Starting out in Trauma

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Hi

Ive been a nurse for 7 years. 6 years in a couple ICUs, most recently 3 years in the MICU at a very large inner city Level One - tons of sepsis, shock, CRRT, Rotoprones, Oscilators... rarely a few GSWs, head traumas, etc. Usually the traumas we took care of were transferred from the TICU because they were in profound shock, multiorgan failure and needed CRRT and/or rotoproning. Ive got plenty of experience working with Residents - I actually enjoy that for the most part and would love to go back to a teaching hospital. As a result of some serious burnout, I left the MICU a few months ago to take a SWAT position at a small community hospital and I HATE IT. The goal was to take a little break (management issues). Turns out I should have probably just taken a couple weeks off. Anyway, now that Im out of the ICU Im finding out I really want to get back to my original plan - trauma nursing. I have no ER experience and very very very very little TICU experience. My question is where do I start? Im pretty sure it varies from one facility to another how the traumas are run. I know some have TICU nurses who go to the traumas while others send their SWAT nurses or ER nurses rotate through. Any seasoned Trauma nurses have some advice for a wannabe? Already have ACLS, PALS. Should I even bother with CCRN? Would ATCN/ATLS help? Thanks.

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Oops, this is an old thread! I'm sure OP has made his decision haha! :roflmao:

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I think it depends on facility. It's pretty rare for us to get a SICU bed in a reasonable time frame. We stabilize and sent to OR. It's more often than not than our ICUs get down graded. I think our average time from ER bed to room is 12 hours. But yeah, the mix of pneumonia, CHF admits and abd pains can make it not ideal. However, I will say I prefer this to ICU. Only ay to know is to try.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Oops, this is an old thread! I'm sure OP has made his decision haha! :roflmao:

Doesn't matter! I enjoyed your post anyway. :D

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

With your experience in ICU honing your assessment skills with critical patients you would probably do very well if you felt drawn to the fast pace of a level one. The only credential you should consider is TNCC. Other emergency-specific credentials like CEN are recommended to be taken later after a few years of ED, but the place I'm at won't even put you in the trauma room until you have TNCC.

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