Getting into Trauma

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

I'll have worked in my tiny community ER for a year in January and I'd like to stay at least until I get my BSN in the Spring, but I find myself craving to learn more and frankly get out of the area I'm currently living in. I wanted to travel, but I found many travel nursing assignments require trauma experience. After speaking to some more experienced staff, they highly recommended I get some trauma experience. How have you made the transition from little ER to big level 1 trauma center, how did the interviews go? Ho long did it take to get the job and what sort of orientation did you get? Should I get the CEN prior to applying? I understand most trauma centers have their ER nurses rotate through trauma and the general ER, how does yours work? Any advice you can offer would be appreciated!

[Chinpop]

Well for one you don't have to go to a Trauma I. Trauma II are just as well equipped except since they aren't teaching hospitals you won't have researchers and residents running around. You should look up your state's trauma categorizations for facilities. Also most travel RN's I meet usually have experience in III and IV's.

If you find a job in a trauma III or IV you should see plenty. It depends on location, but generally speaking those hospitals will see almost everything but the worse of the worse, i.e. motorcyle ejections and full intrusion MVCs.

If you would like, before you get the interviews you could get your TNCC completed, it shows you're proactive in wanting to be a trauma RN. Most trauma facilities don't really care, as long as you have a couple of years experience in the emergency department.

Your CEN is never required but is always recommended - it makes you more of a competitor. If you can take it, do.

My personal experience is that I got into a trauma center as a new grad and went into a residency for 4 months, working and going to classes at the same time. I was one of four new grad RN's in the residency program when I started, there were 5 year nurses from the ICU, three years from med surg, 10 year nurses from OR etc. all there because going to the ED requires a transition of sorts, a starting over. After a year and a half I got a per diem job at another trauma facility and then got my CEN. I noticed that both hospitals (one is a trauma I and the other a IV) have a strong residency program for nurses new to the ED. So expect your orientation to a be long.

Also, it's not a guarantee they will keep you there. The people that failed our residency programs went to the IMC/PCU or surg/med surg floors.

Last thing to address is rotating through trauma bays and the rest of the ED. Again it depends on the facility and who your charge is because they're the ones writing the assignments for the day. I sometimes spend my entire rotation in trauma bays and resuscitation rooms. Fine by me though.

Good luck.

[ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN]

I went from a small ER in a rural county to a Level 1 PEDs trauma center and I saw more "fresh traumas" there than I do now, granted when we get one its a doozy, but most are stabilized elsewhere and transferred to us. I had a 3 month orientation as I had experience. New grads in our system get 6 months. Taking the CEN before is tough but not impossible. The outline on content can be found on the BCN web page and there is a study guide you can purchase as well. CPEN requires time in an ER with a percentage of pediatric pt experience. PALS and ACLS, check into TNCC & ENPC as well since those will most likely be required after hire.

[WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN]

I wish TNCC was offered at my hospital, but because it's no longer a requirement for our ER, we don't offer it. The other hospital system offers it, but only for their staff. Is there a way to do TNCC online?

[chare]

TNCC is a two day course. There are a few online modules, but these are to be completed prior to the course. The ENA requires all courses be submitted prior to the start date. A complete listing of TNCC courses, with contact information for the course coordinator, can be found at the following link, although some of these might be close courses.

https://www.ena.org/membership/statecouncils/Pages/StateLanding.aspx

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

You can also opt for a level II or level III trauma center. Even the level IVs will get you some experience but typically with those you just stabilize and ship them out. I used to work in a level IV and I still saw some interesting stuff.

[Kristenlaurenw]

I have worked for almost 3 years in a small 14 bed ER. I applied to a position in the ER at a level 1 trauma center at the state's only public academic medical center . The interview was pretty laid back. We talked about similarities and differences between my old job and this one. I was very upfront about my experience and let them know I was eager to learn as much as I could in this position. I was offered the position pretty quickly. I had hospital orientation this past week and they plan to orient me for 6 weeks with a preceptor before putting me on my own.