Evolving Excellence: Updating the TCRN Certification Exam
Every 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.
- More than 1,000 trauma nurses took part in the 2024 Trauma Nursing Role Delineation Survey—marking the largest response yet to a trauma nursing RDS.
- The new TCRN exam content outline goes into effect on November 29, 2025. (For complete details, visit the TCRN Study and Prepare page.)
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.”
2025 TCRN Exam Scoring Update
As a result of BCEN’s 2025 trauma nursing job analysis, an updated TCRN exam content outline will go into effect on November 29, 2025. The exam passing score will also be updated to reflect the latest exam content outline, as determined by the 2025 TCRN Passing Point Study (PPS).
- Updated TCRN Passing Score: 96/150 questions
- Effective Date: November 29, 2025
What We Learned from the 2025 TCRN Passing Point Study (PPS)
One of the final steps in BCEN’s regular exam maintenance schedule, the passing point study employs the judgment of even more volunteer nurse experts to systematically review the new outline and set a standard passing score.
“BCEN uses a criterion-referenced methodology to set a standard. The Angoff procedure’s underlying philosophy is that the passing standard should reflect the performance expected of minimally competent examinees, or those with the requisite capabilities commensurate with the eligibility requirements. This procedure requires judges to assign an expected performance rating to each test item, reflecting the likelihood that a minimally competent examinee would answer correctly,” explained Grand.
Special Thanks to the 2025 Trauma Nursing PPS Volunteer Committee
BCEN thanks the volunteer members of the 2025 TCRN PPS committee for contributing their time and expertise to ensure a fair passing score representative of the latest trauma nursing knowledge and competencies.
2025 TCRN PPS Advisory Committee
- Brooklyn Campbell, Common Spirit Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (Phoenix, AZ)
- Michael Gibson, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center (Santa Clara, CA)
- Dianna Grant, Fairview Park Hospital (Dublin, GA)
- Angela Harris, Texas Health (Fort Worth, TX)
- Erika Hill, IU Health Methodist (Indianapolis, IN)
- Kevin Kempista, Christiana Care Health System (Newark, DE)
- Adriana Marker, U of L Health (Louisville, KY)
- Mark Millet, Tufts Medical Center (Manchester, NH)
- Lauren Snodgrass, US Army, Ryder Trauma Center (Miami, FL)
How to Take the TCRN Exam
Ready to achieve the highest-level trauma nursing credential and get TCRN certified? Learn more about TCRN certification or contact BCEN.
