Travis AFB Nurse Recognized for Certified Trauma Nursing Excellence and Advocacy
OAK BROOK, IL (May 5, 2020) – The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), the benchmark for board certification across the emergency nursing spectrum, announced today that U.S. Air Force emergency services/trauma nurse First Lieutenant Mariah Pruett, NC, BSN, RN, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, TCRN, CCRN, from the 60th Medical Group/Emergency Services Flight at David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California, is the recipient of BCEN’s 2020 Distinguished TCRN Award. Travis AFB is home to the state-of-the-art David Grant USAF Medical Center (DGMC), which provides a full spectrum of care to more than 130,000 TRICARE eligible patients in the San Francisco/Sacramento area and 500,000 Northern California veterans.
Each year, BCEN recognizes one top Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to certified trauma nursing excellence while advocating for others to earn trauma nursing’s highest professional credential. The over 5,200 nurses who hold the TCRN have demonstrated advanced knowledge, expertise and clinical judgment across the trauma care continuum, from injury prevention and prehospital care, to acute care, to rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
“Whether she is delivering life-saving trauma care and stabilization for U.S. and Allied forces while on deployment, encouraging her peers to advance themselves and their trauma nursing practice through certification, or teaching weekly classes on trauma topics to over 100 special operations medics and paramedics, Lt. Pruett’s dedication to trauma care excellence is remarkable,” said BCEN Executive Director Janie Schumaker, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, CENP, CPHQ, FABC.
After earning the TCRN credential plus BCEN specialty certifications in flight nursing and pediatric emergency nursing in the same year, Pruett designed a mentorship program that increased the TCRN certification rate in the 60th Medical Group by 200%. Pruett also trained to serve on Critical Care Air Transportation Team (CCATT) and Tactical Critical Care Evacuation Team (TCCET) missions.
“Lt. Pruett has constantly let her achievements in patient care and certification shine as a bright example for those around her to follow,” said Major Michael C. Galante, DGMC Emergency Services Medical Director. “She continually strives for excellence in both her clinical knowledge and clinical care, elevating the knowledge and skill of those around her by doing so.”
“Becoming a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse has been a goal of mine since I first stepped foot into an emergency department,” said Pruett. “Earning this award shows how far I have come in my career, from a new nurse hungry to learn, to a skilled nurse running trauma bays, taking care of in-flight trauma, and advocating for my colleagues to earn their own certifications. It is an honor to receive BCEN’s Distinguished TCRN Award.”
Read more about Lt. Pruett at https://bcen.org/2020-tcrn-award-winner/
BCEN’s Annual Nurse and Organizational Awards
The winner of this year’s Distinguished TCRN Award was determined by a selection committee consisting of BCEN board members, staff and volunteer subject matter experts as well as a Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) official. BCEN is grateful for STN’s partnership in promoting the annual nomination process and sponsoring past winners’ travel to the awards presentation ceremonies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person presentation of the 2020 Distinguished TCRN Award is to be determined.
Every year, BCEN recognizes individual specialty certified emergency, trauma and transport nurses as well as hospitals and health systems that demonstrate and advance certified nursing excellence and advocate for emergency nurse board certification. Learn more about BCEN’s Distinguished Awards and National Certification Champion Awards at bcen.org/awards.
About BCEN
Throughout 2020, the independent, not-for-profit Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN®) is celebrating 40 years of robust certification programs fostering empowered nurses across the emergency spectrum who contribute noticeably to patient care, safety and outcomes. Over 55,000 BCEN board certifications are currently held by registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in emergency, flight, critical care ground transport, pediatric emergency and trauma nursing. BCEN offers the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN®), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN®), Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN®), Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN®) and Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN®) certifications. The CEN, CFRN, CPEN, and TCRN certification programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC). Learn more at bcen.org. Follow BCEN on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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