ENA, Chamberlain University Collaborate on ED-specific Nursing Elective

Emergency “Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.” course gives students better understanding of unique emergency practice

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (March 13, 2024) – The Emergency Nurses Association and Adtalem Global Education have partnered to offer Chamberlain University Bachelor of Science in nursing students a free course that provides an in-depth introduction to emergency nursing.

The class is a part of the institution’s “Practice Ready. Specialty Focused.” initiative, which acquaints pre-licensure students with the various health care specialties available through hands-on experiences with practicing nurses. Funded by a grant from the American Nurses Foundation, the PRSF program is part of Adtalem’s dedicated efforts to address the ongoing nursing shortage in the country.

ENA and Chamberlain University collaborated to develop the 16-week Introduction to Emergency Nursing class, which provides students with unique learning experiences and allows them to explore this nursing specialty. The course includes an eight-week emergency department clinical practicum to ensure they have real-world opportunities to build up their clinical judgement and better understand the skillset required for a career in emergency nursing. The course is currently offered online and at six Chamberlain campuses in Illinois, Louisiana, Georgia and Virginia, and it includes a one-year ENA membership.

“This course is designed to be practice-ready and specialty-ready. By completing the course and clinicals, Chamberlain nursing students can acquire a realistic view and an understanding of the skills and the working environment that are specific to the ED,” said ENA President Chris Dellinger, MBA, BSN, RN, FAEN. “We commend Chamberlain University for recognizing the unique needs of emergency nurses and seizing an opportunity to introduce more people to the specialty early in their careers.”

“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 PRSF, 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 Karen Cox, PhD, RN, FACHE, FAAN, president of Chamberlain University. “Thanks to innovative partners like ENA, we can properly train the next generation of emergency nurses and work toward combatting the nursing shortage many health care systems face.”