First it was the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing’s May 2020 graduates exceeding the NCLEX pass rate by nearly nine percentage points. Now, 10 Blessing Hospital nurses have demonstrated their academic and clinical expertise by achieving a 100% pass rate on their first attempt at passing the Illinois Trauma Nurse Specialist (TNS) examination.
The purpose of the Trauma Nurse Specialist Program is to increase the competency of nurses in the delivery of care to critically ill or injured patients.
The TNS Class of 2020 consisted of the following Blessing Hospital Emergency Center nurses: Becky Bliefnick, Sarah Buck, David Day, Ashley Harvey, Ashley Holland, Jacklyn Oglesby Juliann Pryor, Kelli Terwelp, and Nicole Walton; and Blessing ICU nurse Susan Cammack.
Blessing has cosponsored an annual TNS certification education course, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health, for 13 years. Michael Richard, RN, PHRN, BA, TNS, Trauma Coordinator, Emergency Medical Services, Blessing Hospital, facilitates the course.
“We were very pleased with the efforts of this class, even when several of the nurses had to meet virtually due to the pandmedic,” he said.
Michael added that the expertise shared by members of Quincy’s provider community make the program a success.
“I want to thank each of the speakers who gave of their time and talent to help others learn, which improves the care of the trauma patient at Blessing Hospital,” he concluded.
The speakers at the 2020 Trauma Nurse Specialist Class were:
Dr. Mark Baker – Thoracic Trauma
Dr. Christian Zwick – ABD Trauma
Dr. Pamela Friye – Trauma in Pregnancy
Dr. Christopher Solaro – Shock
Dr. George Crickard III – Musculoskeletal Trauma
Dr. Eric Sieck – Ocular Trauma
Amy Bates, NP – Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology
Shanna Winter – Trauma in the Elderly
Sandy Behl – Fluid and Electrolytes
Dennis Behl – Kinematics of Trauma
Mike McCarter - EMS/Trauma Systems
Danielle Lorenson – Ventilators
Eric Bean – Airway and Respiratory A&P
Rita Schaefer - Assessment of trauma