What are the responsibilities of an ER nurse?
An emergency room (ER) nurse triages arriving patients, starts treatment, monitors their condition and prepares them for admission, transfer or discharge. The pace is unpredictable and the cases range from minor injuries to cardiac arrest.
Core duties
Triage to decide who is seen first, assess vital signs and symptoms, place IV lines, give medication, draw blood, assist with procedures, document and teach discharge instructions. ER nurses also deal with patients in crisis and with families.
Training and certification
An RN license, plus ACLS and trauma courses such as the Emergency Nurses Association’s TNCC. After practice hours, the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing offers the voluntary CEN credential.
Pay and demand
Federal data does not separate ER nurses. Registered nurses earned a median of $97,550 in May 2025, and the BLS projects 5.6% growth from 2025 to 2035.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.