How to Become a Registered Illinois Trauma Nurse
Trauma nurses are registered nurses who provide trauma care in clinical, research, educational and administrative settings, according to the Society of Trauma Nurses, a trade group. Trauma nurses possess specialized training in caring for patients who have suffered severe injuries as a result of a traumatic accident. The state of Illinois has developed a specific training program and educational pathway for nurses who wish to become a registered trauma nurse.
Instructions
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Complete RN education, licensure, and work experience. The standardized state education program for trauma nurses requires that nurses hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program, hold a current RN license, and have at least one year of work experience as a registered nurse, according to Blessing Health System, one of the 15 hospitals in Illinois approved to offer trauma nurse training. Registered nurses are free to obtain work experience as a nurse in any clinical area, although experience in emergency room nursing or work in an intensive care unit may prove beneficial given the similarities between those disciplines and trauma nursing.
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Obtain required certifications. Registered nurses who wish to complete the required training to become a trauma nurse must hold current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), according to Blessing Health System.
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Complete an accredited Illinois Trauma Nurse Specialist Program. Registered nurses in Illinois cannot become a certified trauma nurse without first completing the state trauma nurse specialist program. The Illinois Department of Public Health accredits 15 hospitals statewide to deliver the standardized curriculum, which takes approximately 11 weeks to complete. Lectures cover such topics as burns and thermal injuries, airway management and pediatric trauma; lab work and hands-on practical sessions address such topics as helmet removal and inline intubation.
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Pass required examinations. There are two examinations required before the Illinois Department of Public Health will confer trauma nurse certification: a practical exam, delivered by the training program, and a state licensing exam, proctored by state health department officials. According to Blessing Health System, 80 percent of test-takers pass the state written exam within two attempts.
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References
- Blessing Health System: The Illinois Trauma Nurse Specialist Program
- Blessing Health System: Illinois Trauma Nurse Specialist Course Details
- Trama Nurses: Society of Trauma Nurses
- Illinois Department of Public Health: Candidate Study Guide for the Illinois Trauma Nurse Specialist Exam
- Illinois Department of Public Health: Application Instruction Guide for TNS Certification
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