WAC 246-976-885   Educational requirements -- Designated trauma care service personnel.  (1) To allow for timely and orderly establishment of the trauma system, the department shall consider that education requirements established in this chapter for all personnel caring for trauma patients in a designated trauma care service, have been met if:

     (a) At the time of initial designation, twenty-five percent of all personnel meet the education and training requirements defined in this chapter;

     (b) At the end of the first year of designation, fifty percent of all personnel meet the education and training requirements defined in this chapter;

     (c) At the end of the second year of designation, seventy-five percent of all personnel meet the education and training requirements defined in this chapter; and

     (d) At the end of the third year of designation, and in all subsequent designation periods, ninety percent of all personnel meet the education and training requirements defined in this chapter.

     (2) To meet the requirements for a trauma life support course:

     (a) Emergency department registered nurses in levels I, II, III and IV trauma care services, and in levels I, II, and III pediatric trauma care services, shall have successfully completed a trauma nurse core course (TNCC), or a department-approved equivalent that includes a minimum of sixteen contact hours of trauma-specific education on the following topics:

     (i) Mechanism of injury;

     (ii) Shock and fluid resuscitation;

     (iii) Initial assessment;

     (iv) Pediatric trauma;

     (v) Stabilization and transport;

     (b) Registered nurses in critical care units in level I or II trauma care services shall have successfully completed a minimum of eight contact hours of trauma-specific education;

     (c) Registered nurses in critical care units in level III trauma care services shall have successfully completed a minimum of four contact hours of trauma-specific education;

     (d) For level IV services, if your written scope of trauma service includes critical care for trauma patients, registered nurses in critical care units shall have successfully completed a minimum of four contact hours of trauma-specific education.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.168.060 and 70.168.070. 04-01-041, § 246-976-885, filed 12/10/03, effective 1/10/04. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.168 RCW. 98-04-038, § 246-976-885, filed 1/29/98, effective 3/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040 and chapters 18.71, 18.73 and 70.168 RCW. 93-01-148 (Order 323), § 246-976-885, filed 12/23/92, effective 1/23/93.]