Trauma Nurse Leads in a Level I Trauma Center: Roles, Responsibilities, and Trauma Performance Improvement Outcomes.

Grand Strand Medical Center is a 325-bed, Level I adult, Level II pediatric trauma center located in Myrtle Beach, SC. In September 2015, a Trauma Nurse Lead (TNL) program was developed and implemented to allow for consistent, expert clinical nursing care across the trauma continuum. This TNL program has led to measurable improvements in patient care and quality metrics. These improvements include decreases in hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, arrival to administration of massive transfusion and anticoagulation reversal, and arrival to final disposition time. The TNL program has ensured the presence of highly trained trauma nurses at all times within the hospital. With the consistent availability of these highly trained and specialized nurses, trauma patients are cared for more efficiently and in a timely manner.