Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing equips registered nurses with specialized expertise to manage high-acuity, time-sensitive patient conditions in critical care environments. This advanced training focuses on rapid assessment, life-saving interventions, and coordinated care delivery for individuals experiencing acute injuries, medical emergencies, and complex trauma.
- Advanced Health Assessment: Develops proficiency in conducting rapid, systematic evaluations of patients with unstable or rapidly changing conditions, emphasizing clinical judgment and early detection of life-threatening issues.
- Emergency Pharmacology: Focuses on the safe and effective use of high-risk medications in acute settings, including dosing, administration, and monitoring in time-critical scenarios.
- Pathophysiology of Trauma: Explores the biological mechanisms underlying injury responses, including shock, hemorrhage, and multisystem trauma, to inform evidence-based treatment decisions.
- Emergency Management Protocols: Covers standardized procedures for triage, stabilization, and escalation of care during mass casualty incidents and individual emergencies.
- Trauma Assessment Techniques: Trains in systematic evaluation methods such as the primary and secondary survey, enabling precise identification of injuries and prioritization of interventions.
- Acute Care Nursing Practice: Integrates clinical decision-making, advanced life support, and interdisciplinary collaboration to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care in fast-paced emergency environments.
Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing degrees, including Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners 29-1171 | $129,210 | $97,960 - $169,950 | 307,390 | $62.12 |
| Registered Nurses 29-1141 | $93,600 | $66,030 - $135,320 | 3,282,010 | $45.00 |
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1072 | $79,940 | $47,950 - $130,040 | 74,250 | N/A |
Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $85,040 in Arkansas to $135,317 in California—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Oregon, and Hawaii. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,663,650 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 9 institutions offering Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing is found at Vanderbilt University (VU) (20 graduates), Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) (14 graduates), Samford University (8 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (4 graduates), and Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) (3 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 57 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
20 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14 | Provo, Utah | Private | rm.edu |
| Samford University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
8 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Post-Master's
|
4 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) |
Post-Master's
|
3 | Pomona, California | Private | westernu.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Dewey University |
Master's
|
3 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | dewey.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
|
1 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing programs
How much can I earn with a Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing degree?
Salaries for Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing graduates vary by role and location. Nurse Practitioners earn a median of $129,210 annually, while Registered Nurses earn around $93,600. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $135,317 compared to $85,040 in Arkansas. Approximately 3,663,650 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing programs?
Currently 9 accredited institutions offer Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Vanderbilt University (VU) (20 graduates), Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) (14 graduates), and Samford University (8 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 15 in 2010 to 57 in 2023-24. This represents a 280% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Emergency Room and Trauma Nursing degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 3,663,650 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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