ATCN vs TNCC

Was this ATCN also from ENA ? :imbar Just got my TNCC text yesterday.

Thank You,

Bob

mommatrauma said:

Just recently took ATCN (Advanced trauma care for nurses, run concurrently with ATLS). I'm looking for feedback to see who took it and what you thought? Also, in relation to TNCC what did you think? Personally I felt that ATCN was a better course. More hands on with 6 different practical stations. More geared towards Emergency care where I felt TNCC was geared more towards the ICU, trauma floor setting. Thought the test, both written and practical was also more challenging then the TNCC written test. Thanks ahead of time for your feedback...

TNCC is a core information course. Tries to bring the basics of trauma care to every ER nurse no matter what size/type ER they work in. Is meant to be a foundation for future trauma care education (that is my take on it as a TNCC instructor).

ATCN is indeed a more advanced program for more experienced trauma nurses and involves more critical thinking beyond airway, breathing and circulation and management of those basic (but needed) issues.

If you are an experienced trauma nurse than you have evolved beyond TNCC and ATCN may be the course to challenge you now.

Domo, domo arigato

RNCENCCRNNREMTP said:

TNCC is a core information course. Tries to bring the basics of trauma care to every ER nurse no matter what size/type ER they work in. Is meant to be a foundation for future trauma care education (that is my take on it as a TNCC instructor).

ATCN is indeed a more advanced program for more experienced trauma nurses and involves more critical thinking beyond airway, breathing and circulation and management of those basic (but needed) issues.

If you are an experienced trauma nurse than you have evolved beyond TNCC and ATCN may be the course to challenge you now.

Agreed...this right from ENA's site:

The Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) is a continuing education program intended for nurses, physicians assistants, paramedics and other non-physician emergency care professionals. It introduces and stresses the fundamentals of an organized, prioritized approach to the care of trauma patients. The two-day Provider Course is intended for initial training and students receive a certificate valid for four years upon successful completion. Renewal is accomplished via a one day Reverification Course which is conducted in conjunction with the second day of a Provider Course...

This is from the Society of Trauma Nurses website regarding ATCN...

Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses® (ATCN) is an advanced course designed for the registered nurse interested in increasing his/her knowledge in management of the multiple trauma patient. The ATCN course is taught concurrently with ATLS®. The ATCN program has been operational for over 15 years and has an excellent record of offering a superb trauma educational program, and maintaining a positive collaboration with the ACS Committee on Trauma State Chapters. The ATCN program is currently being offered in numerous states is well as internationally.

The nurse participants audit the ATLS lectures. During the ATLS skill and testing stations, the nurses are separated from the physician group and directed through ATCN skill stations. ATCN Skill stations include:

Initial Assessment and Management

Airway and Ventilatory Management

Pediatric Trauma

Hemorrhagic Shock

Spine & Extremity Injuries

Head Trauma

The Skill Stations are based on an interactive "hands-on: scenario-based approach" to adult education. The practical testing stations allow the ATCN students to demonstrate the application of ATLS and ATCN information on a moulaged patient.

Hope that helps...ATCN is governed by the American college of Surgeons, hence why it is run concurrently with ATLS...TNCC is governed by ENA...

I felt ATCN was much easier, test was shorter than TNCC. I did take the ATCN 1.5 years after TNCC and already had a better understanding of Trauma care... I also felt that the stuff in ATCN was very basic especially since I was sitting next Surgical Residents and 2nd year ER residents that should have had this knowledge..for them they practiced Chest tubes, crics, DPL ...

The only thing that i liked more about ATCN was that it is more realistic.. Yes mangage your airway at the same time someone is getting a sat and pressure for ya. ATLS also talked about EDs such as mine where there is one doc handling 4 trauma patients and the closest trauma unit is 1 hr away.

I am taking TNCC next week. Any advice before I take the test? I actually read over the book and have worked in the ER for 5 years, so hopefully it won't be so horrible.

gypsy nurse said:

I am taking TNCC next week. Any advice before I take the test? I actually read over the book and have worked in the ER for 5 years, so hopefully it won't be so horrible.

If you have read the book, worked in an ER x 5 years (that sees a fair amount of trauma, pay attention during presentations and practice all that you can during the skill sessions I can almost guarantee that you will do well.

Good luck and have fun!

I have had taken ATCN and TNCC. Both classes are informative and usefull. What I liked about ATCN over TNCC for my work situation is, we are in the same class with the same doctors I will be working with. We get the same lectures. When I respond to a trauma activation, I know what they have been taught, and how they should be running the activation. If things go wrong, it is so much more effective to say

"ATLS guidelines are...."

I was recertified this year for ATCN and it was a difficult test!

I have always had a dream of creating a common trauma course, one that was taken from hospital to hospital so that the teams that worked together in the smaller community ED's would take the course together. medics, EMT's, ER nurses and doctors and surgeons all sitting through didactics together. Then breaking out into special teams to address particulars of pre-hospital issues, ER issues and early surgery issues.

The final exam is taking a trauma scenario from the field to the hospital and seeing how the team works together.

TNATC is another advanced trauma course for people to look at if they are looking for additional trauma education.

TNCC is not a bad course. It is a good foundational course and emphasizes a standard approach to trauma care, much like the ACLS universal algorithm.

I last took TNCC in October 2006 and noted a few problems such as verification of ETT placement. For example, esophageal bulbs, capnometry, or capnography was not even covered. I know the TNCC curriculum had an update since then, so I will be curious to see the new material when I retake the course in the next couple of years.

The new (6th edition) TNCC which rolls out this year does dedicate a lecture and skill station to airway management and is up to date with ETT position verification. Problem with ANY course is that it is often outdated, in at least some respect, as soon as it comes out. Just like any textbook is as well. It is up to good TNCC instructors to add in the critical new information, even if not part of the actual core content.

TNATC is a very good program but geared towards air and ground transport nurses.

Sounds great. Trauma starts on the asphalt (or where ever). It is a wonderful idea to train all the team players with the system. I like the specialized breakout.

My boss and I have been trying to put together a certification for pediatric sedation. That is a headache!