Unlike trauma education programmes that focus on prehospital and ED resuscitation, the PCAR course was specifically designed to give nurses and AHPs the foundational, evidence-based information and critical thinking skills necessary to care for injured children BEYOND the resuscitative phase, in emergency, theatre, critical care, ward, and rehab settings. Using a case-based format, learners follow trauma patients across their care continuum, from admission through discharge.
PCAR covers a wide range of pathophysiologic and clinical concepts, and is designed to be a broad, core-level programme, rather than an advanced or speciality-specific course. Although nurses are PCAR's largest audience, the information contained in this programme is relevant to physiotherapists, paramedics, social workers, occupational therapists, and others who interact with injured, hospitalised children.
For information about the course, click the Course Info tab.
An introduction to basic topics relevant to the care of the hospitalised paediatric trauma patient:
Learners engage in expanding case scenarios that address the care of hospitalised paediatric patients with injuries to major body systems. Each module introduces specific trauma care concepts including pathophysiology, patient assessment, and complications. Surgical, therapeutic, and nursing management options and outcome criteria are introduced while analysing children with:
Each expanding case scenario promotes critical thinking, knowledge synthesis, and clinical reasoning skills by inviting learners to:
By the end of the course, participants will be able to: