TraumaCon 2023

The PTACC course provides education to nurses who care for admitted pediatric trauma patients. The content was designed to close the identified educational gap for this group. The course will feature modules on the following topics as they relate to pediatric trauma: trauma assessment, shock, abdominal, head and spine, musculoskeletal, thoracic, face/neck/eye, burns, and physical abuse. Rotating skill stations will also be available.

1. Geriatric Committee
2. Member Engagement Committee
3. Leadership Committee
4. GAPP Committee
5. ATCN Committee
6. Burn SIG

1. APN SIG
2. ATCN Interest Forum
3. International Council
4. TACTIC Committee

1. Research Committee
2. Clinical Committee
3. Injury Prevention SIG

Kick off your conference experience with a special behind-the-scenes tour of Craig Hospital, a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital that exclusively specializes in the neuro-rehabilitation and research of patients with spinal cord and brain injuries. Enjoy the opportunity to see their life-changing therapies, ground-breaking research, and innovative technologies in person.

Geriatric populations across the globe are living longer, more active and travel more than previous generations. ATLS and ATCN standardized the resuscitation of geriatric trauma patients yet they are often under triaged. This preconference will discuss similarities and differences in geriatric care across the world. Every country faces unique issues caring for them. Best practice guidelines for various countries will be discussed in addition to different geriatric injury prevention programs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify which countries have the fastest growing geriatric populations and the longest life expectancy.
2. Discuss common criteria utilized globally for calling a trauma alert on a geriatric patient.
3. Identify evidence-based practice guidelines to prevent complications in geriatric patients.
4. Discuss successful geriatric injury prevention programs and why they are successful.

During this 4-hour session, subject matter experts will share their successes (and failures) in the areas of efficiency for data processes, useful math for various rates, clinical practice management guidelines monitoring, and the culture of safety specific to employee wellness.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe ways of creating efficient, paperless, LEAN data processes that lead to concurrent processes
2. Incorporate different ways to monitor care through accurate calculations of audit filters, complication rates, and over-under triage
3. Streamline the process of measuring compliance with practice guidelines
4. Implement ways to showcase trauma care through data
5. Integrate employee health and wellness with patient safety

According to the CDC, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for ages 1-24 years. The cause of death for specific age groups has changed due to various contributing factors such as car seat development and product design, graduated licenses and environmental influences. This presentation will review the mechanisms of injury for specific age groups and factors contributing to these changes. This knowledge will bring awareness of injuries most commonly seen in the pediatric patient.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the factors that influence changes in mechanisms of injury
2. Describe injuries most commonly associated with certain mechanisms of injury

Anyone who has been in the Trauma sphere for long knows this truth very well: injury prevention is a BIG job! One great way you can reach a large audience and make a major impact on entire families at one time is by hosting a community Kid’s Safety Fair! By bringing together all aspects of the trauma injury prevention spectrum- providers, volunteers, vendors, and community support organizations- you can pack more punch into your prevention efforts and impact your community for positive change!

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the overall picture of managing a large injury prevention event
2. Understand how to recruit, equip and manage event staff and volunteers
3. Have the ability to develop relationships with vendors and community support organizations participating in their event
4. Have knowledge of the specific logistical planning involved in such an event

Certain injuries occur so infrequently in pediatric patients, and their associated symptoms variable or vague, that diagnosis may be delayed. Any potential delay in diagnosis or treatment can have significant consequences on morbidity and mortality. Case studies will be utilized to enhance the audience’s understanding of clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of several rare but significant injuries encountered at our pediatric trauma center.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review several rare but significant pediatric traumatic injuries including, but not limited to, blunt aortic and vascular injury and diaphragmatic hernia

The rise in penetrating trauma is taking a toll on our communities and is being felt by the hospital staff that cares for them. This is the story of a single patient that was repeatedly impacted by community violence until his ultimate untimely death. This presentation discusses his journey and examines current strategies directed at preventing stories like these.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the role of a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP)
2. Discuss signs and symptoms of post traumatic epilepsy in a patient with a traumatic brain injury
3. Discuss risk factors associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

Care of the pediatric patient has unique needs and coupling that care with the special needs of the bariatric patient can be challenging. Now, add severe traumatic injuries including pelvic fractures into the mix! This presentation will be a case review highlighting the challenges and lessons learned throughout the patients 100 day length of stay including focused efforts on the continuum of care…injury prevention through rehabilitation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the complexities in care for a pediatric, bariatric trauma patient
2. Review challenges during a 100 day length of stay
3. Discuss care through the continuum including disposition to rehabilitation

1. Network with your colleagues and vendor partners
2. Appetizers and Cash Bar
3. Visit the Exhibits
4. Play Exhibit Hall Game

Details Coming Soon!

Details Coming Soon!

Dr. Joseph Sakran is a trailblazer and nationally respected voice in the firearm injury prevention movement. He is currently Director of Emergency General Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery and Nursing, and Vice Chair of Clinical Operations at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. As a survivor of firearm-related violence, he was motivated to become a surgeon, researcher, and advocate in firearm injury prevention. At every turn of his career, he has used his personal experience and substantial skills to push a new frontier primarily in service of marginalized communities in the United States.

The ACS post survey report identifies criteria deficiencies (CD), strengths, opportunities for improvement (OFI), and recommendations. Most trauma programs review these areas and develop action plans related to the identified CDs and OFIs. Review of the surveyors case write-ups along with the center's evaluation of their own survey preparation process can provide valuable insight to drive the program to a higher level of performance and best practice while enhancing skill sets across the team.

Learning Objectives:

1. Demonstrate dissection of a center's ACS survey to identify programmatic opportunities
2. Explain use of team retreats during ACS survey preparation and post survey to engage TPM, TMD, PI and registry staff engagement and awareness for change
3. Utilize 2022 ACS standards to further align center performance
4. Show effectiveness of retreat agendas, homework, and survey to drive program change and engagement

This lecture addresses the initial management for the patient who has sustained blunt trauma after a fall from height. We will focus on the management of complex pelvic fractures including initial resuscitation and stabilization measures. We will discuss principles of hemorrhage control to include pelvic stabilization devices, aortic occlusion methods, and definitive management. We will also discuss the benefit of massive transfusion protocols, balanced resuscitation, TXA and whole blood.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the unique anatomic characteristics of pelvic trauma that increase the potential for hemorrhage
2. Describe the initial principles in the management of severe pelvic trauma
3. Utilize tips and information to provide hemorrhage control and resuscitation to the injured patient with a pelvic injury

By accessing readily available data and reports from the trauma registry, trends in community gun violence can be identified and tracked, supporting injury prevention programs and initiatives.Internal program resource allocations can be more strategically assigned and can drive program growth. External injury prevention collaborations with local government entities can be supported by providing a better overall picture of targeted interpersonal firearm violence metrics.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand additional uses for trauma registry data outside of clinical care/best practices
2. Learn tracking and trending of various trauma mechanisms in a given community, including firearm violence
3. Identify ways to use trauma registry data as support for internal /external trauma program growth

The CAM-ICU is a diagnostic algorithm to assess for delirium by identifying the four features of this disorder that distinguishes it from other forms of cognitive impairment. These four features are: acute onset or fluctuating course, inattention, altered level of consciousness, and disorganized thinking. Depending on how many features are present will determine if a patient is exhibiting signs of Delirium.

The main objective was to come up with a way to decrease delirium within our SICU to provide better patient outcomes, decrease unplanned extubations, and or improve our patients’ quality of life post-discharge. After the research had been completed, two goals were created for this project. The first was to identify patients that are positive using the CAM tool. The second goal was to manage delirium using the ABCDE protocol.

Bleeding is a potentially controllable complication leading to early traumatic death. Understanding hemorrhage and the subsequent coagulopathy provides opportunities to assess and halt hemorrhage. This session will explore the latest evidence using case studies for physical assessment and diagnostic interpretations to evaluate traumatic coagulopathy and making appropriate mechanical and pharmacological interventions to achieve hemostasis.

Learning Objectives:

1. The participant will interpret assessment and diagnostic data to evaluate traumatic coagulopathy
2. The participant will develop an intervention plan for hemorrhage based on their interpretation of assessment and diagnostic data
3. The participant will consider the uses of mechanical and pharmacological intervention to achieve hemostasis

In this session, attendees can expect to hear a Trauma Program Director’s journey through joining an elite team as a Trauma Resuscitation Nurse (TRN), transitioning from the bedside into a Director role leading that same team, and then joining another hospital system and starting her own TRN Team. Attendees will hear about the variety of ways these programs can be set up, the benefits of these elite teams, and the potential pitfalls.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to discuss different ways in which a Trauma Resuscitation Nurse team could be structured
2. Participants will be able to understand the benefits of having a Trauma Resuscitation Nurse team
3. Participants will be able to discuss and understand the ways in which a bedside nurse could prepare him/herself as a potential candidate for a Trauma Resuscitation Nurse team role

The damage of firearm violence in the United States is a serious Public Health concern. Patients who survive bullets that pierce their bodies may never fully recover from the emotional effects of their wounds. Studies indicate improved patient outcomes when providers identify and treat patients’ psychological burdens that may impede their recovery. This offers a window of opportunity for nurses to listen, support, and create an atmosphere of stability and hope for patients and their families.

Learning Objectives:

1. Examine challenges nurses face in their assessment of patients who experience psychological effects specific to non-fatal gunshot wounds
2. Develop an interdisciplinary plan of care to prevent long-term psychological complications and recidivism in patients experiencing nonfatal gunshot wounds
3. Integrate the knowledge of current studies on gun violence as a public health crisis into the patient’s short and long-term treatment plan during their recovery

Pediatric MTP is an infrequent but high acuity event, even in the busiest Trauma Centers. Staff often voice concerns regarding familiarity and competency with the process since its such a low frequency event. Pediatric MTP is also not a "one size fits all" event, even though most trauma centers have "one size fit all" protocols. This session is an overview of how an urban Pediatric Level I Trauma Center implemented a project to increase comfort during MTP as well as improve volumes given.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learners will be able to identify blood components, products, and volumes used during pediatric massive transfusion
2. Learners will be able to identify ways to review pediatric MTP and identify opportunities for PI projects

This presentation will explain spinal cord injury pathophysiology which provides the scientific basis for assessment strategies and therapeutic interventions. Abnormal neurologic assessment and monitoring findings will be interpreted. Evidence-based rationale for various therapies currently used to treat patients with cervical spinal cord injury will be described. Therapeutic interventions under investigation will be reviewed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Differentiate cervical spinal cord injuries based on type of lesion and degree of functional loss
2. Interpret abnormal assessment findings seen with patients that have sustained a cervical spinal cord injury
3. Formulate a plan of care, which includes current recommended evidence-based interventions for the patient who has sustained an acute cervical spinal cord injury and list two interventions being investigated for future use

Trauma centers need the most accurate data to properly assess the care given each patient and measure that against current standards. TQIP data analysis is an integral part of care for patients and gives providers a comprehensive picture of trauma management. Due to myriad of factors, data loss occurs in the best of facilities. This doesn't have to happen! Our tool helps identify lost data before reports are submitted and reduces the risk of feedback based on incorrect data submissions

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how to use TQIP or other data analysis feedback to identify areas of needed improvement in their program
2. Be able to develop and implement an accuracy improvement tool, based on the specific needs at their facility
3. Have the skills to use the tool for personal job performance improvement or coaching for trauma registry staff

PTSD after injury is one of the strongest correlates of post-injury quality of life. Evidence-based nurse-administered trauma-focused treatments have been identified to lessen the effects of PTSD and depression. This session will include the need for trauma centers to implement a PTSD screening and intervention protocol, lessons learned and steps undertaken for implementation of a nurse-administered treatment for trauma patients during a follow-up appointment after discharge from the hospital.

Learning Objectives:

1. The participant will be able to identify the key stakeholders to implement a nurse-administered treatment for PTSD
2. The participant will be able to verbalize potential barriers to implementing a new treatment
3. The participant will be able to verbalize the importance of a screening and intervention protocol for PTSD

The purpose of this session is to explain the performance improvement process with emphasis on the primary and secondary review sections. By integrating different specialties that can provide insight into possible performance issues, care is seen across the care continuum, not just in the acute phase. The multidisciplinary approach also assists other disciplines in understanding the quality indicators to which trauma patients are held in the PI process.

Learning Objectives:

1. Overview of the performance improvement process
2. Highlighting the primary and secondary phases of the PI process
3. Explanation of incorporating different disciplines in the primary review process; and why it is helpful to identify PI issues
4. Barriers faced when including other disciplines and how to overcome those barriers
5. Data keeping and the follow-up process when a PI issue is identified
6. Process for merging data between primary and secondary review

Workplace violence is an act or threat of violence by patients, visitors or other employees. The rising rate of workplace violence against healthcare workers nationally and internationally has negatively impacted the nursing workforce, leading to burnout and recruitment and retention challenges. Join our panelists in a discussion as they share innovative methods for mitigating workplace violence and supporting nurses across three different care settings within an urban, Level 1 Trauma Center.

1. Describe the increased prevalence of WPV and its impact on healthcare workers’ performance across the continuum of care
2. Improve preparation and prevention strategies to manage incidents, competencies and required reporting as it relates to WPV
3. Understand how workplace violence can negatively impact clinician’s mental health, perceptions of work place safety and retention

1. IR: Agreement to Needle in Under 60 With Use of Cellphone Artificial Intelligence for Direct Communication (Ann Quinlan, RN, MSN, TCRN)
2. The Impact of Nurse-Driven Centralized Spinal Orthoses Program on a Post-Surgical Unit (Amber Odom, BSN, RN, CMSRN)
3. Forced-Air Underbody Warming in the Emergency Department to Prevent Hypothermia (Kristi Bonny, BSN, RN)

1. How do hospital-specific data dictionaries impact competency level with data collection: A national survey (Lori Kennard, RHIA, CSTR, CAISS)
2. Concomitant Mental Illness Diagnoses and Likelihood of Trauma Recidivism (Molly Bauer, PhD, MSN, RN, CEN)
3. Improving Child Physical Abuse Screening Through an Electronic Health Record-based System and Dashboard (Todd Nickoles, MBA, BSN, RN)

This panel aims to address challenges faced by diverse trauma leaders, opportunities to improve trauma quality reviews through a deiversity, equity, and inclusion lens, and changes in practice needed to enhance the management of trauma patients across the spectrum of gender identification.

This session describes the impact of war in Ukraine on nursing practice related to both civilian and military war wounded. The goal of the collaboration between trauma nursing leaders from the United States and Ukrainian leadership was to promote and elevate trauma nursing practice. Emphasis was on clinical enhancements, trauma education, and prevention of complications during this on-site collaboration in an Emergency Center, Burn Hospital and Pediatric hospital in Lviv, Ukraine during war. At the completion of this session, the participant will be able describe the global collaboration of trauma nursing to enhance nursing practice in Ukraine during war.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the impact of supply chain disruptions to delivery of healthcare
2. Understand how changes in population demographics are affecting the delivery of healthcare and healthcare staffing
3. Understand how future technology can protect and change Heathcare supply disruptions.

Trauma is not equally distributed among the general population. Disparities in trauma care are evident in determinants of health, access to care, and quality of care for injured patients. Evidence based research is helping to identify and bridge quality and equity. The session will explore areas to incorporate in trauma care that support quality outcomes and improve health equity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe disparities in trauma care
2. Identify contributing factors to disparities in trauma care
3. Propose approaches to address disparities in trauma care

This session will discuss the progression of changes and challenges of critical care and trauma nursing in the past 50 years, including personal perspectives on the nursing profession, clinical advances, and trauma care.

Legalized recreational marijuana use in states that was voter approved have demonstrated increased risk of motor vehicle crashes. Positive and negative health effects will be illustrated. Demonstration of use of retrospective data from a suburban Level 1 trauma center can enable nurses to predict potential adverse outcomes and further assist the nurse to properly manage pain and comorbidities. Trauma registry data offers a unique data source to study the effects marijuana and its outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. To gain an understanding of how recreational marijuana use impacts how nurses can effectively collect assessment data of use both acute and chronic
2. To examine the evolution over 10-year experience how everyday practice changes
3. To describe the importance of screening over time and studying the effect of marijuana’s use among the trauma population

Across the nation, 46 million Americans live in rural areas, representing 14% of the US population but up to 60% of trauma deaths. In this session, we will review challenges to rural trauma care including access difficulties and resource/staff limitations. We will discuss the importance of team development as well as structured quality/performance evaluation in rural care and how RTTDC and Rural TOPIC courses have been successfully implemented to aid these processes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Provide an overview of the unique challenges of rural trauma care
2. Discuss the role of the Rural Trauma Team Development (RTTDC) and Rural TOPIC courses in providing a structured approach to team performance and quality improvement at rural institutions
3. Describe the importance of rural facility integration into the larger trauma system

TOPIC focuses on skill development for trauma program staff who are involved in the ongoing evaluation of trauma care across the continuum. It offers concrete strategies for the monitoring of trauma care, loop closure, and patient outcomes. The course provides practical lessons for all levels of trauma centers, from entry level to those who have achieved a mature phase of program development. It consists of 12 modules in PI and outcomes assessment, and includes over 50 case study examples, sample documents, and templates. TOPIC can now be co-taught by both nurse and physician faculty.

There is a separate registration fee to attend this course.

STN and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS- COT) have partnered to develop the Optimal Trauma Center Organization & Management Course. Both physicians and nurses teach this collaborative course. Its goal is to enhance trauma center performance and to improve patient care through implementation of the ACS COT Trauma Center Standards.

Whether yours is a mature verified center or a hospital preparing for designation, this course is designed to help participants develop strategies, processes, and operations to support trauma systems based on their unique environments. It is designed to help you take your trauma center to the next level, beyond verification or designation. The nuances of implementing or improving upon trauma center criteria within the structure of your specific facility will be reviewed in an interactive forum.

There is a separate registration fee to attend this course.

This course will feature expert speakers covering topics specific to the body of knowledge in trauma nursing across the continuum of care, from injury prevention through reintegration to home.

Please note: Participation in the STN TCRN Preparation Course is not mandatory, and will not impact your eligibility to sit for the national certification examinations offered by BCEN®. Disclaimer: Persons participating in the STN TCRN Preparation Course to help prepare for an examination offered by BCEN® acknowledge that there is no guarantee stated or implied that participation will assure passage of an examination. STN makes no warranties about the content of the STN TCRN Preparation Course.

There is a separate registration fee to attend this course.