A career as a registered nurse is a promising option. The number of nurses is steadily growing, and there are many different opportunities for those who are licensed as RNs. Trauma nursing is a very exciting and challenging type of nursing. If you can handle pressure and high intensity situations, you may be asking, “How do I become a trauma nurse?”
What’s It Like To Be A Trauma Nurse?
A trauma nurse is a registered nurse that focuses his or her attention on the emergency center of a hospital. Some trauma nurses work full-time at stand alone emergency centers. Trauma nursing, unlike other nursing fields, is concerned with efficient and fast patient care. Often, the first few minutes after an accident can be crucial. Trauma nurses may be exempt from dealing with heavy paperwork and file organization. Their skills and disposition are highly valued by emergency physicians and surgeons. Trauma nurses are also responsible for creating a calm environment amongst worried patients and family members. This calm environment is important because it eliminates chaos from the emergency room in a hospital.
Education Requirements
In order to become a trauma nurse, students must complete three different course pathways. One option is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing at an accredited post-secondary institution. Students who pursue a bachelor’s degree will take courses in liberal arts, social and behavioral sciences, and health. Courses such as microbiology, nutrition, physiology and anatomy are common. You can also become a trauma nurse by participating in an associate’s degree program or a nursing certification course. All of these courses involve a combination of in-class study as well as on-site observation and practice. Registered nurses who hope to become a trauma nurse will likely perform their observation and clinical study in the emergency room of a hospital or an emergency center.
Because the field of nursing is expanding, many academic advisors are suggestion that students pursue a bachelor’s degree rather than a simple certification course. The bachelor’s degree program for nursing students involves more coursework in communication and leadership. For a trauma nurse, these skills can be invaluable in the workplace. If you become a trauma nurse through this avenue, you may also have more opportunities for career advancement.
Salary and Job Hunting
When you become a trauma nurse, you will find that the salary options are very competitive. Trauma nursing is a fast-paced, high-intensity job, and the individuals who have the stamina and the presence of mind to perform their jobs well will find themselves compensated for their skills. Nurses in trauma positions will likely make salaries greater than $60,000 per year. Trauma nurses who are in managerial positions over other trauma nurses may make more than that.
Those who have completed a bachelor’s degree program or an associate’s program in trauma nursing at an accredited institution may be able to find assistance with job placement. Many schools have relationships with community hospitals and emergency centers. These centers for emergency treatment will readily accept new trauma nurses that have completed coursework at a trusted institution. The job scenario for trauma nurses is expected to grow as new technology becomes available in the next ten years.