The ATCN course is taught concurrently with
ATLS®. This advanced course is designed for the registered nurse interested in increasing
their knowledge in management of the multiple trauma patient. The ATCN program has been
operational for over 15 years and has an excellent record of offering a superb trauma
educational program, and positive collaboration with the ACS Committee on Trauma State
Chapters. The ATCN program is currently being offered in Arizona, California, Ohio,
Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Hong Kong, Saudi
Arabia and Denmark. The ATCN Committee is continually receiving requests from other
regions, states, and countries to start this program in their areas.
If you are interested in having your state involved in ATCN, please
contact the ATCN Chair, Stephanie Lush at sllush@uci.edu
The nurse participants audit the ATLS® lectures. During
the ATLS® skill and testing stations, the nurses are separated from
the physician group and directed through ATCN skill stations. ATCN Skill stations
include:
Initial Assessment
Airway Management
Hemorrhagic Shock
Pediatric Trauma
Neurotrauma
Spine & Extremity Immobilization
ATCN Pre-Test Review
ATCN Triage Case Scenario Discussion
Initial Assessment & Management (Practice & Testing)
The Skill Stations are based on an interactive "hands-on: scenario-based approach
to adult education. The practical testing stations allow the ATCN students to
demonstrate the application of ATLS® and ATCN information on a moulaged
patient. An ATCN manual accompanies the ATLS® manual.
The ATCN program verifies successful completion of the ATCN course and
provides continuing education for completion of a course. ATCN and STN do not
certify or credential nurses.
