On April 25, BCEN was proud to announce our 2022 Distinguished TCRN Award winner:
Shayna Stevens, BSN, RN, TCRN
Trauma Clinician V, Trauma Department
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano
Plano, TX
What does this award mean to you?
I was incredibly honored to have been nominated and considered for this award. I have practiced in many different settings and roles throughout my nursing career, yet I had never felt compelled to earn a certification in nursing. Once I became a trauma clinician, I realized I had found the role I had been searching for. My new position brought passion for nursing back into my career. Winning this award only reinforces the commitment I made to become the best trauma nurse I could.
How does earning and maintaining the TCRN credential make a difference in your practice and roles?
When I joined the trauma department, I wanted to learn all I could about caring for trauma patients. I utilized the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) content outline as a means of identifying the aspects of care a trauma nurse should know. Studying for and earning the TCRN made me feel more prepared and knowledgeable about all aspects of trauma care — from injury prevention, prehospital care, acute care, rehabilitation, performance improvement, and education of others in caring for trauma patient.
I wanted to be able to provide exceptional trauma patient care, answer questions from the patient and family, and help other healthcare professionals who care for trauma patients provide outstanding care. This certification increased my confidence in caring for trauma patients. Holding the TCRN has also allowed me to have the confidence to teach fellow nurses, healthcare professionals, and community members how to care for trauma patients.
What difference has being a TCRN made for your patients and their families?
Becoming certified has improved my confidence as a trauma nurse. Earning my TCRN has helped me demonstrate to myself and others that I am familiar with all aspects of the trauma patient’s journey from injury to recovery. I have worked hard to understand the physical, social, and mental hurdles the trauma patient must overcome.
The certification has empowered me to connect with patients and their families to help the patient reintegrate into society after a devastating injury. I want to help all who come in contact with trauma patients to have the knowledge and skills they need to give our trauma patients the best care possible.
How does the TCRN advance emergency nursing?
The TCRN allows a nurse to increase his/her knowledge regarding trauma care. It provides the opportunity to better understand the toll a trauma can place on a patient’s life. It offers the nurse a deeper comprehension of traumatic injury processes. The TCRN also reinforces that trauma is a disease process, and as such, it requires specialized nursing care.
Here’s what Katherine Wright, who nominated Shayna, had to say:
“Shayna’s commitment to improving patient care and staff satisfaction is apparent in every interaction she has with staff and patients. She helped develop and refine the introduction to trauma care and trauma care advanced classes we offer to ED staff. She helps teach the STN trauma lecture series for staff. Shayna also does just in time education before, during and after trauma activations.
She is the chair of our unit’s shared governance council, the trauma department representative to the ED’s shared governance council and the trauma department representative to the hospital’s shared governance council.
Shayna is seen as a trauma expert across the hospital. Shayna’s focus on what is best for the patient and how she can help support her coworkers so they also focus on what is best for the patient and their family is a shining example of what professionalism in nursing should be about.”
Read more about Shayna and how she supports certification on her unit on the BCEN Awards page.
Read about all of BCEN’s 2022 Distinguished Award honorees here.
The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) is proud to recognize Shayna Stevens, BSN, RN, TCRN, our 2022 Distinguished TCRN Award recipient. This annual, national award honors one top board certified trauma nurse. Shayna is a Trauma Nurse V with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano in Plano, Texas, and she also resides in Plano.
