Recently, a group of West Coast General Hospital nurses completed two courses focused on the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to operate effectively in our emerency department.
The first course, EPICC (Emergency Practice, Interventions and Care Canada), focused on the trauma care of adult patients coming to the ER. The course was conducted using simulation, small and large group discussions, and presentation of issues common to an emergency department environment. The nurses covered trauma systems and accreditation, injury prevention for staff, biomechanics and the mechanism of injury, trauma resuscitation and treatment of shock - all key topics.
The second course is called the CAMAN course (collaborative advanced management of airway for nurses). As its name implies, it focuses on the role of nurses in various settings. Topics covered include video assisted laryngoscopy; the insertion of rescue devices (King laryngeal tubes, LMA); post intubation managemen;, elective extubation in the ER; and when, why and how to perform awake, delayed and rapid sequence intubation.
