Developing trauma care systems: the trauma nurse coordinator

Emergency medical services/trauma care systems offer unique opportunities for nurse administrators in community hospitals and medical centers to encourage a professional practice model for trauma care in the department of nursing. The first article in this series (May 1988) provided an overview of trauma care and the planning and operational functions of nursing departments in trauma care facilities. In this article, the authors acknowledge trauma nursing as a specialty and discuss the role and functions of the trauma nurse coordinator in organizing and providing trauma care.