Le Bonheur is home to the area’s only emergency department dedicated solely to the care of children. Le Bonheur’s Emergency Department is one of the ten busiest pediatric emergency departments in the country, caring for nearly 70,000 children a year. The fast-paced environment is perfect for any nurse with a passion for providing care for a variety of illnesses ranging from minor scrapes and bruises to major traumas.

The Emergency Department team includes:

• A pediatric trauma team
• 24-hour phone consultation services for referring physicians and healthcare providers
• 24-hour accessibility to more than 150 pediatric medical and surgical specialists at Le Bonheur

Designated by the State of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center (CRPC), Le Bonheur provides comprehensive specialized pediatric medical and surgical care to all acutely ill and injured children. The CRPC designation meets guidelines similar to those of an Adult Level 1 Trauma Center. As a result, Emergency Department physicians and nurses provide on-site education to hospitals and physician groups in the region. Training includes advanced CPR techniques, line insertion, trauma care and more.

The nurse ratio for the Emergency Department varies from one to five patients depending on the acuity of children coming into the department. Also, Emergency Department Associates are very supportive of new nurses and serve as their preceptors, mentors and friends.