ACS ATCN

Course Overview

The Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) course is an advanced educational program designed for registered nurses seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in managing multiple trauma patients. Developed by the Society of Trauma Nurses (STN) and taught in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS) program, the ATCN course has been operational for over 25 years and is offered in various states and internationally. The ATCN program combines didactic learning with hands-on, scenario-based skills stations. Nurses attend shared lectures with physicians from the ATLS course, promoting team collaboration and a unified approach to trauma care. Topics include initial assessment, airway management, abdominal and thoracic trauma, shock, head and spinal cord injuries, pediatric trauma, and trauma in pregnancy. The course offers two formats: a traditional two-day program and a hybrid option. In the hybrid model, students complete online modules and a pre-test before attending in-person skills stations, testing, and a final written exam. Upon successful completion, participants earn 17.5-19 continuing education credits and receive verification from the STN-ATCN program, empowering nurses to provide high-quality, lifesaving trauma care.