Transport Nursing Is Up Close and Personal at DisastER Area

For a nurse who thrives in the fast-paced environment of the emergency department, who is comfortable with a wide range of unexpected situations, who keeps calm amid chaos and brings order to confusion, transport nursing might be an intriguing specialty. One recurring favorite in the Experience Hall will help nurses learn what it’s like to be an air or surface transport nurse.

Nurses who want to explore a career in the adrenaline-fueled world of transport nursing should consider DisastER, a set of interactive education sessions on Oct. 1 and 2 in the Experience Hall during Emergency Nursing 2022.

With the help of two helicopters, a fixed-wing plane fuselage and an ambulance, transport professionals will present 12 sessions on a range of topics such as how to become a transport nurse, airway management and pediatric care.

The vehicles inside the building are not just props. ENA, in partnership with the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association, wanted attendees to get up close and personal with the vehicles and feel what it’s like to care for a patient on the way to the hospital.  And they went to great lengths to bring this massive equipment into the Experience Hall.

“We had to shut down the street, the helicopter blades had to be removed and it takes special trucks to tow them into the convention center,” explained Nikole Regina Good, executive director of ASTNA. “We have some excellent education by very experienced flight and ground transport nurses, and we know having the vehicles at the conference is beneficial to the learning since it gives members the opportunity to see how things function in this arena.”

Emergency nurses are already familiar with the basic role of a transport nurse. After all, they receive the ED patients as they are brought in — and deliver the next step of their care.  

Even though the two share some of the same qualities and perspectives, transport and emergency nursing differ in unique ways. The 30-minute presentations will provide a taste of what might be a fulfilling career for some — but Good emphasizes that any emergency nurse can get something out of the education session.

“Even if they are not necessarily interested in going into transport nursing, DisastER gives them a better understanding of where their patients are coming from and how they are taken care of en route to the ED,” Good said.

This interactive experience has proven to be one of the most popular features at previous Emergency Nursing conferences, and it’s not just about the vehicles. With flight and ground transport nurses available to answer questions, many emergency nurses wanting to know more about transport nursing have discovered a new passion and opened a new door in their careers.

“We hope to see everyone there,” Good said.

Visit the website of the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association to find more resources on the profession.

A Showcase for Big Ideas and New Technologies

Seven sponsored sessions presented by ENA partner organizations will bring even more education to the Experience Hall. The Insights and Innovations programming will showcase new technologies and clinical guidelines for emergency care, discuss current trends and suggest ways to better support nurses.

In an Oct. 1 session sponsored by Elsevier, clinical nurse executive Tammy Purcell will discuss a case study of a Level I trauma center and how their approach to orientation positively impacted knowledge acquisition and retention. The session, “ED Orientation in Today’s Climate: How to Succeed” will be held from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. Mountain time.

The session “Professional Boundaries: A Path to Sustainable Nursing,” sponsored by Relias, features Cara Lunsford’s dynamic storytelling of real nurses rekindling their passion and setting boundaries during a global pandemic. Her session, starting at 2:15 p.m. on Oct. 2, will inspire emergency nurses to transform the industry in which they serve.

For more information on the Insights and Innovation sessions, check the “Sponsored Program” tab in the ENA Events app. Other highlights include (all listings in Mountain time):

Preventable Diabetes Related Emergencies: Can Real-Time CGM Help?
11:15 to 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 1; sponsored by DexCom, Inc.
Learn how real-time continuous glucose monitoring can help people better manage their diabetes and reduce hospitalizations for DKA and severe hypoglycemia.

Fast Track Approach to Head Injury Triage
1 to 1:15 p.m. on Oct. 1; sponsored by BrainScope Company Inc.
Even triaged to fast track, patients with mild head injuries can experience long stays. Learn how intuitive technology can integrate into patient care, improving the patient and nurse experience.

Emergency Services Trends, Observations and Recruiting Best Practices
1:30 to 2 p.m. on Oct. 1; sponsored by AMN Healthcare, Inc.
Hear what emergency services leaders at hospitals across the country have to say about ongoing trends and the state of health care.

Supporting Nurse Resiliency with a Trauma Informed Approach in the Behavioral Health Crisis
11:15 to 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 2; sponsored by Philips
This presentation will offer approaches to better care for patients having a behavioral health crisis, as well as tools to support the care team, such as self-care tactics and methods for mitigating crises.

Why High Flow Is Vital in your ED
Noon to 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 2; sponsored by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
This fast-paced lab will use healthy volunteers to show the hands-on application of High Flow Therapy for respiratory compromised patients. It will also cover key takeaways from the latest clinical practice guidelines.