Trauma nursing is a fitting career choice for those who want to make a difference in the lives of others. Working as a trauma nurse often requires making critical decisions in high-stress situations, but it also provides moments of connection that few other careers in healthcare can offer.
Learning how to become a trauma nurse involves learning what trauma nurses do, their typical work environment, and the education and licensure required to qualify for the job. Enrolling in an accredited nursing degree program can help aspiring trauma nurses gain the foundational specialized knowledge required to succeed in the role.
What Is a Trauma Nurse?
Trauma nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute injuries and illnesses. They stand on the front lines of care in emergency rooms and trauma centers across the country. Though some may choose to specialize in a specific branch of nursing, most trauma nurses work with patients of all ages, ranging from infants to the elderly.
Some trauma nurses train as first responders and travel with transport teams to help save people’s lives after incidents like motor vehicle accidents, natural disasters, and fires. While most stay close to home and work in their own communities, others travel around the country to tend to the injuries and illnesses sustained by individuals during major events that have impacted large populations, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires.
Duties and Responsibilities
Trauma nurses’ duties and responsibilities vary significantly depending on the communities in which they work, the demographics within those communities, their places of employment, and the scope of practice within their state of licensure. Their most common duties include the following:
- Assessing injuries or illnesses and providing emergency medical care as needed
- Aiding in the diagnosis of illnesses and injuries
- Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other life-saving measures
- Assisting with intubation, blood draws, IV insertion, and other procedures as required
- Triaging patients and prioritizing those who have the most life-threatening injuries
- Administering medications and IV fluids as prescribed by a physician
- Providing immediate wound treatment and care
- Facilitating and maintaining open communication with doctors, other nurses, law enforcement officials, Red Cross representatives, and patients’ families, among others
- Assisting in the distribution of resources to help provide for people in need
- Preparing patients for emergency surgery
- Carefully monitoring patients while they are in the facility’s care
- Serving as a liaison and primary point of contact for patients and their families
- Answering questions from patients and their loved ones
Work Environment
Trauma nurses work in various fast-paced environments that include hospital emergency departments, trauma centers, and patient transport vehicles. Typical shifts for trauma nurses last eight to 12 hours, and most work three to five days a week, based on their shift length and need. Some trauma nurses may work overtime hours.
Some trauma nurses work almost exclusively in hospitals and similar emergency facilities, but some travel to the scenes of accidents, fires, and other disasters to save lives on the spot or during transport to the nearest trauma center. Their work environment is dynamic, unpredictable, and often chaotic, which suits individuals who perform well under pressure.
Steps to Become a Trauma Nurse
The first step for those interested in how to become a trauma nurse is learning about the education, experience, and credentials required to qualify for an entry-level role.
1. Fulfill Educational Requirements and Become Licensed
The minimum education required to work as a trauma nurse is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). However, as the demand for quality healthcare providers rises, employers increasingly are seeking registered nurses who have Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees to fill their trauma nursing positions.
A BSN degree is a standard baccalaureate degree for aspiring nurses. The typical BSN program can take four years to complete, but some programs can be completed in as little as 21 months by candidates who fulfill general education prerequisite requirements. An RN to BSN program is designed for registered nurses with ADN degrees. This program gives RNs credit for the education they already have, which allows them to earn their bachelor’s degrees more quickly.
These degree programs teach students in-depth specialized training and skills that can lead to success in trauma nursing, critical care nursing, and nurse leadership. Critical care nurses work alongside trauma nurses to provide follow-up care to patients in intensive care or critical care units. Nurse leaders include shift leaders and nurse managers.
After earning their nursing degrees, prospective trauma nurses need to become licensed as RNs. The steps involved in obtaining licensure can vary from one state to the next, but, in every state, individuals must enroll in and complete an accredited nursing program, pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN), and then apply for licensure in their state.
2. Gain Work Experience
Before candidates can become trauma nurses, they must gain on-the-job experience. Most employers require candidates to have at least two years of experience in trauma nursing. Many trauma nurses start as RNs working in hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes, then move into trauma nursing later in their careers.
3. Pursue a Credential
Employers may prefer to hire nurses who hold a trauma nursing certification from an industry association. The trauma certified registered nurse (TCRN) is an accredited credential offered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN). The eligibility requirements for this certification include a valid and unencumbered nursing license, two years or 1,000 hours of on-the-job trauma nursing, and 20 to 30 hours of trauma-specific coursework.
Those who are eligible must pass a rigorous TCRN examination to earn their credential, and the certification is valid for a period of four years. It can be renewed by completing 100 or more contact hours as a practicing nurse or by retaking the latest TCRN examination.
The Future of Trauma Nursing
As medical breakthroughs in emergency care and new technology continue to improve the survival rates of critically ill and injured patients, trauma nurses will play an increasingly important role in saving lives. As the large baby boomer population ages, and as the average lifespan increases due to modern science and technology, more trauma nurses will be required to deliver timely care in emergency situations.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the employment of registered nurses, including trauma nurses, will climb 6% between 2022 and 2032. The BLS also projects that more than 193,000 open positions will be available each year as demand increases and as nurses are needed to replace those who retire or move to different occupations.
Help People in Their Time of Need by Becoming a Trauma Nurse
Trauma nurses work tirelessly alongside physicians and other healthcare providers to diagnose and treat patients with serious and life-threatening injuries and illnesses. They serve as their patients’ advocates, showing them empathy and compassion while maintaining their dignity and privacy.
The BSN degree program at the Denver College of Nursing can help students gain the skills and education needed to deliver excellent care in emergency situations. Aspiring trauma nurses who have completed an ADN degree program and obtained RN licensure can pursue DCN’s online RN to BSN program. It is a flexible alternative for pursuing the baccalaureate education that can help nurses thrive in the competitive job market. DCN also offers ADN and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs that help individuals meet their nursing career goals.
Serious illness or injury can happen to anyone at any time. Trauma nurses are on the front lines, ready to deliver immediate care to those who need it most. Discover how to become a trauma nurse and help people in their hour of need.
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