The study was conducted by a collaboration between the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), MedEvac Foundation International and the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN), the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).

The study was completed alongside the Human Research Organization (HumRRO) to collect, analyse, and synthesise multiple sources of data, including both existing databases and a direct survey of practicing nurses across the emergency spectrum to gather information on the current state of the workforce and expected changes to it over the next five to 10 years.

BCEN Executive Director Janie Schumaker noted that the company was ‘thrilled’ to go into this project with ‘known leaders in the industry’; she said: “The combination of MedEvac Foundation’s highly regarded track record in managing quality research studies and the invaluable input, insight and funding support from STN, ASTNA and ENA, has yielded a treasure trove of critical information that will benefit emergency nursing and emergency care today and in the years to come.”   

The report has been hailed as one of the first documents of its kind to provide detailed insight on the population of nurses in the emergency, trauma and transport spectrum, including geographical location, age, work environment, experience and career goals. And as such, this work is a cornerstone to understanding the makeup of the current workforce, as well as being able to accurately project the types and amount of resources necessary to meet the demand for emergency, trauma and transport nursing services now and into the future.

“This research will inform and enrich our emergency, transport and trauma specialty certification programs and provides valuable information to develop, support and maintain a well-prepared emergency nursing workforce,” said Schumaker.