can explain in detail the experiences and skills you must have, but remember that they're also there to teach you so don't assume you need to know everything already when reaching out for your certification. As a matter of fact, since there are some 200 specialties and subspecialties for nursing, your biggest problem may simply be finding which one you want to choose!

About the Author:

Now go and visit for more details here : CEN Practice Test and CFP Practice Test