Emergency Nurses Complete Training

5/9/2011

Boyles, Armstrong Receive Certification

Two Emergency Department nurses at Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney recently became certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Marlissa Boyles, RN, and Daniel Armstrong, RN, completed the course at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.  The internationally accepted curriculum is developed by the American College of Surgeons and is presented by Trauma Surgeons.  It also involves about a month of self study and extensive reading to prepare for the final examination.

According the American College of Surgeons, the Advanced Trauma Life Support course teaches a systematic, concise approach to the early care of the trauma patient. This course is vital to guiding care for the injured patient in emergency department trauma rooms. ATLS course training provides a common language that can save lives in critical situations.

Boyles and Armstrong said the instructors used an evidence based practice model in teaching the course, which means they learned from real life examples.  They saw firsthand how the skilled delivery of trauma nursing at the rural hospital level can make all the difference for the patient’s outcome once they have been transferred to a trauma facility.

“We learned about the importance of the ‘golden hour’ in trauma, and how it is critical that we perform at our best during this time for the long term benefit of the patient,” Boyles said.

“What we do at RMH is a baseline for the care that will be provided later,” Armstrong added.  “This course was very beneficial because many times we have to send our patients to a Level II Trauma Center, like Deaconess.”

Boyles said she and Armstrong feel their completion of this certification will have a positive impact on the care provided to trauma patients.  She said they can also bring what they have learned to their co-workers and help implement Evidence Based Guidelines / Practices related to trauma care at RMH.

Armstrong said that he and Boyles looked at this continuance of their education as a “welcome challenge” and are happy to be able to deliver this level of trauma nursing at RMH.