Emergency rooms (ER) have been one of the essential areas of care. Working in an emergency room can be a nerve-wracking job, but it can also be highly gratifying.
Numerous TV shows, documentaries, and films are based on the events around and in the ER. Whether they are presented in a highly dramatized way – none of it feels exaggerated because emergency rooms can be chaos to deal with in reality.
Those who work in emergency rooms never face a dull moment. There is always a diverse load of patients with a wide range of medical histories and complaints. If you want to work in a fast-paced environment, ER may be the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you prefer to build bonds with patients and see positive results in the steadiness of care, the ER sector might not be the best fit for you.
Based on your skills, there is a massive range of positions available for those seeking employment in the ER sector of healthcare. Here, we will shed light on some of the most lucrative and fantastic career options in the emergency room.
- Emergency Medical Technicians
Emergency medical technicians, EMTs, are devoted to transporting trauma patients and other patients to the emergency room from the ambulances. If need be, EMTs also alleviate severely injured patients.
Furthermore, advanced training for the emergency department is required for candidates to perform well as medical technicians. Other than that, a would-be EMT needs to have a high school diploma. Community colleges and vocational schools are both decent places to acquire EMT education. An EMT can proceed through three stages of training programs: EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediary, and EMT-Paramedic. All candidates interested in becoming emergency medical technicians must fulfill a licensing exam to start their medical practice.
When it comes to job satisfaction, the overall employment outlook for medical technicians in the ER is supremely stable. According to a reliable estimate, job openings for emergency medical technicians are likely to increase by 16% by 2026. EMTs earn a total income of $37,60 per year.
- Emergency Room Nurse
Trained nurses perform the majority of the work in emergency rooms. ER nurses are responsible for mandatory care in a fast-paced, busy environment. Additionally, they distribute medication to patients and keep track of medical records. Nurses also assist doctors in the management and diagnosis of patients during triage. They must know how to cater to patients who suffer from severe trauma, such as spinal or head injuries, without further damaging them.
Candidates who want to step into this profession must earn either a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree in registered nursing. Upon completion of the graduation program, registered nurses must enroll in a licensing exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and pass it. The annual pay of an ER nurse is
$95,375. The nursing profession is likely to grow in the following years, so the number of job openings for ER nurses will be plenty.
- Radiology Technicians
Radio technicians are physicians’ right-hand-men. They produce images of the body that allow physicians to diagnose and cure medical conditions that would otherwise be challenging to document.
Technicians use sophisticated equipment, such as mammography, X-ray, positron emission tomography (PET), and computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan devices. In addition, these experts guide patients through their respective treatments ensuring quality and calming patient concerns and anxieties.
Furthermore, radiology technicians need to have either a certificate, a four-year bachelor’s degree, or a two-year associate’s degree. As of 2019, the average annual salary for radiology technicians was $63,120. However, with a sudden earning increase of 10%, the income of these experts has been over $89,769.
- Emergency Physicians
When it comes to emergency physicians, these medical doctors have superior training in handling emergent medical situations.
To be an emergency physician, candidates must have a medical school certificate, followed by a fellowship or residency training in emergency medicine. After that, they are board-certified by ABEM, the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
In most cases, emergency medicine physicians function in the ER department of a hospital. Their shifts range from 9-12 hours, and they are allowed to work anywhere between 9 to 20 shifts every month. The level of positioning relies on the hospital. For instance, a physician working in a smaller hospital might deal with minor emergencies. In contrast, an emergency physician at a Level 1 Trauma hospital might deal with severe trauma cases. Moreover, the average salary of an emergency physician is $197,700 – very promising!
- Certified Nursing Assistant
A certified nursing assistant works under the supervision of a registered nurse, offering nursing care to those in need. CNAs generally assist with dressing, bathroom visits, bathing, eating, and oral care (activities of daily living) to patients who are disabled or simply unable to complete these tasks by themselves.
In the ER, CNAs play a critical role in providing daily living assistance with a wide range of responsibilities, including assisting with CPR and resuscitations, splinting injuries, and aiding physicians during procedures.
When it comes to educational requirements, CNAs need only a high school certificate or GED. These assistants earn an average income of 12$/per hour, with the potential to earn up to 30$/per hour with a significant level of responsibility and experience.
There you have it – a list of all the potential options for working in emergency rooms. Regardless of what career path you choose, working in the ER means making a difference in the universe. Besides, the healthcare industry is overflowing with opportunities for aspiring candidates, meaning that any profession in this sector is an unwavering choice. So if you thrive under pressure and appreciate a brisk environment, perhaps functioning in the emergency room is the right choice for you. We wish you a streak of good luck.
