Lydia Voorhees, RN, TCRN, CEN
By Erin Flynn Jay
Lydia Voorhees, a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN®), wanted to prove to herself and her patients that she was not only a good ER/trauma nurse but a great one—with board certification to back it up. She certified to gain a higher level of confidence and to impart that same confidence to others. She has now been a TCRN® for over a year.
The Challenge of Trauma Care
As an ER nurse, Lydia found the most difficult part of preparing for certification was grasping the entire scope of trauma care.
“You need to be well versed in the entirety of the patient’s care—from the scene of the incident through the ED, surgery, ICU, rehab, and post-traumatic care,” she said.
Interacting with EMS, ICU staff, surgical trauma teams, social workers, and survivors expanded her perspective. She learned to see beyond the moment of care, applying that knowledge both in practice and in her certification preparation.
Study Strategy and Preparation
Voorhees’s best tactic was identifying her preferred learning style and sticking with it. She enjoyed books for steady review, note-taking, and reinforcing weak areas. But she thrived most in in-person learning.
She and a friend even traveled 1,000 miles to attend a TCRN prep class—then took the certification exam the very next day.
“Having both the slow osmosis of the text and then the flood of the intense course fresh in our minds let both of us recall the information much easier and pass,” she explained.
Because the TCRN® is a relatively new certification, Lydia wouldn’t change her approach. Trusted study materials plus the prep class gave her the preparation she needed.
Career Path and Work Environment
Lydia started her nursing career at one of the busiest trauma centers in the U.S., and trauma work quickly became part of her identity. She currently works nights in an ER that serves a wide population and is a designated trauma center in Washington State.
Her nights vary widely:
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Elderly trauma cases
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Frequent intoxication-related incidents
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Psychiatric emergencies
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Stroke patients (especially those on anticoagulants)
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Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs)
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Myocardial infarctions (MIs)
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Long-transport trauma cases
“Dead some nights, running codes and traumas like they are going out of style the next,” she said.
Certification Impact and Patient Advocacy
Her favorite part of being a TCRN® is having certification to back up her knowledge.
If her gut tells her to question an order, she can support that instinct with evidence-based confidence when advocating for patients.
She feels she helps patients most by:
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Understanding what happened in the field and why
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Acting as a stopgap between rushed provider orders and patient safety
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Preparing patients and families for next steps
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Offering compassion, perspective, and emotional support when the worst happens
Professional Growth and Advice
Lydia is also a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and plans to pursue the Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) credential next.
Her coworkers view her as a resource for trauma expertise—whether it’s direct patient care, communicating with families, or recognizing emotional limits. Her certification gives weight to her guidance.
What she wishes she had known early on:
“To be honest, emotional disconnect and/or a healthy emotional outlet. You need to find some way to not let the trauma—emotional, physical, or spiritual—bring you down as an individual. Regardless of what you see or feel on the job, you need to stay rested, healthy, happy, and fulfilled at home.”
👉 Learn more: Trauma Certified RN Certification Overview
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