Five Emergency Care Careers to Consider

Are you considering a career in emergency care? The responsibilities and level of training you are required to have will depend on a number of factors – from the role you want to play in an emergency room (emergency medical technician, nurse or physician’s assistant) to the region in which you intend to have a career in emergency care (California may have standards that differ from Virginia’s, for example).

Careers in Emergency Care – California to New York and Everywhere in Between

Regardless of the position or location in which you choose to work, every emergency care career has one thing in common – they all require you to make split-second decisions to save lives. Here are five emergency care careers to consider.

1. Emergency Medical Technician

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are the first response for the emergency care system. EMTs are trained to care for patients at the scene of an accident and while transporting them to the hospital under the direction of more highly trained medical personnel. An EMT is responsible for assessing a patient’s condition and managing respiratory, cardiac and trauma emergencies. EMTs are required to complete EMT training.

2. Paramedic

Paramedics play a similar role to EMTs, but have a higher level of training and provide more extensive pre-hospital care. In addition to the base-level responsibilities of EMTs, paramedics can administer medications orally and intravenously, perform endotracheal intubations, read electrocardiograms (EKGs), and use monitors and other equipment.

3. Emergency Room Technician

Emergency Room Technicians perform patient care duties while working under the supervision of nurses and physicians. Tasks and responsibilities include transporting and preparing patients for exams, taking and recording vital signs, and routine clerical and clinical tasks. Emergency Room Technicians usually have EMT training as well as basic life support (BLS) certification.

4. Emergency Room Nurse

While registered nurses (RNs) work in a variety of healthcare environments, nearly 60 percent of nurses work in hospitals, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Emergency room nurses are RNs that specialize in emergency care. RNs treat patients, provide advice and support to patients and their family members, help perform medical procedures, operate medical machinery and administer treatment and medications. In addition to having their nursing license, emergency room nurses are often required to have additional training, such as advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification.

5. Physician’s Assistant

Like RNs, physician’s assistants (PAs) work in a variety of healthcare environments and are able to specialize in certain medical areas, such as emergency medicine. PAs work under the supervision of doctors and surgeons and are trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative healthcare services. PAs are trained to treat minor injuries, perform diagnostic tests, counsel patients, and prescribe certain medications.

Boost Your Emergency Care Career with Health Ed Solutions

Health Ed Solutions provides online, continuing education solutions for ACLS, PALS, BLS and stroke certification. These courses were generated to meet the needs of healthcare professionals. Learn more about stroke training.