The Emergency Nurses Association is a national organization for nurses who specialize in emergency room care. There are many state chapters of the organization as well that are active in pursuing the overall goals of the national organization. The ENA is straightforward when, in listing its goals among the first is “to be the definitive authority on emergency nursing.”
Other items in their statement of purpose include defining the standards of excellence for emergency nursing; to provide continuing education in order to maintain excellence; to be the resource for “emergency nursing practice, professionalism, education, research, and consultation;” and to affirm the ANA (American Nurses Association) code of ethics for nursing.
Activities and Benefits of the ENA
The ENA has a certification program that includes exams and certification for a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN); a Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN); and a Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN). You need only be an RN with an active license to sit for any of these exams, although it is recommended that you have two years of experience in the field addressed by the exam.
The Association has a year-round education program that consists of seminars held in multiple locations throughout the country as well as web-based courses that can be taken from any location. Topics include such matters as development in triage techniques; newborn and pediatric emergencies; a course in sedation and so forth. The annual education seminar and course schedule can be found at: http://www.ena.org/education/continuing/schedule.asp.
In addition, the ENA has three concentrated courses that they offer on an ongoing basis which are central to the practice of emergency nursing. Those are
TNCC - Trauma Nursing Core Course
Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing
Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course
These courses are offered on a periodic basis throughout the country, often under the auspices of the state chapters of the Emergency Nurses Association. To learn about the organization in your state and see a schedule of these course offerings locally, visit: http://www.ena.org/chapters/.
The ENA also has a health insurance plan that is available to members, along with other personal benefits. Membership in the national organization also gains you membership in the state chapter. The ENA publishes a newsletter and provides periodic updates on issues such as the nursing shortage and pay scales on their national website.
The Emergency Nurses Association and Advocacy
The ENA takes an active role in monitoring legislative activity that may impact health care in general and emergency care in particular. Their activism extends to the state level as well, and they encourage members to participate in contacting legislators, etc. concerning topical issues both at the state and national level. Their web site has a directory for its national activities and a directory as well for legislators and media contacts by state. You can register with the organization for weekly email updates on upcoming votes and on the activities of the ENA’s representatives in Washington.
