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Oregon Health Authority

Trauma Education Opportunities

Training Requirements

Emergency Nurses and ICU Nurses

Emergency nurses and ICU nurses who work in an Oregon-designated trauma hospital and assist with trauma resuscitation in the emergency department must take the Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum course (TNCC) followed by either recertification of the initial course or 16 hours of trauma-related CEUs over four years.

Emergency Department Physicians and Surgeons

Oregon emergency department physicians and surgeons who care for trauma patients in a designated Oregon trauma hospital must complete an initial ATLS course (below), followed by either a full or refresher ATLS course or 16 hours of trauma-related Category I CME over four years. Two of the hours must address acute pediatric trauma management.

Education Opportunities

Essential Trauma Courses for Physicians and Nurses

Required Education for Trauma Registrar

The Trauma Registrar must attend or have previously attended two courses within 12 months of being hired:
  1. The American Trauma Society’s Trauma  Registrar Course or equivalent provided by a state trauma program
  2. The Association of the Advancement of Automotive Medicine’s Injury Scaling Course or an equivalent local course.

Continuing Education Opportunities

Oregon Trauma Conference

Trauma Guidance

Brain Injury Guidelines (BIG)

*Updated April 2025*
In July 2024, the Oregon State Trauma Advisory Board (STAB) identified an opportunity to support hospitals in adopting Brain Injury Guidelines (BIG) in caring for adult trauma patients (ages 16 and up) with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The BIG criteria have demonstrated safety for management of adult trauma patients with TBIs, and do not require direct evaluation by neurological surgeons for minimally injured patients (category BIG 1). STAB recommended that trauma hospitals throughout Oregon consider adopting the BIG 1 criteria for treatment of adult patients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Oregon BIG 1 Guidance

Oregon BIG 1 Education PowerPoint