Scottsbluff, NE - Most people wouldn’t think of Scottsbluff, Nebraska as a likely site to host national medical training events, but that is exactly what happened in early September. Thanks to flight nurse/paramedic Tracy Meyer, Regional West Air Link flight team members hosted nurses and paramedics from around the nation under the auspices of the Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA). Meyer, who also serves as an ASTNA instructor, knew her coworkers and community could do just as well as the larger cities that usually host these kinds of events.

‘We’re proud that Tracy had enough confidence in us and in our program to host a national trauma nurse advanced training course (TNATC),” said Susan Cozine, Director of emergency services. “The competition to host trainings is tough—only 14 trainings are held per year in the U.S.”

Hosting the training requires a large commitment of both time and resources. “We relied heavily on all of our partnering pre-hospital emergency medical agencies and western Nebraska Community College for the needed resources,” said Meyer. “It was a great example of how we can all work together to achieve great things.”

Her fellow flight team members weren’t the only ones impressed with the caliber of training that Tracy put together. Warren Shaulis, NREMT-P, from Black Hill Life Flight in Rapid City, South Dakota, attended the class and commented, “The lecture material, hands-on practical labs and networking opportunities make this the best class I have had the opportunity to attend in a number of years, Thank you Air Link!”

Doug Wulf, RN, BSN, CCRN, CFRN, EMT, Chief Flight Nurse for AirCare in Kearney, NE and a course participant said, “The course offered by the ASTNA is an amazing opportunity for transport nurses to learn and practice skills and knowledge that we are bound to but don't have many chances to simulate outside our field experience.”

“As the phrase goes, ‘Practice makes perfect’ and the more opportunities we have to practice these advanced skills, the better prepared we will be to perform them adequately and professionally,” explained Wulf, “TNATC offers those chances in a setting filled with fellow flight nurses with a variety of experience levels. The fellowship available during a TNATC class is also invaluable with true friendships formed and reinforced.”

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.