Trauma Nurse Program Coordinator

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Trauma Nurse Program Coordinator, a full-time licensed RN is responsible for managing the trauma program to ensure the hospital maintains the desired trauma designation status. This role involves coordinating with the Trauma Medical Director to oversee clinical activities, trauma education, prevention efforts, , trauma registry, management activities as per hospital needs and quality improvement initiatives. Additionally, the Trauma Coordinator plays a key role in the survey designation process and collaborates with the Trauma Medical Director in coordinating medical record reviews and co-chairing the Trauma Committee.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Ensure Compliance and Designations:

• Assure hospital maintains compliance with all mandated regulations, including quality improvement functions.
• Assure hospital maintains applicable state trauma designations.
• Work towards obtaining and maintaining state stroke and chest pain designations.

Case Review and Liaison Duties:

• Perform concurrent review of trauma, stroke, and chest pain cases.
• Serve as a liaison between medical staff, hospital, pre-hospital providers, and state trauma agencies.

Educational Programs and Committee Coordination:

• Identify needed hospital-wide trauma, stroke, and chest pain educational/training programs and assist in the preparation and presentation.
• Coordinate regular meetings of Trauma and develop minutes and other documentation of committee activities.

Data Management and Analysis:

• Collect and maintain trauma, stroke, and chest pain data in accordance with hospital and state requirements.
• Perform chart abstracting/reviews and analyze and monitor patient treatment and care according to state/hospital established criteria.

Active Role and Representation:

• When present at the hospital during working hours, provide assistance with trauma, stroke, and chest pain activations and provide other ED nursing care as assigned.
• Represent Gila Regional Medical Center in the Regional EMS/Trauma Advisory Council (ReTrAC).

Collaboration with Trauma Medical Director and Clinical Support:

• Work closely with the Trauma Medical Director to continuously monitor and evaluate the trauma program.
• Participate in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the trauma programs of the organization.
• Demonstrate individual accountability for clinical practice and services as a clinical resource by participating in providing trauma care.
• Coordinate nursing care aspects of the trauma director, resuscitation protocols setting priorities for care.
• Review the plan of care for each trauma patient to ensure that trauma protocols are initiated and followed.
• Assist staff in problem-solving related to the care of trauma patients.
• Maintain current knowledge of trauma patient care via literature review and state trauma networking.
• Update trauma skills performance for all trauma team members.
• Work with ED Director for proper orientation for all new trauma team members.
• Participate in hospital-wide trauma education for support of ancillary services.
• Attend the trauma management committee meetings with the Medical Director.
• Additional duties as assigned.

EDUCATION & TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing preferred.
• Current New Mexico or Multi-State Licensure
• Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) certification within six months of employment 
• Basic Life Support (AHA)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support - ACLS 
• Pediatric Life Support - PALS 
• Basic EKG – within 6 months from hire
• ESI Index Severity (Relias) within 3 months of hire
• CEN preferred.
• AAAM AIS course, TOPIC, ATS Trauma Registry course, any other course as required by the NM State trauma system within first 6 months of hire.

WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

• Three years emergency nursing experience required.
• Trauma level designation experience preferred.
• Problem Solving: The individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Interpersonal Skills: The individual maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas, and exhibits willingness to try new things. Models a commitment to high quality customer service.
• Oral Communication: The individual speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations.
• Written Communication: The individual edits work for spelling and grammar, presents numerical data effectively, and is able to read and interpret written information.
• Planning/Organizing: The individual prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently, and develops realistic action plans.
• Quality Control: The individual demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Adaptability: The individual adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and is able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Dependability: The individual is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction, and solicits feedback to improve performance.