How Do I Become an Emergency Department Manager?

Emergency department managers are professionals who lead the operations of hospital areas that cater to patients who suffer from acute illnesses and traumatic injuries that demand immediate attention. These individuals must have completed four years of post-secondary training. They also need to have gained practical real-world experience before being eligible to assume supervisory medical roles.

A person who wishes to become an emergency department manager should consider completing a four-year bachelor’s degree program in an aspect of the healthcare field, such as nursing. If you want to enroll in this type of degree program, you need to submit a high school diploma or the equivalent certification. Schools additionally require you to provide your high school transcript along with results from standardized tests. You also have to complete your potential school’s enrollment application before you can begin training to become an emergency department manager.

While in your medical training program, you must successfully complete a wide range of patient care courses. For instance, you need to study anatomy and physiology, which address the various parts of the human body and how they interact. You also should learn how to manage patient data effectively and correctly complete health assessments of patients. Nutrition classes will teach you how to best feed victims of illnesses and injuries. Even a human resource management class is a valuable part of a nursing program if you want to become an emergency department manager because these types of professionals have to recruit, hire, and train emergency room staff.

As part of a four-year program in nursing, you must complete clinical assignments as well. These prepare you to become an emergency department manager in that you acquire hands-on experience at sites such as emergency rooms and ambulatory clinics. You should learn how to treat patients as well as educate them about their physical conditions. You then need to gain multiple years of experience as a nurse before employers will consider you for a management role in an emergency department.

Becoming a leader in an emergency room additionally might require industry licensure and/or certification. You need to complete testing requirements to earn a license as a nurse if this is required to practice in your area. A person who desires to become an emergency department manager additionally can pursue voluntary certifications through associations in the emergency and life support industry, which can increase his or her employment opportunities in this field.