IT’S TRAUMA TUESDAY is

a Free Weekly Newsletter

Brought to you by TCAR Education Programs

For nurses and other clinicians practicing anywhere

along the trauma care spectrum

Take a quick test of your trauma care knowledge

Article of the Week

Traumatic Pneumothorax and Hemothorax

This week’s article reviews current evidence-based approaches to assessing and managing traumatic pneumothorax and hemothorax. A key takeaway is that clinical stability and symptoms often guide intervention decisions more effectively than imaging findings alone. 

The authors discuss strategies to minimize complications, including infection prevention, appropriate chest tube management, and recognition of concerning chest tube output. The review also compares chest tube sizes and management options for retained hemothorax and prolonged air leaks, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring, timely reassessment, and multidisciplinary trauma care.

Click the link to view the article or watch a short AI-generated article summary (5 min 20 sec).
 

Blank JJ, de Moya MA. Traumatic pneumothorax and hemothorax: What you need to know. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2025;

Trauma Happenings

FREE Infographic: Caring for Older Adults in the ICU

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) has developed a helpful one-page infographic offering recommendations for managing geriatric patients in critical care settings. This handy tool is based on SCCM’s recently published guidelines. 

Click the link to view or download your own copy for reference.

Which Trauma Nursing Course Should I Take?

There are several excellent trauma training programs available, but the appropriate selection largely depends on your primary work site.

The American College of Surgeons’ Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (the “Gray Book”) lists 5 standardized trauma courses that satisfy its nursing education criteria for trauma center verification (Standard 8.2). These programs are:

• ATCN—Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses 
• TNCC—Trauma Nursing Core Course 
• PCAR—Pediatric Care After Resuscitation 
• TCAR—Trauma Care After Resuscitation 
• TNATC—Transport Nurse Advanced Trauma Course

However, the ACS stipulates that “nurses must participate in trauma CE corresponding to their scope of practice and patient population served.”

TNATC addresses the ground and air transport of the injured, while both ATCN and TNCC emphasize early resuscitative care, typically delivered in an emergency department.

Only TCAR and PCAR focus specifically on the educational needs of nurses caring for the injured in the INPATIENT setting, the OR, PACU, ICU, or Acute Care wards.

Kids, Don't Try This at Home

Did you know, your stomach is so acidic--featuring a pH level generally between 1.5 and 3.5--that it can dissolve certain metals, such as razor blades, over time?

--MDLinx

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