We love all nurses. Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, embodying compassion, dedication, and resilience in every patient interaction. Among these remarkable professionals, emergency room nurses stand out as unstoppable forces, tackling the high-stress, fast-paced environment of the ER with unparalleled expertise and grace. Their ability to remain calm under pressure, make quick, life-saving decisions, and provide exceptional care to patients in critical moments is nothing short of extraordinary. ER nurses not only excel in their clinical skills but also inspire their colleagues and patients alike with their unwavering commitment and relentless spirit. Simply put, emergency room nurses rock!

Since 1980, emergency room nurses have been supported and empowered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), an independent, not-for-profit organization offering robust nursing specialty certification programs fostering empowered nurses across the emergency spectrum who contribute noticeably to patient care, safety, and outcomes. July is a significant month in BCEN’s history and the history of emergency nursing, as it marks the inception of both the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and the emergency nursing specialty certification.

On July 19, 1980, 1,274 nurses made history by passing the first CEN exam, becoming the first to earn the CEN designation and the first nurses to be board-certified in emergency nursing. Initially, the 4-hour, 250-question, paper-and-pencil exam was offered only twice a year, in July and February, with results delivered by mail 6-7 weeks later. For the first class of CENs to renew their certification, they had to retake the exam on a single test date in July 1984. It wasn’t until 1999 that candidates could receive their scores immediately and testing became available monthly.

Over the past four decades, much has changed, but BCEN’s commitment to excellence, achievement, and impact has remained steadfast, as has the dedication of BCEN-certified nurses to clinical expertise and professionalism. BCEN nurses continue to inspire, mentor, and lead their peers and colleagues, advance the specialty and the profession, and make a difference in their patients’ lives every day.

Today, there are over 60,000 BCEN credentials held by nurses practicing in 28 countries, including over 40,000 RNs who hold the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), according to BCEN's 2023 Annual Report.

Here are just some of the major milestones in the history of BCEN, the CEN, and emergency nursing certification.

• The OG - July 19, 1980 - The Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) is the foundational nursing specialty certification for RNs working in the ED and across the emergency spectrum. Nurses with a CEN are lifelong learners who demonstrate expertise in clinical practice and are better prepared for professional development and overall career success. Working in the dynamic, challenging, and rewarding ED environment, certified nurses are prepared to assess, triage, stabilize, and help manage and care for every patient who walks through the door.

• July 24, 1993 – Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) certification launches. Earning the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) prepares a flight nurse for the complexities of delivering care at altitude, whether you are responding to the scene of an accident, a natural disaster, or an inter-facility transfer.

• March 2006 – Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) certification launches. Transporting the most critically ill and injured patients in specially equipped vehicles that can approximate an ED or ICU, sometimes over long distances, makes critical care ground transport one of healthcare’s most complex and challenging specialties. Transport nurses are uniquely prepared to treat the most critically ill and injured patients in high-pressure situations, making critical care ground transport one of healthcare’s most complex and challenging specialties.

• January 2009 – Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) certification launches. When caring for the most vulnerable patients and supporting their caregivers, being a board-certified pediatric emergency nurse means being the best you can be and inspiring the trust of every patient and family you encounter. From neonatal and infant care all the way up through childhood and adolescence, CPEN prepares you to handle pediatric emergencies for every age and stage with expertise and confidence.

• February 2016 – Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) certification launches. Trauma is a major public health issue with universal impact. Patients trust TCRN-certified nurses to think critically, assess for signs of complications, and intervene quickly, using their specialized knowledge and clinical expertise. From injury prevention education to prehospital and acute care to rehabilitation, TCRN validates your mastery across the trauma care continuum.

• October 2023 - Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) certification launches. Certification validates advanced knowledge and expertise across the burn care continuum—including pre-hospital and initial management, critical and acute care, patient and family support, rehabilitation and reintegration, and injury prevention education.

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