ENA is dedicated to supporting all emergency advanced practice nurses including nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. Since 2014, the Advanced Practice Advisory Council has provided ENA with guidance on key topics specific to advanced practice and has developed a variety of resources needed to support its growing APRN members.
ENA Education for APRNs
- Procedural Sedation and Analgesia for the Advanced Practice Clinician: This course will prepare the Advanced Practice Clinician to safely provide procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency care environment. It includes didactic content with current definitions, pharmacologic interventions and guidelines. Learn more about this course.
- Wound Repair Techniques: This virtual course focuses on skin anatomy and wound closure. The course includes a series of suturing technique videos for hands-on practice. Free for ENA members! Learn more about this course.
Practice Resources
2024 Clinical Nurse Specialist Competencies in the Emergency Care Setting
This practice resource illustrates the competencies for the clinical nurse specialist practicing in emergency care. The needs of health care professionals and patients including individuals, families and populations across the lifespan are emphasized. There are three areas of CNS practice in the emergency care setting that are important and frequently performed without the CNS being fully credentialed or practicing to the full scope of their education and licenses due to professional, legislative and environmental limitations. View the competencies here.
2021 Emergency Nurse Practitioner Competencies
The American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners and the Emergency Nurses Association are pleased to announce the 2021 Emergency Nurse Practitioner Competencies are available.
This document represents the integration of previously published competencies from AAENP (2018) and ENA (2019). This integration was led by members of the Emergency Nurse Practitioner Competencies Work Group which included representatives from AAENP and ENA, and some individuals who worked on the most recent sets of competencies from each organization. The workgroup utilized an external validation process for review and revision of these competencies which are aligned with other national initiatives and documents that shape and define nurse practitioner curricular development. In addition to supporting emergency nurse practitioner academic preparation, the resulting unified set of ENP competencies supports current regulatory frameworks, credentialing and insurer challenges.
ENA Practice Resource Library
The ENA Practice Resource Library includes the following advanced practice resources:
- APRN Position Statement
- Competencies for nurse practitioners in emergency care
- Competencies for clinical nurse specialists in emergency care
- Scope and standards (includes APRNs)
Featured APAC Member
ENA shines the spotlight on APAC members.
Click here to get to know members through the latest spotlights
Meet the Committee Members
- Darleen Williams, DNP, APRN, CNS, EMT-P, CEN, CCNS, 2025 Chairperson
- Teresa Dodge, DNP, CEN, FNP-C
- Laura Gallagher, MSN, APRN, CEN, ACNS-BC
- Luis Gino Guzman, DNP, MHA, APN, FNP-BC, ENP-C, CEN, TCRN
- Eric McCraney, DNP, MA, NP, ENP-BC, FNP-C, NREMT-P
- Deborah McCrea, EdD, MSN, RN, EMT-P, CEN, CFRN, FNP-BC
- Tina Nielsen, MS, RN, CEN, ACNS-BC
- Mollie Plotkin, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC, SANE-P
- Julia Ponder, DNP, APRN, CEN, AGACNP-BC, FNP-C
- Kathleen Zielinski, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC
Awards
ENA's Annual Achievement Awards recognize individuals who exemplify exceptional performance in professional practice, innovation, leadership or advocacy.
The Frank L. Cole Nurse Practitioner Award highlights excellence as a nurse practitioner in emergency care. The NP is recognized by peers, nursing and physician colleagues, and patients as a clinical expert who delivers compassionate, competent care in an emergency care setting. The recipient is actively involved in promoting the role of NPs and strengthening their image in emergency care.
The Clinical Nurse Specialist Award recognizes excellence as a clinical nurse specialist in the emergency care setting. The CNS is recognized by the emergency department staff as an expert, in practice or education, who makes significant contributions to practice or to the professional development of others.
Additional Resources
The Advanced Practice CONNECT Community is a space for members to network, ask questions and focus on topics relevant to advanced practice. All ENA members with advanced practice credentials are automatically added to the community. Already a member? Click here to log in and access the community! Not a member? Learn more about membership here.
Advanced Practice Reference Library
APAC is excited to share the development of a reference library, which is available now through the AP Connect Community. To access these APRN-specific guidelines and recommendations in clinical practice, visit here and select the “APRN Practice Resource Library” folder.
A special thank you to the following contributors for their help in the resource library development: Heather Burgett, Meg Carmen, Nancy Denke, Bill Fiebig, David House, Audrey Snyder, and Julie Wescott.
ENA Mentoring Program
Are you looking for a way to share your expertise and support ENA members? Get involved by signing up to be a mentor! Learn more.
