I am a nursing student and I was wondering what would be the best route to take to get onto a trauma team coming out of school. I was under the assumption I would have to be clinical, maybe ER? Or am I going in the wrong direction. People look at me strange when I tell themm I want to be a trauma RN but I would like to get an idea on how I can achieve my goals. Thank you!

I woudl recommend the Emergency Department as that's where you'll see the most trauma coming into the hospital.

Where I was trained RNdude, the OR trauma team was involved from the minute the trauma was called in to the end,whether or not they came to the OR

I am interested in becoming a flight nurse. Anyone have any advice?

I am a trauma nurse.  I work in the ER.  I had to work there a year before they would let me do trauma- I also had to get my trauma certification- TNCC.  TNCC is a trauma certification course offered through the ENA- Emergency Nurse Association.  I highly reccommend joining that association.  I also had to get my pals and acls.  I had to work general ER for 1 year before I was allowed to sit in on the trauma course.  Where I work all new RNs have to work 40 hour weeks for at least a year.  They then can start taking their cert courses.  We have cardiac and trauma rooms.  The new grads are not allowed to work those rooms.  I would however suggest that you do charting for trauma or full arrests.  I have found that to be the best education.  I worked in the ER as an LPN prior to getting my RN.  I would help do some of the charting as the RNs did all the assessing and gave the drugs.  It really helped me know what to do and how and when.  I was able to be a spectator and I learned the charting.

Another area you might want to consider for trauma is the operating room.  Their are programs that will train you straight out of nursing school.  I work 12 hour night shifts in a Level 1 trauma center and find it exciting and challenging.  Most of the cases we do at night are either urgent or traumas.

I'm a bit old fashioned in that I think everybody specializing needs a year in med/surg.  There's too much info to learn in a short time and practicing safely.

angienwgeorgia says ...

I'm a bit old fashioned in that I think everybody specializing needs a year in med/surg.  There's too much info to learn in a short time and practicing safely.

I agree that my 6 years of med/surg has really brought a lot to the ER and my knowledge base, but I don't think one year of med/surg does it.  The first year is filled with learning the routine, meds, and paperwork of the floor- when that first year is over if someone transfers to ER then they must learn meds, paperwork, and routine- because they are all different.  I really feel that if you want to get the experience from med/surg you really need 2 or more years of experience to get it.  One year will give you nothing.  I feel one year of med/surg is the same as starting out in the ER no nursing experience at all.

Good Morning cgriffit, Mountainman 1804 here.

I don'k know what area you are in, but in the area I work in the "FLIGHT NURSE" field has changed alot in the past few years. I was a Flight Paramedic for a local service and we were based put of a Level 1 Trauma Center. Getting into the program wasn't all that easy. You needed a couple of years experience in a "BUSY" ER that dealt with a good bit of trauma and then, you tried to get hired into the Level 1 Trauma Center ER where you worked for a couple of years. Since the Flight Team was based out of the Level 1 Trauma Center, you becamr familiar with the crew members and they became familiar with you.  Our particular program had a ride-a-long program where you could at times sign up and spend a shift flying with them. That way, you got an idea of what you were in for. You would then apply for a position and wait. There were usually a fairly large number of applicants, not all of which were qualified.

Recently, however, (over the past few years) there has been a shift in the management of the flight services. The hospitals found out that there wasn't that much money in the services since they basically had to conttract the flight service nad then hire and provide the staff and all of the training. So--------- as with everything else now days, most services are going to a total outsource. In other words, the contract for the whole ball of wax. They contract with a provider and the rest is left up to them. They provide the staff, equipment and every thing else. I am primarily speaking of Helicopter Services, but most providers also have a Fixed wing Division that flies cross-country.

This out-sourceing has done one thing I think. It has resulted in alot more availability of positions and also a much easier access to the positions without some of the rigid requirements previously stipulated by the Hospital Provider.

If you are truely interested in this field, I would highly recommend that you get into an ER somewhere. The higher the Level of the service the better, but at least get into the field. You can get your feet wet in a small ER and work you way up. I would check with the local hospitals in your area and see which Flight Service they are using and contact them for information regarding their service and you should be able to go on line and find Air Medical Flight Services and get information that way also.

Well, I have taken up enough of your time. If you have any specific questions, please let me know and I will try to answer them or at least point you in the right direction.

Best of luck to you and have a great day!!!!

Mountainman1804

JoyceTallant says ...

Hi cgriffit,  that sounds like an exciting position "flight nurse".  Have you contacted the airlines? They can probable point you in the right direction.

 

cgriffit says ...

I am interested in becoming a flight nurse. Anyone have any advice?

I was a trauma nurse in a Level 1 ER for years and loved it. I worked on a otho floor for 8 months and during that time I get my ACLS certification. I was then hired in the ER and obtained my TNCC. You can do it and there are many ways to get there, but get comfortable in your skin as a nurse first. Trama nurses need to have the basics down and be very confident. The hospital I worked for was also a inner city hospital and one of the best in the country. Just get some experience on a medical/surgical floor so you are comfortable with your skills and then rock and roll............. Best of luck

I live in Alabama and for the most part around here you need to have a year or so of Med/Surg under your belt before the larger level 1 ER's will hire you unless they have a new grad program, which is hard to get in.  I've been a nurse for 31/2 years and the ER is what I've always wanted to work in. I was unable to get in a new grad program in the ER so I went to work at a free standing 24 hour clinic that is a step up from a doctor's office but not as high level as an ER. I worked there for 2 years and loved it but I was ready for more.  I went to work at a level 3 ER and it was not as high pace as a level 1 or level 2 but it was great.  I then stepped on up to the level 1 ER. 

Nursing school is one of the greatest adventures you will ever have. And for most when you pass the NCLEX you feel like you are on the top of the world and that you can handle whatever they throw at you. Then you get slapped back to the real world and find out you didn't learn everything there is to know in nursing school.  That's how I felt and I was a good student I graduated with honors and a 3.9 GPA out of a class of 180.  If I had to do it over I wouldn't do it any other way.  I have learned so much and at a pace that was fast enough but not to fast that it overwhelmed me. I guess what I'm saying is don't jump in head first until you check to water it may take a little longer to get where you want to be but it's worth the wait.

Marsha