Thinking of becoming an A&E nurse? Read this first
We have all seen medical dramas on television. You see the nurses running down corridors. They shout orders and save lives every few minutes. It looks exciting and fast. It also looks very stressful. But is that what real life is like for an emergency room nurse in the UK?
I am not a nurse myself. However, I have looked into what this job involves. I wanted to find out what it really takes to work in Accident and Emergency. It is a very important job. It takes a special kind of person to do it well.
If you are thinking about this career, you need to know the facts. You need to know the good parts and the hard parts. This guide will help you decide if being an A&E nurse is the right choice for you.
What is an A&E nurse?
An A&E nurse works in the Accident and Emergency department of a hospital. In some countries, they call this the emergency room. That is why you might hear the term emergency room nurse.
This is the place people go when they need help straight away. They might have a broken leg. They might have chest pain. They might have been in a car crash. The nurse is often the first person they see.
The nurse has to be ready for anything. You never know who will walk through the door next. It could be a sick child. It could be an older person who has fallen over. It could be someone who has had too much to drink.
What does the job involve?
I learned that the job is very varied. No two days are the same. However, there are some tasks that you will do often.
Triage
This is a fancy word for sorting patients. When people arrive, the nurse has to decide who needs help first. This is a big responsibility. A person who cannot breathe needs help faster than a person with a cut finger. You have to make quick decisions.
Checking vital signs
You will check things like heart rate and blood pressure. You will take temperatures. These checks tell the doctors how sick the patient is. You have to be good at using the machines that measure these things.
Giving medicines
You will give patients pills or injections. You might have to put a drip in someone’s arm. This puts fluid or medicine straight into their blood. You have to be very careful with this. You must check the dose is correct every time.
Caring for wounds
You will clean cuts and grazes. You might have to bandage a wound. You might help a doctor put stitches in. You need to have a strong stomach for this part. You will see blood and messy injuries.
Keeping records
Paperwork is a big part of the job. You have to write down everything you do. You have to record when you gave the medicine. You have to write down how the patient feels. This keeps everyone safe.
How do you become an emergency room nurse?
You cannot just walk in and start working. You need to study first. I found out there are clear steps you must follow in the UK.
Get your qualifications
First, you need good grades at school. You usually need five GCSEs. These should include English, Maths, and a Science subject. You also need A-levels or a similar qualification.
Go to university
You need to do a degree in nursing. This usually takes three years. You will learn about the human body. You will learn how medicines work. You will also learn how to talk to patients. You can find nursing courses on the UCAS website.
Do placements
During your degree, you will not just sit in a classroom. You will work in real hospitals. This is called a placement. It helps you learn the job by doing it. You will work with real nurses and patients.
Register to work
When you finish your degree, you must join a list. This list is kept by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You cannot work as a nurse in the UK if you are not on this list. It proves you are trained and safe to work.
What skills do you need?
I looked at many job descriptions for this role. They all ask for similar things. It is not just about being clever. It is about how you act with people.
You need to be calm
A&E is a noisy place. People might be shouting. Alarms might be ringing. You cannot panic. You have to stay cool. If you panic, the patient will panic too. You need to be the person who keeps everyone else calm.
You need to talk clearly
You have to talk to doctors, other nurses, and patients. You have to explain things simply. A patient might be scared. They might be in pain. You need to tell them what is happening in a way they understand.
You need to be fit
Nurses walk a lot. I read that a nurse can walk several miles in one shift. You will be on your feet for twelve hours at a time. You need comfortable shoes. You also need a strong back because you might have to help move patients.
You need to be good at maths
This surprised me at first. But it makes sense. You have to work out how much medicine to give. If a patient needs a specific amount based on their weight, you have to calculate it. You have to get this right.
The good parts of the job
There are many reasons why people love being an emergency room nurse.
- You save lives. This is the biggest benefit. You help people when they are at their worst. You make them feel better. That must feel amazing.
- You work in a team. You are never alone. You work with doctors, porters, and other nurses. Everyone helps each other. It is like a big family.
- You are never bored. Time goes fast in A&E. You will not be watching the clock. Every hour brings a new challenge.
- You can progress. You can learn new skills. You can become a senior nurse. You can manage a team. There is a clear career path.
The hard parts of the job
I want to be honest with you. It is not all smiles and thank yous. There are tough parts too.
- The shifts are long. A normal shift is twelve hours. You will work days and nights. You will work weekends and Christmas. This can be hard on your family life.
- It is emotional. sometimes patients do not get better. Dealing with sad news is part of the job. That can make you feel sad when you go home.
- Patients can be angry. Sometimes people have to wait a long time. They might get cross with you. Some people might be drunk or aggressive. You have to stay professional even when people are rude.
- It is messy. As I mentioned before, you will deal with blood and other body fluids. It is not a glamorous job.
How much do nurses earn?
In the UK, most nurses work for the NHS. The NHS pays staff based on bands.
When you start as a newly qualified nurse, you are usually in Band 5. According to the NHS Health Careers website, this pays about £28,407 a year to start. As you get more experience, your pay goes up.
If you become a specialist or a manager, you move up to Band 6 or Band 7. These bands pay more money. You can also get extra pay for working in London because it is expensive to live there.
Is this the right job for you?
I have shared a lot of information here. Now you have to think about yourself.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do I like helping people?
- Can I stay calm when things are crazy?
- Do I mind seeing blood?
- Am I happy to work nights and weekends?
If you answered yes to these questions, you might make a great A&E nurse. It is a hard job. But it is also a very special one. Nurses are heroes in comfortable shoes.
If you want to know more, I suggest you look at the Royal College of Nursing website. They have lots of advice for students.
Being an emergency room nurse is more than just a job. It is a career where you truly make a difference. Good luck if you decide to go for it.
