Emergency Medicine Nurse Practitioner (ENP or ACNP) Career
What Do You Do in This Career?
Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENPs) provide emergency and urgent care to people of all ages. They are trained to manage acute illnesses, trauma, chronic unstable illnesses, and to stabilize conditions using a variety of life-saving technology. They also decide where to refer patients for follow-up care. ENPs usually work in emergency rooms, urgent care, or ambulances. They must be able to think fast on their feet to diagnose and correctly treat injuries and illnesses, and also be aware that the most obvious injury might not be the only one, or the most serious one. The job is exciting, mentally and emotionally exhausting, but very rewarding.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: The average salary for ENPs ranges from $58,095 to $100,410 depending on many factors including location, education, and experience. ENPs tend to earn higher salaries because of the unpredictable schedule and rigorous training.
- ENP Requirements: To become an ENP you must be a registered nurse (RN), hold either a master’s or doctorate degree, and pass the National Board certification in acute care.
- Work Environment: ENPs work in emergency care settings such as hospitals, emergency rooms, emergency clinics, and schools and colleges.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect in This Program?
RNs should have at least two years of clinical experience before applying to MSN/ENP programs, and preferably will have some experience in the emergency department. Because you never know what skills will be required in an emergency care situation, ENPs are trained to handle everything from psychiatric management to pediatrics to invasive skills, so they can provide urgent care to any patient.
Programs include coursework in theory and clinical practice. Some offer a semester of total emersion in emergency rooms. Current nurse practitioners may opt to enroll in a Post-Master’s Certificate ENP Degree Plan if they want to specialize in emergency care.
Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
Online nurse practitioner programs have grown in popularity in recent years as more accredited schools have begun offering online alternatives to these degrees. Combining flexibility with the lack of campus visitation required these programs are ideal for working professionals. By clicking on links below, you can request information from each school about its tuition, classes, and programs.
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Georgetown University — Stationed out of Washington DC, Georgetown University is a cultural and social hub and is one of the oldest schools in the nation. The school has two online nursing programs available, an MSN in Family Nursing and an MSN in Midwifery and Women's Health. Georgetown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. |
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Kaplan University — Kaplan University's online presence is almost unmatched, offering over 170 online degrees and programs, including MSN in Nurse Administration, MSN in Nurse Education, and MSN in Nurse Informatics. However, there are also 70 campuses across the country for those interested in a more traditional education. Kaplan is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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University of Phoenix — While it may not be surprising that the University of Phoenix is based in Phoenix, AZ, the school does have over 200 additional locations around the country. Phoenix has more than 200 online programs available, with nursing degrees in Health Education, Health Informatics, and a general track. Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University is an online college focused on technology, business, and healthcare. The school offers several nursing programs like the RN to MSN bridge programs or the MSN in Nursing Informatics. All of these programs require no campus visitation and can be completed online entirely. ASU has an accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council. |
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Capella University — Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Capella University is an online school with over 37000 current students across the nation. Its online programs like MSN in Nurse Educator (Bridge option also available) have one-to-one tutoring, accelerated study, and low student to teacher ratios. Capella holds several accreditations, including The Higher Learning Commission and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. |
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