The Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, also called the ENPC, is similar to the Trauma Nursing Core Course except that it is particularly designed for the especially fragile pediatric population. Pediatric patients often react more severely to physically traumatic events because of the size of their bodies and the lack of strength of some of their bodily systems.

Even if you’ve worked with adult populations for years, you may be surprised at the differences in caring for younger populations. By taking the ENPC course, you’ll feel more confident in the nursing care that you are giving, and you may also find that you can further your career by being able to work as a nurse coordinator, as a charge nurse or in some other managerial position thanks to your nationally recognized certification.

The ENPC may not be as widely understood as are other basic emergency courses, such as BLS and ACLS. However, it is no less effective within your nursing practice. You should consider taking this course if you’re a first responder, you work in the emergency department, you work specifically with the pediatric population or you’re considering getting into pediatric nursing. Instead of guessing your way through the questions that will arise in your new practice, you can feel sure of yourself and know just how to respond to emergency situations with your new certification.

This course usually takes two full days to complete and will combine teaching in the classroom setting along with hand-on skill stations so that you have the best chance of retaining what you’ve learned. You will also use the ENPC provider manual, which will be a great resource to you even once you complete the course. During this course, you’ll be taught the following topics.

  • Early patient assessment
  • Systematic assessment of the pediatric patient
  • Pediatric pathophysiology
  • Pediatric triage
  • Early interventions
  • Family presence
  • Pediatric care from birth through the teenage years

After learning from these teaching modules or from a combination of interactive lectures and teaching videos, you’ll be able to practice what you’ve learned at hands-on skill stations. Instead of feeling concerned or embarrassed at these stations, you should view them as places where you can put into practice what you’ve already learned and as safe zones where you can ask questions from your skilled instructors. Here is where you’ll be able to put all of your knowledge into practice. Being able to practice will help you decrease test anxiety and feel great about your written test.

Once you return to your practice, you’ll love how confident you will feel interacting with your patients. You can know that you’re prepared for whatever should happen and that you’re the best possible person for taking care of each of your patients.

In addition, the ENPC certification will give you some important continuing education hours that you need for renewing your professional license. The certification will last four years, and renewal is simple and requires a much shorter class than your original certification required. Your certification is recognized across the United States and even internationally, making it an important resource if you plan on changing jobs, moving across state lines or becoming a travel nurse.

The Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course is a great tool designed especially for nurses in pediatric fields. It represents the newest guidelines in pediatric trauma care as designated by the Emergency Nursing Association. Take your nursing practice to the next level with continuing certifications that recognize your dedication to your important field.