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An ENP is a board-certified advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who treats patients of all ages in emergency departments (EDs) or urgent care facilities in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team. ENPs practice in community EDs, trauma centers, critical access hospitals, and urgent care clinics. These practice settings require ENPs to work long hours — including night shifts, weekends, and holidays — and to be on call.

Since the majority of patients who are seen in EDs are treated and discharged with minor health problems, ENPs must be prepared to provide primary care services, including managing patients with chronic disease conditions, caring for women with obstetric and gynecological problems, and caring for infants and young children, who make up a significant percentage of all ED patients. However, ENPs must also be prepared to initiate care for patients with urgent, higher acuity illnesses, traumas, and injuries and to provide acute resuscitation and stabilization of patients with life-threatening emergencies.

Most ENPs are family nurse practitioners (FNPs) who obtain additional emergency specialty education either through the completion of an academic or post-graduate fellowship program or through on-the-job training and continuing education (CE). Nurses interested in pursuing ENP preparation and board certification must first obtain certification as an FNP. Then, you can select from a growing number of academic and post-graduate ENP specialty training programs.

While, like all FNPs, ENPs are prepared to provide primary care services — such as educating patients, managing acute and chronic diseases, and prescribing treatments — ENPs must also understand how to recognize and quickly manage complex patient needs. The pace of care translates to ENPs typically seeing a higher number of patients per shift and prescribing a greater number of medications. ENPs must also be masters at multitasking, prioritization, and working within a care team.