Required Education
ADN or BSN
Attributes
Fast-paced
React and make decisions quickly in demanding conditions.
Independent
Work on your own or even start your own practice, in some states.
Out-of-hospital
Treat patients in their homes, during travel, or other non-hospital environments.
Patient-facing
Work hands-on, directly with patients.
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
You’ll typically work alongside pediatricians in a hospital or outpatient facility, but you could even run your own practice.
What you’ll do
Assistance
You’ll provide phone, video and one-on-one assistance to patients, and parents of children who have ingested toxic substances.
Counsel
You’ll provide patients and families with emotional support.
Education
You’ll teach poisoning prevention and treatment at schools and businesses.
Where you’ll work
- Businesses
- Poison control centers
- Schools
How to become a Poison Information Specialist
01
Get an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Take elective courses in pharmacology or poison control.
02
Pass the NCLEX-RN.
03
Work as a Registered Nurse, gaining experience in an emergency room or toxicology unit.
04
Get your Poison Information Specialist Certification through the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
05
You’re ready to work as a Poison Information Specialist.
Join an Organization
Become a member of a Poison Information Specialist organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
A Trauma Nurse’s role is also fast-paced.
A Critical Care Nurse is another type of emergency nurse.
