Why First Responders Would Make Great Emergency Nurses

First responders are the unsung heroes of crisis situations. Courageous professionals like paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) face danger on a daily basis, making split-second decisions to treat severe injuries and provide life-saving care to people in distress.

But did you know that these skills mirror many of those needed for emergency nursing? Emergency nurses work in a variety of settings where urgent and critical care is required, including hospital emergency departments (EDs) and trauma centers. If you’re a first responder, this fast-paced healthcare profession may be one to consider. Here are five reasons why you may want to explore a career as an emergency nurse:

1. Leveraging Existing Skills

As a first responder, you’ve developed essential skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, patient assessment, communication, trauma care and staying calm amid chaos. These qualities are equally vital in emergency nursing, providing you with a strong foundation for this critical field.

2. Expanded Career Opportunities

Nursing offers diverse career pathways and settings — whether it’s providing critical care in the ED, managing life-saving interventions in the intensive care unit or stepping into leadership roles that help shape healthcare policy. Earning a nursing degree can help prepare you for a broader range of professional opportunities.

3. Growing Demand for Nurses

In 2023, there were more than 3.3 million registered nurse (RN) positions in the U.S., and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects approximately 194,500 RN openings annually through 2033. According to the BLS, employment for registered nurses is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate.¹

4. Managing Work-Life Balance

Unlike first responders, who often face unpredictable and high-risk conditions, emergency nurses typically work in more controlled environments. A career shift to emergency nursing may reduce physical stress while letting you continue to thrive in the fast-paced, adrenaline-filled world of emergency care. Nursing also offers flexible scheduling options, which may make it easier for you to create a work-life balance that suits your needs.

5. Continued Career Satisfaction

Most people become first responders out of a desire to help others. Emergency nursing lets you continue making a meaningful difference in people’s lives, contributing to life-saving interventions in different ways and in different environments. “Helping people when they’re having their worst day is definitely something I enjoy and something Chamberlain University was able to help prepare me for,” says Brett Dodd, RN, MBA, MSN. Dodd was a paramedic before becoming an RN. Early in his nursing career, he continued providing critical care as an ED trauma nurse and later as a flight nurse.

Preparing for a Nursing Career

To become an RN, you must complete an accredited nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to obtain licensure.

Nursing degree options include:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a two-year program that provides the basic skills needed to become an RN.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), typically a three-year nursing program that offers a more comprehensive education and which the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recommends as the minimum education requirement for nursing practice.²

When choosing a nursing school, consider programs that offer special features that may help set you apart from other candidates for emergency nurse positions. Chamberlain University’s Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.™ program is one of those features.

This program, available to third-year BSN students at no additional tuition cost, includes a 16-week online course and an eight-week on-site clinical experience in emergency nursing. Chamberlain developed the curriculum with the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).

“Historically, emergency department leaders do not hire new nursing graduates. One reason is that most schools do not provide courses or training tailored to the ED specialty. New nurses need several months to get oriented and to be able to practice independently. With [Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.™], Chamberlain students can complete the didactic course as well as participate in a clinical practicum within the ED setting, all prior to completing their degree,” explained Chamberlain University President Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAAN. “Thanks to innovative partners like ENA, we can properly train the next generation of emergency nurses and work toward combating the nursing shortage many healthcare systems face.”

Partner With Chamberlain for Your BSN

If you want to take your career as a first responder in a new direction, consider earning Chamberlain’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This nursing program is designed to enhance skills and knowledge you can apply in a variety of healthcare settings, including emergency departments. Some students complete their BSN program in as few as three years.

Chamberlain’s BSN degree program’s advantages include:

• Flexible options: Students can choose from online or campus hybrid learning The hybrid learning model lets you combine in-person classes with online coursework. The fully online option allows you to study anywhere you have an internet connection, giving you more flexibility to balance your studies with your personal and professional life.
• Focused learning: Chamberlain’s Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.™ program for third-year students lets you build expertise in emergency nursing, home health nursing, nephrology nursing, oncology nursing or perioperative nursing.
• Real-world experiences: The BSN degree program includes practical training in the SIMCARE CENTER™, a state-of-the-art simulated clinical environment where you can practice and refine your skills in a controlled setting. As you progress, you’ll participate in a clinical rotation in a healthcare setting such as a hospital, long-term care facility or community health agency.
• Robust support: As a Chamberlain nursing student, you’ll have the support of faculty and professional and peer nurse tutors. There’s NCLEX prep available and 24/7 access to the Center for Academic Success.
• Financial Support: At Chamberlain, more than 90% of students receive some form of financial assistance. Various grant opportunities and other financial aid options are available to those who apply and qualify to help you manage the cost of your education.

If you’re considering a career in emergency nursing, a Chamberlain Enrollment Representative can help you start paving the way to your nursing goals. Become part of the largest BSN program in the United States and join a community dedicated to nursing excellence.

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 130 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.

¹Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm

²Source: www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/position-statements-white-papers/baccalaureate-degree-in-nursing-as-a-minimal-preparation

Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation provides assurance to the public and to prospective students that standards of quality have been met. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, ccneaccreditation.org.

Certified to operate by SCHEV.

Unresolved complaints may be reported to the Illinois Board of Higher Education through the online complaint system at http://complaints.ibhe.org or by mail to 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701-13774.

©2025 Chamberlain University LLC. All rights reserved.

By Chamberlain University