Trauma Nursing

[KileKK]

Hello, I am soon starting my senior year of the BSN program and am so excited/eager to become a RN. I have always wanted to work Trauma in an emergency room (specifically a level 1 trauma center). I have absolutely no idea how any of this works. Is there a specific "team" that is involved in the traumas? What does it take to get on one of these teams? How many years of experience are needed? Are there nurses in these facilities who don't deal with the trauma, but still work in the ER?

Sorry for being vague, but I have no idea how any of this works and thought it would be a good idea to know more so I am not going into this blind.

Any information is greatly appreciated.:)

[Spiderella]

Every trauma hospital has a different system. The one I work at now, there are regular ER nurses that support trauma admits but do not have primary responsibility in the trauma bay. The trauma bay is 3 rooms and is manned by 2 CRNs, which are resource nurses with more than 2 years experience in trauma. We also have a trauma ICU where the critical patients end up and a trauma floor that less critical patients go to. A new nurse could start in either unit, or even in the ED, and once you have the required experience to become a CRN, then you get the trauma admits into the trauma bay. On the trauma ICU floor that I work, you get the trauma admits but they go through the ED (in the bay) for the first 30 minutes to an hour before coming to your unit.

Your best bet would be to ask the manager you plan to work for how they do things. Some might not hire new nurses into the Trauma bay/trauma ICU without extensive training first. Some might say you can dive straight in. It really does depend on the how the hospital is set up.

[KileKK]

Thank you so much!!! I now have a direction to look into, and more specific goals to set for myself!

Again thanks!!!:)

[pawashrn]

Spiderella, is correct. Go directly to the person doing the hiring, not Employee Resource Department. Arm yourself with a working knowledge of basic trauma, before the interview. So you can have an intelligent conversation. Ask if you may shadow a RN. This may take alot of your time, because heavy traumas don't happen everyday. This way you can get a taste without spending alot of time and finding out you don't like it. Babies thrown from cars, motorcycle victim who used the pavement to sop themselves. A gun shot to the head but the person is still awake. good luck