Trauma

Oct. 01, 2024

Pediatric Trauma Across the Care Continuum (PTACC), a course that is a joint project of the Pediatric Trauma Society and the Society of Trauma Nurses, is now available. Course designers from the Society of Trauma Nurses and leaders within pediatric trauma centers nationwide developed PTACC to address a need for pediatric trauma education beyond initial trauma resuscitation.

PTACC ensures nurses receive appropriate training for the care they provide, and the course meets the American College of Surgeons standards for Mayo Clinic's role as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, says Tom Halada, M.S.N., R.N., a pediatric trauma coordinator at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Jenna L. Savage, M.S.N., R.N., nursing education specialist for the Mayo Clinic Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and pediatric medical transport at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, says the course boosts the already robust PICU care provided for patients with traumatic injuries transferred from outside Mayo Clinic or who present directly to the emergency department.

"When they think of pediatric trauma care, many people envision the initial, fast-paced emergency department resuscitation," says Halada. "However, some patients require additional care, including hospital admission. So the professionals providing inpatient care for these children need comprehensive training for this period of time."

Savage echoes these sentiments underlining the need for the PTACC course.

"A low percentage of trauma patients requires critical care; however, those patients require a specialized skill set to care for them appropriately," says Savage. "This is an investment in nurse development and the pediatric trauma patients of our region who rely on us for the highest level of trauma care."

What PTACC offers

PTACC provides training in pediatric trauma care spanning post-initial resuscitation from admission through discharge of the injured child. Its developers created the course to provide a significant amount of information in one day, thereby lowering facilities' costs while reducing the time nurses spend away from the bedside.

Each PTACC course includes 21 attendees who learn about trauma's potential effects on each bodily system through interactive lectures. Attendees also participate in hands-on skill stations throughout the day and may download the PTACC training manual for ongoing reference. The course offers eight contact hours and American Nurses Credentialing Center accreditation.

Savage could not recommend this course more highly.

"PTACC is the only curriculum I've ever seen that truly focuses on care of the admitted trauma patient," she says. "It fills the educational gap for pediatric trauma nurses in the most cost- and time-effective way."

Another key aspect of inpatient trauma care for which PTACC helps trauma nurses prepare is working with injured children's families, says Savage. The course offers training on family-centered care, encompassing psychosocial support and strategies for addressing family issues, including those that involve abuse and neglect.

PTACC's intent is to attract attendees from various healthcare organizations involved in trauma care who then take the information back to their sites. Halada says his goal for PTACC is to improve pediatric trauma care throughout the trauma system.

"Trauma care operates as a network, and we all work together to provide pediatric patients with the best care," says Halada. "Trauma also requires quick decisions. When a regional hospital or emergency medical services determine that a pediatric trauma patient requires a higher level of care, they can be confident sending the patient to us as a pediatric trauma center with highly trained staff available 24/7."

Mayo Clinic in Minnesota PTACC implementation

In the fall of 2023, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota became the first in the state and the third site nationwide to implement a fully self-sustaining PTACC course with its own staff serving as instructors. Halada and Savage serve as campus course directors. Mayo Clinic PTACC leadership has chosen select pediatric medical transport team members as instructors for the course, each of whom maintains a nursing certification and Society of Trauma Nurses membership.

PTACC directors have designated pediatric critical care nurses as a priority for taking the course, with any additional openings filled by other inpatient trauma care professionals. Presently, Mayo Clinic's goal is for all PICU nurses to complete the PTACC certification. To date, three courses have been offered since PTACC's inception at the campus and 63 Mayo Clinic PICU nurses have attended the training. PTACC is now a PICU nurse requirement. New PICU nursing staff must complete the course after time on the floor, for context, and within one year of orientation.

Mayo Clinic's PTACC directors also plan to include its general pediatrics nurses in this training. They will start by training a select group of nurses as clinical guides for their unit of over 120 general pediatric nurses.

The fourth 2024 Mayo Clinic PTACC course is planned for this fall. In 2025, Mayo Clinic will offer at least four PTACC courses.

PTACC future availability for area trauma nurses

Pediatric trauma centers outside of Mayo Clinic have asked to participate in the PTACC course. The course directors are actively working on the administrative processes to open availability for external pediatric trauma nurse leaders. In the meantime, Halada anticipates limited availability for external pediatric trauma nurse leaders in upcoming PTACC courses after Mayo Clinic PICU staff registers.

The PTACC instructors also aim to determine the future instructor potential of external course registrants so that they can offer PTACC at their hospitals.

Halada says the Mayo Clinic PTACC directors' vision is to expand this course throughout the region, state and nation.

For any questions about the PTACC course offered at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, contact Halada at halada.thomas@mayo.edu.

For more information

Society of Trauma Nurses

Refer a patient to Mayo Clinic.