Trauma Nurse

emergencyrn06 · May 1, 2009

Good for you for deciding to enter the rewarding field of nursing! Now, for the bad news. You can't just "specialize" in trauma nursing in school. Nursing school is meant to give you the general knowledge base for entrance into the nursing field. You can get different certifications post-graduation like CEN, TNCC, ACLS, PALS, ENPC, etc. Most of those you have to have even to work in the ER. And yes, if you work in an ER you will have more than just "trauma" patients. A common misconception is that emergency nursing is "as seen on TV." Yes you can get your GSWs, and MVCs, and assualts, etc. And it is an adreneline rush to be hands on in trauma cases. However, your cardiac emergencies and respiratory emergencies can be just as exciting and "action packed." I've always liked psych cases too - especially paranoid schizophrenics or bipolars with psychosis.....absolutely fascinating. And there is no typical time a trauma patient will be on the ER. It depends on what kind of trauma it is, what kind of services are offered in your facility, how the patient responds to treatment, medical history of the patient, and so much more I can't even list here! The ER is multi-fascited. You have to have some skill in all areas with patients across the life span in order to be successful. And you have to realize you will never know everything and almost nothing is as it is in a textbook. And I'm not trying to discourage you by any means. Many ERs have internships and new grad positions that have an orientation period to help you "learn the ropes." But you will not walk into the ER fresh out of school and be assigned to Trauma rooms. You have to be proficient in sooo much to take the lead in a trauma. You have to get your feet wet first because the choices you make and actions you take can very well be the difference between life or death. Now, ICU is NOT the same as ER. In the ICU you don't go through the intial triage and stabalize phase. Don't get me wrong - any aspect of critical care nursing takes a lot of skill. Sometimes it is just a little different or modified from one unit to the next. Many of my friends are ICU nurses and there have been many times they have made comments about the ER nurses and "how do you all do it? " and "I don't think I would like not knowing what was wrong and having nothing to go on." It's called teamwork and it is absolutely essential. I highly recommend that you do some sort of precptorship/internship while you're in school to help you decide which area of nursing better suits you. And you always have to remember that it takes all disciplines to make a difference. I can't tell you how many times we've called the nurses down from the dialysis unit to help us troubleshoot a few things with dialysis patients. And they are always very helpful and skilled in their area. Just don't go into emergency nursing or critical care if all you want is to be a hero - that's the wrong reason. Good luck in your venture and I wish all the success in the world!

CainRN · May 1, 2009

I think you misunderstood me, I realize that we do not "specialize" in nursing school. This class is to open our eyes to the opportunities available to us once we have graduated and have some experience under our belts. Thanks for the info though. Good stuff!

meandragonbrett · May 2, 2009

Some hospitals have separate emergency rooms and trauma departments. So yes, you can work with specifically nothing but GSWs, MVA/MVC, KSW, traumatic amputations, falls, etc. There is no average time limit. It's generally organized chaos that requires everybody knowing their role and then doing it.

CainRN · May 4, 2009

The presentation went well. Thanks guys!

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · May 5, 2009

In my hospital, the trauma bay is staffed by the general ER nurses. The float nurses in the ER float into the trauma room when there is a trauma, and if it is a particularly crazy or busy trauma (or lots of 'em), the ER nurses have to cover each other to allow more ER nurses to go assist in the trauma room.

Not all patients who come in as a trauma are a big messy trauma, so the time limit can vary greatly. A particularly bad trauma may only be in the trauma room for

At my hospital, trauma patients are admitted to the ICU if critical or the trauma floor if stable. Our trauma floor nurses (med-surg, mostly surg), and our ICU nurses all consider themselves trauma nurses as well. They deal with the trauma patients in the longer term. Trauma floor nurses deal with the quads, paras, nasty dressings, chest tubes, traction, casts, etc.

Does this help?

PedsER/ICU · May 5, 2009

Be an ER/Trauma tech... I have been a tech for all of nursing school. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. I would recommend a Level 1 Center that has a lot of educational opportunities. After almost 5 years I am still learning. If the pay was worth the intensity of the job I would be a tech forever. You will learn a ton about equipment, procedures and process. It's been so much fun. I got to hold someone's head while she had an emergency ventriculostomy this morning. Not many 21 year olds can say that. Also, work nights, you'll see the weirdest stuff.

nghtfltguy, BSN, RN · May 6, 2009

there are many different aspects to *trauma nursing*... most hospitals have an Emergency/Trauma center.... specializing in trauma nursing ... does not mean that you will not have to take on the occasional *chronic lower back pain* drug seeker now and then... but it all depends upon your facility...

i am a trauma nurse....

97% of my pts are just regular ppl that come to the ER w/ complaints of everything from chest pain to toothaches...

:cool: