ENA Statement on Nurse Practitioners in the ED

ENA continues to fully support APRNs and their ability to work in the emergency department in accordance with their scope of practice as defined by national standards and state laws.

Advance practice nurses play a critical role on emergency care teams as established and valued contributors to the delivery of high-quality patient care. APRNs undertake rigorous education and clinical training through nationally accredited graduate programs and must pass national board certification exams.

ENA has concerns about the study’s methodology and the resulting implication that minimizes the important role APRNs play in patient care and the benefits they bring to the ED. Amid a nurse staffing crisis and the significant pressures being put on emergency departments during the so-called “tridemic,” today’s focus should be on strengthening the interprofessional approach to health care that ensures the best care for all patients in the ED.

– ENA President Jennifer Schmitz, MSN, EMT-P, CEN, CPEN, CNML, FNP-C, NE-BC