Trauma Services Nurse Recertification
Trauma Nurse Specialist Recertification Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it still required to take a test the first time I recertify?
A: No. Everyone can do CE or exam to recertify every time.
Q: What are my options to recert by CE?
A: You can re-certify by trauma – specific CE (4O hr/2 yrs)
Currently there is a waiver to allow 64 hrs / 4yrs … all of the CE could be recent). Waiver will expire 4/09.
Q: Where can I find out information about the TNS renewal process, forms to use, etc?
A: Online at http://www.traumanurse.info
The TNS CE Summary with all the rules of recertification, what subjects count, for how many hours, etc. are all located at this single site.
Q: Are the TNS exams hard?
A: The TNS exam remains a standardized test measuring an advanced level of knowledge.
Questions are based on course objectives and are designed to measure concepts that have been deemed high frequency and highly critical to a TNS’s scope of practice based on a needs assessment conducted with Illinois nurses. They adhere to a blueprint and table of specifications that is available to candidates before they take the exam.
For more information contact your TNS Course Coordinator for Region 6:
Mary Beth Voights RN, MS, APN, NP/CS
Carle Foundation Hospital – Level I
611 West Park Street
Urbana, IL 61801
217-383-3204
MaryBeth.Voights@carle.com
Trauma Nurse Recertification Checklist
The Trauma Nurse Web site is an excellent resource for the forms you will need to submit as well as sources of free/low cost CE.
- Completed TNS CE Summary Form specifying which hours are in which 2 year period and noting the ‘rules’ in the middle column outlining what counts / for how much / to what limit (ie, Basic CPR, specialty certifications and ACLS instructor for modules other than Airway or Asystole/ PEA do not count)
- Attach supporting evidence for those items that you have done independent of Carle. (We have all your monthly quizzes, Region 6 Symposium and M&M activity generated via Carle recorded in a database so you need not send all of that back to us. Save your postage!)
- Specify (with evidence) the trauma – specific hours from multi-topic conferences or courses. (ie, PHRN courses will have both medical and trauma info presented. Only the trauma-specific hours will count for TNS and your EMS Coordinator needs to delineate that amount for us using a note or highlighted agenda / schedule.)
- TNS CE Summary Form includes your Social Security # and Driver’s License #. (IDPH will not process your renewal without them.)
- Contact information on TNS CE Summary Form of how to reach you in the event of questions, hours needing clarification or missing items. (address is fine if lag time is present. But if you are cutting it close to the deadline, give your TNS Course Coordinator an email or phone number so they can get the info back to you quickly. At Carle, that is Mary Beth Voights: MaryBeth.Voights@Carle.com is the best way to reach her.)
- Child Support Form – appropriate checkbox marked, signed and dated
- Copy of your current TNS license
- Late fee if applicable
- $10 fee payable to Carle Foundation Hospital if the CE packet is arriving less than 30 days prior to your license deadline
- $50 fee in the form of a cashier’s check payable to Illinois Dept Public Health if your packet is past but within 60 days of your license expiration date
Trauma Nurse Online CE Sites
Free General CE Sites
Free Trauma Specific CE Sites
At a Cost Sites