Navigating Trauma Patients and Families Through Unfamiliar Territory.

BACKGROUND: Trauma teams work diligently to manage the complex medical needs of trauma patients. In addition to medical care, there is also a need to assist patients and their families as they navigate the emotional and physical journey of trauma. The role of trauma nurse navigator was developed to address these holistic needs. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to describe the implementation of a trauma nurse navigator role. METHODS: This article describes the development and implementation of a trauma nurse navigator role at a Level II trauma center in 2018. The trauma nurse navigator serves as a patient resource and utilizes creative problem solving to optimize care. The trauma nurse navigator also serves on the multidisciplinary team, working with providers, nursing staff, rehabilitation staff, and case management to provide seamless care to trauma patients. RESULTS: Implementation of the trauma nurse navigator role was well received by patients, families, and the multidisciplinary trauma team. The trauma nurse navigator role expanded the psychosocial support of trauma patients and increased patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Although other specialties have seen the benefits of including a patient navigator on the team, this is a potential for trauma centers as they strive to provide high-quality patient care.

Postintensive Care Syndrome: Feasibly Bridging Care at a Tertiary Trauma Center.

BACKGROUND: Advancements in critical care management have improved mortality rates of trauma patients; however, research has identified physical and psychological impairments that remain with patients for an extended time. Cognitive impairments, anxiety, stress, depression, and weakness in the postintensive care phase are an impetus for trauma centers to examine their ability to improve patient outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This article describes one center's efforts to intervene to address postintensive care syndrome in trauma patients. METHODS: This article describes implementing aspects of the Society of Critical Care Medicine's liberation bundle to address postintensive care syndrome in trauma patients. RESULTS: The implementation of the liberation bundle initiatives was successful and well received by trauma staff, patients, and families. It requires strong multidisciplinary commitment and adequate staffing. Continued focus and retraining are requirements in the face of staff turnover and shortages, which are real-world barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the liberation bundle was feasible. Although the initiatives were positively received by trauma patients and their families, we identified a gap in the availability of long-term outpatient services for trauma patients after discharge from the hospital.

A Tiered Approach to Trauma Education in the Emergency Department.

Although trauma centers are required to provide trauma education to nurses caring for trauma patients, there are no clearly defined standards for this education. In an effort to improve emergency department (ED) trauma nursing care, a tiered approach to ED trauma education (basic, intermediate, and advanced) was developed to provide specialized trauma education to a larger number of ED nurses at a Level II trauma center in Georgia. This tiered approach to ED trauma nurse education has resulted in the ability to quickly activate multiple trauma teams that work together competently and efficiently, leading to improved patient care and development of competent ED trauma nurses.