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Medical professionals are always needed in the field of emergency medicine. Medical emergencies happen 24-7, 365 days a year, and physicians need to be on-hand to treat these cases. If you are interested in this field, it is essential that you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment that involves quick decision-making and prioritizing. Emergency care is a very demanding medical field, but it’s also highly rewarding for those who want to be able to immediately jump in and save lives.
Top 5 Careers in Emergency Medicine
1. Physician’s Assistant: Physician assistants (PAs) work in various healthcare settings, and can further specialize in various medical fields, including emergency care. Under the supervision of physicians and surgeons, PAs provide preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic services for patients.
2. Emergency Room Nurse: Emergency rooms nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who work in hospitals and operate machinery, administer medications, and assist physicians during medical procedures. Emergency room nurses are usually required to be ACLS certified which enables them to provide immediate cardiac support during emergencies.
3. Emergency Medical Technician: EMTs are the first responders to the scene of a medical emergency. They provide immediate care and assistance to patients at the scene of an injury or accident, and then transport the patient to a hospital. EMTs must participate in EMT training to become certified.
4. Paramedic: Paramedics share the same role as EMTs, but they have more advanced levels of training, which allows them to give more advanced pre-hospital care such as endotracheal intubation, EKGs, and IV medications.
5. Emergency Room Technician: This position involves preparing patients for routine examinations as well as clinical and clerical tasks. Emergency room technicians usually participate in EMT training and are BLS certified.
Sub-specializations
The following are some other specializations that emergency care professionals can pursue:
6. Wilderness First Responder: These individuals are trained to handle medical emergencies in remote locations in the wilderness. Wilderness first responders perform many of the same duties as other first responders, like checking a patient’s vital signs and assessing their condition before transportation to a hospital has arrived. Certification as a wilderness first responder is useful for individuals who are interested in outdoor occupations.
If these positions seem a little too intense, you can also consider the urgent care field, which allows medical professionals to treat patients who are experiencing non-fatal medical emergencies. These patients need immediate attention, but do not need to go to an emergency room.
ACLS is required for most careers in emergency medicine, especially for first responders. Medical emergencies require superior levels of training and cardiac support, and ACLS protocols better facilitate this by going beyond basic CPR. Through the use of defibrillation, IV pharmaceuticals, and endotracheal intubation, ACLS significantly increases a patient’s chances for survival.
Sub-specializations
The following are some specializations that emergency care professionals can pursue:
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