Hey! I'm getting near the end of high school, and I know I want to be a nurse. I have not one shred of doubt about my passion for nursing. I have a couple of possible areas of interest, and trauma nursing is one of them. I absolutely love fast-paced environments. Blood and complete gory nastiness do not bother me whatsoever. I'm quite interested in level 1 traumas, as I live very close to one of the best level 1 trauma hospitals in the United States.
Are there any nurses who would like to tell me about their experiences in this area? I would love to learn about the ins and outs of the specialty. All you can find online is a general description, and I want a true account of what a day as a trauma nurse is like! Any and all advice/ information you can give me is so appreciated!
Thanks for all of the info flyingscot!! That's all really good to know! And Brandiep I find that career super interesting! One of my best friends wants to be a paramedic. I've considered that too, but I really feel like I'm supposed to be in a position physically in the hospital setting! Good luck in nursing school!!!
I worked in an ER in a level 1 trauma center for two years. I got to work the trauma bay frequently because I was on a swing shift and I worked my *** off. Most days, we get a few routine car accidents for people who didn't really have any injuries, but met trauma criteria so they still for the full work up. Depending on the level of trauma, every hospital has their own grading systems. We had "911" which meant they were altered, head trauma, etc and would likely need a lot of resources. 922 was elderly on Coumadin, pregnancies with and trauma. We'd have some trauma surgeons show up for these with their students. Finally the 933s, which could have been a street traffic accident with no injuries, but still needed to be ruled out. Most of the time we were overflow for the rest of the ER and could get medical codes, sepsis, strokes. But I also got the 98% burns, the boating accidents with missing limbs, the drunk driving accidents with three traumas and one dead on scene where everyone is screaming and yelling at each other.
it ranges in the ER. Sometimes your grateful for a few stable abdominal pains and chest pain. Other days you get a super interesting overdose. i wouldn't have traded that experience for the world.
It all depends on the hospital that you work at. I have worked in both a level 1 and level 2 trauma center. In the level 1 we had a ER Trauma Control team. The ER trauma control team only took trauma patients in the trauma area of the ER. They did not have to float to the "ER" side. However if you worked on the ER side and you were experienced and trained in trauma you could float to the trauma side when trauma was getting slammed or assistance was needed. It is very hard to get on a designated trauma team unless you have many of years of experience and have proven yourself in the ER first. In the level 2 hospital the trauma nurse would have trauma rooms and 2 major rooms. So you would have both trauma and medical patients.
It all depends on the hospital that you work at. I have worked in both a level 1 and level 2 trauma center. In the level 1 we had a ER Trauma Control team. The ER trauma control team only took trauma patients in the trauma area of the ER. They did not have to float to the "ER" side. However if you worked on the ER side and you were experienced and trained in trauma you could float to the trauma side when trauma was getting slammed or assistance was needed. It is very hard to get on a designated trauma team unless you have many of years of experience and have proven yourself in the ER first. In the level 2 hospital the trauma nurse would have trauma rooms and 2 major rooms. So you would have both trauma and medical patients.
ill get there one day, I live for the adrenaline rush
Hello! I love seeing interest in Trauma Nursing. I am a trauma nurse in a level 1 trauma center. Our most common mechanisms are auto accidents due to the two major interstates that go through our town. In our ED we have the set trauma nurses that have the extra training and experience. One of the criteria of being a trauma nurse in our facility is 2-3 years level 1 trauma ED experience as well as additional training and certifications. They require CEN, ATCN, and ATCN Instructor on top of your basic ED certs such as ACLS and PALS. We care for more than just traumas. If there are no traumas then the trauma nurse floats around the ED and helps the other staff with their patients. We also care for the sick medical patients such as septic shock, OD's that require advanced airways, sick DKA patients, and any other sick critical medical patient.
Trauma nurses require a lot of additional experience, training, and education but the payoff is being able to care for the sickest of the sick. I know this is a tad late but good luck in your endeavors!
Futurenurse98
23 Posts
Thanks for all of the info flyingscot!! That's all really good to know! And Brandiep I find that career super interesting! One of my best friends wants to be a paramedic. I've considered that too, but I really feel like I'm supposed to be in a position physically in the hospital setting! Good luck in nursing school!!!