TRAUMA NURSING CORE COURSE

TNCC

Trauma Nursing Core Course was developed by the Emergency Nurses Association for the purposes of providing systematic/standardized guidelines for the care of trauma victims in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. The course is usually 16 hours long (two 8-hour days).

Requirements

You must be a registered nurse to officially attend the course. It is recommended that as an RN, you have at least 6 months experience in a clinical setting and are familiar with the terminology and equipment. However, any healthcare team member may unofficially attend to observe.

Examination

Written:
      A multiple choice exam, approximately 50 questions.

Clinical/Demonstration:

1. Trauma Nursing Process station;
2. Airway and Ventilation Interventions station;
3. Spinal Immobilization station;
In order to successfully complete the TNCC Provider course, you must receive a passing score of 80% on the written examination and all clinical stations.

Links

Emergency Nurse Association

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Copyright ©  Deborah M. Leveille

Last updated December 14, 2004

Trauma Nursing Process Station:

• Airway with Simultaneous Cervical Spine Stabilization and/or Immbolization
• Breathing
• Circulation
• Disability (neurologic status) using mneumonic AVPU (is the patient A=alert; V=responds to verbal stimuli; P=responds to painful stimuli; or U=unresponsive) and PERL (pupils equal round/reactice to light)
• Expose Patient/Environmental Control (remove clothing and keep patient warm)
• Full set of vital signs/Five Interventions(place patient on ekg monitor; apply pulse oximeter; insert nasogastric tube; insert foley; obtain labs)/Facilitate Family Presence
• Give comfort measures
• History and Head-to-Toe assessment
• Inspect posterior surfaces

Airway and Ventilation Interventions station:

• Assess airway patency
• Assess breathing effectiveness
• Identify need for bag-valve-mask ventilation
• Assessment of enotracheal tube placement

Spinal Immobilation station:

• Stabilizes patient's head and informs patient not to move neck or turn head
• Determines motor and sensory function
• Assign assistants to appropriate areas of patient's body
• Directs Assistant 1 to remove jewelry
• Directs Assistant 1 to apply and secure appropriate-sized rigid cervical collar
• Directs Assistant 2 to place patient's arms at sides and to straighten legs
• Directs logrolling of patient onto side (on count of 3)
• Directs Assistant 3 to position backboard
• Directs logrolling and repositioning of patient down onto the backboard
• Describes correct placement of backboard straps
• Directs correct placement of lateral head support devices and tape
• Continually maintains manual stabilization of head/neck until head is supported
• Reassesses motor and sensory function