BCEN Updates

Evolving Excellence: Updating the TCRN Certification Exam

Written by: BCEN
Evolving Excellence: Updating the TCRN Certification Exam

Evolving Excellence: Updating the TCRN Certification Exam

Trauma Certified Registered Nurse Certification LogoEvery five years, BCEN convenes a distinguished panel of trauma nursing experts to spearhead a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) role delineation study (RDS), which ultimately delineates the knowledge required for competent practice in this specialty.

  • The 10-member 2024 Trauma Nursing Role RDS Advisory Committee consisted of TCRN-certified trauma nursing experts with experience across the trauma care continuum who collectively brought over 120 years of nursing experience and 99 years of trauma specialty experience to the process.

“Role delineation studies are a rigorous, industry best practice designed to ensure that our certification exams are accurate, current and valid,” said BCEN Director of Certification and Accreditation Amy Grand, MSN, RN, ICE-CCP.

What Nurses Need to Know About the 2024 Trauma Nursing RDS

An RDS centers around a survey of nurses within the specialty that focuses on the knowledge, skills and tasks essential for trauma nursing practice. The survey findings, combined with insights from the RDS Advisory Committee, guide the development of the exam content and structure, and leads to the publication of an updated exam content outline.   

Honoring the Expertise Behind the Trauma Nursing RDS

BCEN is grateful for the time, experience and contributions of the esteemed members of the Trauma Nursing Role Delineation Study (RDS) Advisory Committee. These civilian and military nurses hold a variety of roles—including bedside/clinical, education, performance improvement, trauma program management, and other leadership roles—at Level I, Level II and Level III trauma centers across the United States.  

2024 TCRN RDS Advisory Committee

  • Anthony Deluvia, Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis, MO)
  • Christopher Doran, University of Vermont Medical Center (Burlington, VT)
  • Kennetra Isler, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center (Houston, TX)
  • Deanna Jackson, Cook County Health (Chicago, IL)
  • Capt. Angela Leonardo, Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center at Nellis Air Force Base (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Rachel Norton, Chippenham Hospital (Richmond, VA)
  • Amanda Pringle, Kootenai Health (Coeur d’Alene, ID)
  • Heather Timmons, California Hospital Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Julia Truelove, MedStar Washington Hospital Center (Washington, DC)
  • Lindsey Werk, Banner University Medical Center (Phoenix, AZ)

BCEN also extends special thanks to the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) for their support in promoting the RDS survey, which helped ensure trauma nurses had ample opportunity to participate and contributed to a strong response.

Finally, BCEN appreciates every nurse who took the time to respond to the survey. Thank you for your commitment to the specialty and the nursing profession!  

Shaping the Future of Trauma Nursing

“The 2024 trauma nursing RDS reflects a strong commitment by the trauma nursing community to shape the future of trauma nursing,” said Grand. “BCEN is dedicated to advancing the trauma nursing specialty by offering the highest quality TCRN exam, driven by continuous improvements that reflect the evolving scope of trauma nursing and the critical needs of trauma patients. We invest a great deal of care and thought into empowering nurses working across the trauma care continuum to practice at the very top of their specialty.”