Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC)

Did you know that. . .
Trauma is the leading cause of death from infancy to adulthood, accounting for nearly 40% of all pediatric deaths. While only five percent of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits represent true life-threatening medical or surgical emergencies, acute illness still remains a dominant source of unnecessary pediatric deaths. In many instances, these preventable pediatric deaths are the result of delayed recognition and treatment by emergency department personnel. Proper intervention by educated emergency care professionals may have prevented such deaths and disabilities.

Consider these facts. . .
In spite of national pediatric trauma statistics, there are a limited number of EDs throughout the country that have specialized pediatric centers. Nurses working in today's EDs must strengthen their pediatric emergency nursing skills in order to meet the needs of this diverse population and provide quality nursing care.

Do you have the required knowledge. . .
As a nurse treating pediatric patients, you must have the knowledge and skills to positively affect patient outcomes. Could you answer the following questions:

• What is the child's average stroke volume?
• What is the appropriate method to obtain a comprehensive history from a child who is suspected of being maltreated?
• What is the appropriate treatment for tricyclic antidepressant overdose?
• What is the signifiance of petechia or purpura in the child?
• What are the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia in the neonate?

Why a course in Pediatric Emergency Nursing?
Recognizing the need for a course in pediatric emergency nursing, the Emergency Nurses Association developed the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC). Designed with the belief that knowledge and preparation are the core of any discipline, ENPC was developed to educate nurses on caring for acutely ill and injured children. The course teaches participants to recognize the ill or injured child and identify significant, yet subtle changes in the less acute child. Additionally, the course teaches all aspects of pediatric emergency nursing, including, but not limited to pediatric trauma or resuscitation. The ultimate goal of the course is to improve the care of the pediatric patient by increasing the knowledge, skill, and confidence of emergency nurses.

ENPC is the first course of it's kind offered on an international level, and is the only pediatric emergency nursing course written by pediatric nurse experts. It is also the only course that carries the endorsement of a major nursing specialty organization with the purpose of providing a consistent and standardized knowledge base and approach among nurses caring for the pediatric patient.

About the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course. . .
ENPC is a 16-hour course designed to provide core-level pediatric knowledge and psychomotor skills needed to care for pediatric patients in the emergency setting. The course presents a systematic assessment model, integrates the associated anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology, and identifies appropriate interventions. Triage categorization and prevention strategies are included in the course content. ENPC is taught using a variety of formats, including lectures, videotapes and includes skill stations that encourage participants to integrate their psychomotor abilities into a patient situation in a risk-free setting.

ENA's Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course provides participants the opportunity to strengthen and develop their pediatric emergency nursing skills while expanding their personal growth by collaborating with nurses from a variety of practice settings. ENPC brings together participants from various emergency department settings as well as nurses working in other specialties of nursing.

Course Highlightsbr> Highlights of the ENPC include:

• Performing a systematic triage assessment
• Completing a observational or across the room assessment
• Identifying subtle changes that indicate a worsening condition
• Helpful hints and tricks for pediatric care
• Cultural considerations in pediatric care
• Pain management in children
• Techniques for interacting with the child and family
• And more...

ENPC Course Content

• The Pediatric Patient
• Initial Assessment and Triage
• Respiratory Distress and Failure
• Cardiovascular Emergencies
• Medical Emergencies
• Child Maltreatment
• Toxicologic Emergencies
• Pediatric Trauma
• Crisis Intervention
• The Neonate
• Stabilization and Transport

• Pediatric Considerations: Respiratory Interventions, Vascular Access, Pain Management
  and Medication Administration and Positioning and Immobilization Techniques
• Pediatric Multiple Trauma
• Pediatric Resuscitation

Evaluation Methods
Successful completion of the course includes scoring a minimum of 80% on the 50 item multiple choice examination and demonstrating all critical steps and 70% of the total points in the evaluated skill stations. Participants have the ability to repeat the written examination or a psychomotor skill station if needed.

ENPC Verification
Verification will be issued from ENA with successful completion of the course. Verification remains current for four years.

Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECHs)
All participants are eligible to receive CECHs. The awarding of CECH is based on hours attended, regardless of evaluation outcomes.

Access
Individuals interested in participating in an ENPC course should contact the Course Operations Department of the ENA National Office by email or phone (800) 900-9659. Courses will be conducted as determined by need, as related to the number of participants, and by availability of instructors.