FAQ

Who is TCAR Education Programs?

TCAR Education Programs is an independent nurse-founded and nurse-directed organization based in Oregon. The TCAR course was created in 2008 by experienced trauma nurses with extensive clinical, teaching, and leadership experience (see About for details.) The PCAR (Pediatric Care After Resuscitation) class was first released in 2012. TCAR Education Programs is an independent organization neither owned nor controlled by a specific professional association.

How do TCAR and PCAR differ from other standardized trauma nursing courses?

The TCAR & PCAR programs were conceived to fill a huge gap in trauma nursing education. Existing standardized nursing courses (e.g., TNCC, ATCN, TPATC, ENPC) focus on trauma patient resuscitation. However, the special needs of trauma patients don't end at the emergency department's back doors. Inpatient nurses working in OR, PACU, ICU, Acute Care, Progressive Care, and Rehab settings continue to treat trauma patients for days and weeks following injury. In the post-resuscitation phase, the focus of care shifts from initial resuscitation to recovery, ongoing management, complication prevention, and reintegration. TCAR Education Programs courses specifically target the educational needs of nurses caring for patients throughout their entire post-injury experience.

Who is the TCAR/PCAR target audience?

The TCAR and PCAR programs are designed to give acute care, critical care, and perioperative nurses the foundational, evidence-based information and clinical reasoning skills necessary to care for the hospitalized trauma patient. The courses provide nurses who are new to trauma care an "A-to-Z" overview of trauma nursing. For the experienced trauma nurse, the classes help learners synthesize concepts—refreshing and reinforcing information gleaned over the years—by promoting critical thinking at a deeper, physiologic level. TCAR and PCAR are also a welcome change for nurses who have attended other standardized trauma nursing courses multiple times. Non nurses (respiratory therapists, paramedics, licensed nurses, nursing assistants, speech, occupational, and physical therapists) often attend TCAR/PCAR classes. These professionals are always welcome and can benefit from the course material, but the class focus is on nursing care.

How do Trauma Centers or Trauma Systems use TCAR and PCAR courses?

The TCAR and PCAR programs can meet a variety of trauma center and trauma system educational and regulatory needs. Some hospitals make TCAR/PCAR a mandatory course for all inpatient nurses providing trauma care. Other organizations offer TCAR/PCAR as a continuing education course or as part of their trauma outreach program. Still other facilities provide the classes as a pre-conference session for their annual symposium. Professional association chapters (e.g., ENA, AACN) offer TCAR/PCAR courses to their members and nurses in the community. State and regional trauma systems and advisory councils frequently host the courses for all trauma nurses within their area.

Are the TCAR/PCAR courses just for designated Level 1 Trauma Centers?

No. Because they are foundational trauma nursing courses, TCAR and PCAR are appropriate for any nurse who cares for trauma patients, regardless of trauma center designation. We have presented courses at large Level 1 facilities and at many Level II and III hospitals as well. Some organizations were already designated or verified, others were pursuing trauma center status. Nurses working in Level IV and V facilities also benefit from TCAR/PCAR classes by learning about their crucial role in preparing and transferring patients to the appropriate facility.

Does the American College of Surgeons recognize TCAR Education Programs classes?

YES! TCAR has been included in the new American College of Surgeons "Orange Book" (the 2014 Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient) to meet the foundational learning needs of inpatient trauma nurses working in acute care, critical care, and perioperative settings (Orange Book, page 135).

What's the difference between the TCAR and PCAR courses?

PCAR (Pediatric Care After Resuscitation) is the pedi-specific version of the adult-focused TCAR course. PCAR is ideal for nurses who chiefly or exclusively care for children.

Is the TCAR course appropriate for pediatric nurses?

Because the majority of post-resuscitation trauma nurses never care for pediatric, obstetric, or burn trauma patients, these special populations were deliberately excluded from the TCAR course. Nevertheless, most information that applies to adult trauma patients is relevant to the pediatric patient as well, and many pediatric nurses have attended TCAR courses. However, the PCAR (Pediatric Care After Resuscitation) course is more child-focused, and is specifically geared for nurses who regularly or exclusively care for pediatric patients.

Should I take both TCAR and PCAR if I care for adults and children?

No. In the PCAR course, all of the case-based scenarios involve pediatric patients and there is additional information regarding child development, anatomic and physiologic differences, age appropriate care, non-accidental trauma, childhood injury patterns, pediatric fluid management, trauma prevention, and age-specific assessment. Nevertheless, there is an 80% information overlap between the two courses making it unnecessary to attend both.

Are TCAR and PCAR advanced trauma nursing courses?

The TCAR and PCAR programs cover a wide range of pathophysiologic, nursing, and medical care concepts. The courses are designed to be a broad, core-level programs, rather than advanced or specialty area-specific classes. Nevertheless, concepts such as tissue oxygenation, fluid management, transfusion practices, abdominal compartment syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, sepsis, etc. are explored more extensively than in resuscitation-focused classes. Many of the latest trauma care trends and controversies are discussed, as well. For novice trauma nurses the classes offer a breadth of information not available in other standardized courses. For experienced trauma nurses, TCAR and PCAR foster a pro-active, critical thinking approach, enhancing clinical reasoning skills by adding a deeper physiologic perspective to their current trauma knowledge.

Are TCAR/PCAR critical care classes?

No. TCAR and PCAR emphasize content vital to trauma patients and relevant to trauma nurses in ALL practice areas. Many course attendees are critical care nurses, but the focus of the programs is on trauma care, rather than a specific practice area. Likewise, TCAR and PCAR are not classes in operating room nursing, medical-surgical nursing, orthopedic nursing, neuroscience nursing, or rehab nursing. They are TRAUMA courses, designed for nurses across the trauma care spectrum. TCAR and PCAR classes do not attempt to replace or replicate information typically provided in specialty-specific classes or unit-based orientation sessions.

Who teaches the TCAR/PCAR classes?

TCAR Education Programs sets the highest instructor standards in the industry to bring you a top quality program every time. Each TCAR Education Programs faculty member is a masters or doctorally prepared nurse with extensive experience as a trauma educator, trauma program manager, trauma nurse practitioner, or trauma clinical nurse specialist. Our instructors are leaders in the profession, intimately familiar with the learning needs and concerns of nurses caring for trauma patients in the post-resuscitation phase. In addition, every faculty member is a veteran educator who has extensive experience presenting to nursing audiences. See the About section for instructor biographies.

What content is covered in a TCAR/PCAR course?

Part 1 Day 1 AM) is an introduction to foundational topics relevant to the nursing care of all hospitalized trauma patients:

• The trauma care spectrum
• The biomechanics of trauma
• The body's response to injury

Part 2 (Day 1 PM and all of Day 2) During the remainder of the course, learners participate in guided, interactive expanding case scenarios that address the care of hospitalized patients with injuries to various body regions. Each module is designed to introduce specific trauma care concepts including pathophysiology, assessment modalities, and complications. Surgical, medical, and nursing management options and outcome criteria are presented as we progress though each case, discussing the door-to-door care of the patient with:

• Thoracic trauma
• Abdominal trauma
• Musculoskeletal trauma
• Craniocerebral trauma
• Spine & spinal cord trauma

What inpatient-oriented topics are included in the TCAR/PCAR courses?

TCAR and PCAR focus on topics that are crucial in the post-resuscitation phase of trauma care including:

• Missed injuries, delayed injuries, and late complications
• Sepsis and multiple organ failure
• Damage control resuscitation and surgery
• Rhabdomyolysis and renal failure
• Blood products and transfusion practices
• Intraabdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome
• Wound and skin care
• The geriatric trauma patient
• Early mobilization and nutrition
• The bariatric trauma patient
• Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis
• Muscle compartment syndrome
• Alcohol withdrawal
• Collaborative interdisciplinary practice
• IV fluid selection and management
• Staff and patient safety
• Craniofacial injuries
• Early recognition of the patient in trouble
• Secondary brain injury
• Patient and family education
• Pain management
• Post-concussion syndrome & second impact syndrome
• Non-accidental trauma
• Spinal cord injury assessment

How do I get a brochure for the class I'll be attending?

Brochures for each specific TCAR/PCAR class are available on the Course Calendar & Registration tab on the TCAR Education Programs' website. Find the class you plan to attend and click the "Download Class Brochure" link.

Why do you need my email address in order for me to register?

It is important for each participant to provide a valid and regularly monitored email address. All class communication will occur via email. Not only will your confirmation and receipt be emailed to you, but any class change information will be communicated this way as well. On occasion there are classroom relocations, start time changes, or even course cancelations related to severe weather or instructor illness. After the class you will be emailed a link to a course evaluation and continuing education certificate.

When do I need to pay for the class?

The course tuition you personally owe will depend on the amount selected by the class host. Tuition (from $0-$350) is determined by your registration type, for example "employees of St. Elsewhere Hospital", "all MegaCorp RNs", or General Registration. You can pay—via credit or debit card—at the time of online registration. Alternatively you can mail a check or money order to TCAR Education Programs. Payment is due on Day 1 of the class. You may bring a check to the class or make a credit/debit card payment on site. You will not receive a continuing education certificate until your personal portion of the tuition payment has been made.

Why do some TCAR/PCAR classes cost more than others?

The price individual attendees pay is determined by the course host, not by TCAR Education Programs. The amount a course host charges will fluctuate based on class location, whether or not food is provided, and funding sources for the program.

Can I sign up on site on the first day of class?

Probably. It will depend on the size of the room and the number of people pre-registered. Most classes are not fully booked and anyone interested can sign up at the door (no additional charge.) Even classes that are sold out will frequently have no-show participants. Some classrooms have strict seating limits that cannot be exceeded, but if seats are available you will be admitted.

The class I want to attend is sold out. Do you have a waiting list?

Yes. Contact TCAR Education Programs to place your name on the class wait list.

Some of the classes on the TCAR web calendar are "closed". What does that mean?

Occasionally hospitals or other organizations have limited space availability and choose to restrict class attendance to their own employees or members. No General Registration is available.

On the TCAR web calendar, the class I want to take says, "more information coming soon." When will registration be opened?

Classes are added to the web calendar when the dates are confirmed. Online registration and course brochures are made available as soon as a contract has been signed with the hosting organization. Sometimes there are significant delays in this process.

Can I sign up for just 1 day of class?

No. Because TCAR and PCAR are not "pass/fail all-or-nothing" courses it is possible for learners to attend a single day. However, Day 1 covers core trauma care principles and Day 2 gives learners a chance to apply those principles. Therefore learners miss a lot of content and concept synthesis by not attending both days. Nevertheless, we recognize that 2-day attendance is not always possible. There is no mechanism to register for a single day, but learners will sometimes split a course with a colleague, each attending one day and sharing a syllabus. Participants who attend only one day may receive 7 continuing education contact hours.

How do I get a receipt for the class?

You will be sent an email confirmation at the time of online class registration. If you paid when registering, this email will serve as your receipt. If you paid offline (e.g., by mailing in a check) a receipt will be emailed to you when payment is received.

I paid by credit or debit card. How will the charge appear on my bank statement?

Your TCAR or PCAR course tuition charge will appear on your credit or debit card as "AllegroTCAR" or "TCARAllegro".

I signed up to take a class. How do I cancel my registration?

Cancelling your class registration is no problem. Cancellations received 7 or more days prior to the event will be refunded in full. After 7 days a $30 per registrant cancellation fee will be charged. In the event you are unable to attend, substitutions are encouraged (send a friend!). "No-show" registrants will not receive a refund. To cancel, email (info@tcarprograms.org) or call 855-GET-TCAR (855-438-8227).

How do I switch my current registration to another class?

There is no mechanism to switch registration from one class to another. You'll need to cancel your current registration and reapply for a different class. If you have already paid for the class, your credit card will be fully refunded (no processing fee). If you paid by check, email or call TCAR Education Programs and we'll work with you to make the change. Be aware that different classes may have different prices.

Do I need to buy a TCAR/PCAR book?

No. When you sign-in on class Day 1 you will receive an extensive color TCAR or PCAR syllabus. The syllabus contains a detailed outline of the information presented in class, eliminating the need for extensive note taking.

Do I need to study for a written test or skills test?

No, just come, learn, and enjoy. The goals of the TCAR and PCAR courses are to enhance nurses' trauma care knowledge and promote clinical reasoning skills, rather than validate specific manual or informational competencies. TCAR and PCAR take an adult education approach, assuming participants will glean from the programs the information most relevant to their own learning needs and nursing practice. We leave it up to individual institutions to establish and validate appropriate unit-based competencies.

Where do I find directions to the class site?

Most TCAR/PCAR hosts provide a website link that contains directions to the classroom. See the "Directions to the Course Site & Parking Information" section of the class brochure. Alternatively, you can go to the class registration page on the TCAR Education Programs' website. From the "Course Calendar & Registration" tab, select the class your plan to attend and click the "Course Information & Registration" button. Once you are on the registration Summary page, click the green "Get Location Map" icon. Importantly, this link connects you to Google Maps, which MAY OR MAY NOT be accurate. If in doubt about the exact location or where to park, call or email the course host, as listed in the "Local Contact" section of the brochure. Plan to arrive early on Day 1 if you are unsure of the location.

Is food provided at the class?

Any food or beverages supplied at a TCAR/PCAR class are at the sole discretion of the class host. Some organizations have the budget and facilities to provide catering; others do not. For information on your specific class, please see the "Tuition" section of the class brochure.

What do I need to bring to class?

The TCAR/PCAR course syllabus will be provided to you onsite, on class Day 1. It contains ample room for note taking, unless you're a voracious note taker, in which case you may want to bring a note pad. One of the chief attendee complaints at any educational program is room temperature. Please be aware that instructors and hosts usually have little or no control over the temperature in a room. Moreover, for every participant who is too cold, there is another complaining the room is too hot. Please dress in layers to stay comfortable.

When will I receive my CE certificate?

Shortly after you have completed a TCAR or PCAR class you will be emailed a link to a course evaluation. Once you have completed the evaluation you can print out a continuing education certificate. By saving the email link, you can print your certificate at any time. If you happen to lose the link, just go to the Contact Us page and request a resend of the email link - just include what class dates and city/state it was in. If you attended 2 full class days you will be awarded 14 CE hours; 7 CE hours are granted for 1 day attendance. Continuing education contact hours are provided through Visionem, Inc., a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 15483.

I'm traveling to the class from out of town. Is there a recommended or discounted hotel?

TCAR Education Programs does not get involved with room reservations, but many host hospitals have arrangements with local hotels. If this information was provided to TCAR Education Programs, it will be included on the class brochures in the "Directions to the Course Site & Parking Information" section. You can also email or call the Local Contact, as listed on the brochure. In addition, hospital websites often have hotel information on their "Information for Patients and Families" pages.

Is TCAR a suitable TCRN certification preparation course?

The TCRN® (Trauma Certified Registered Nurse) examination is the only professional board certification focused exclusive on the care of patients ACROSS THE CONTINUUM OF TRAUMA CARE

And TCAR is the only nationwide, standardized course specifically designed to meet the learning needs of nurses who practice at any point along the trauma continuum of care.

This makes TCAR an excellent way to prepare for taking the TCRN exam! Because the TCRN® exam has very little pedi-specific content, TCAR is a better certification prep course.

Are TCAR/PCAR verification courses?

No. Anyone can claim to provide a "verification" course. There are no legal requirements for asserting a class is a verification program. However, "verification" generally suggests participants have undergone some form of testing.

Do TCAR/PCAR classes involve participant testing?

No. There are pros and cons to testing. Testing makes sense in a resuscitation focused class, but TCAR/PCAR are designed for nurses practicing anywhere across the trauma care spectrum. What hands-on skills would be essential for all nurses working in Emergency, OR, ICU, Acute Care, and Rehab settings? Moreover, testing raises learners' anxiety level, sometimes making it impossible to concentrate on course content. The goals of the TCAR and PCAR courses are to enhance nurses' trauma care knowledge and promote clinical reasoning skills, rather than validate specific manual or informational competencies. TCAR and PCAR take an adult education approach, assuming participants will glean from the programs the information most relevant to their own learning needs and nursing practice, leaving individual institutions to establish appropriate unit-based competencies.

Do TCAR or PCAR "expire?"

What TCAR Education Programs recommends (and site surveyors like to see), is an educational policy where YOUR trauma center or trauma system spells out an appropriate educational plan. Perhaps for nurses working in the OR or in a Rehab unit, taking TCAR/PCAR one time is adequate. On the other hand, you may determine that ICU and trauma unit nurses need a refresher every 3-5 years. This approach allows you to customize your requirements to meet specific learning needs in your trauma system or institution and lets you build in the time flexibility to make trauma nursing education practical, realistic, targeted, and affordable.

Do participants receive a continuing education certificate?

Yes. TCAR Education Programs issues a certificate for 14 contact hours to those who complete both days of the course. Continuing education contact hours are provided through Visionem, Inc., a provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 15483.

Do participants need to study in preparation for the courses?

No. A TCAR/PCAR course is a self-contained program. There is no expectation that learners read a book, practice skills, or complete a pre-test before coming to class. All materials are given to participants on-site; no prior distribution is necessary and no one forgets to bring the syllabus to class.

Is there a TCAR/PCAR book?

Rather than an expensive and intimidating textbook that many students bring to class still encased in the original shrink wrap, each TCAR/PCAR participant is provided an extensive color syllabus (~180 pages) on the first day of class. This syllabus encourages learners to follow along with the lectures and reinforces class content, while providing ample room for note taking.

Can learners attend TCAR/PCAR for just one day?

Because TCAR and PCAR are not "pass/fail all-or-nothing" courses it is possible for learners to attend a single day. However, Day 1 covers core trauma care principles and Day 2 gives learners a chance to apply those principles. Therefore learners miss a lot of content and concept synthesis by not attending both days. Nevertheless, we recognize that 2-day attendance is not always possible. There is no mechanism to register for a single day, but learners will sometimes split a course with a colleague, each attending one day and sharing a syllabus. Participants who attend only one day may receive 7 continuing education contact hours.

How often are the TCAR/PCAR courses updated?

Unlike other trauma nursing courses that may undergo revision every 5 years, TCAR and PCAR are dynamic programs that are continually updated, revised, and improved based on learner, host, and faculty feedback. All TCAR/PCAR instructors are experts who are in a position to suggest changes as soon as new evidence and clinical practices become available. This ensures that course content is always current. The TCAR/PCAR syllabus and slides are modified on an ongoing basis to keep pace with these changes.

What do I need to do to bring a TCAR/PCAR course to my facility?

We make it easy to host a TCAR or PCAR course. All an organization needs to do is:

• Select your preferred and alternate dates. A TCAR course is two consecutive 8.5-hour days (typically 0800-1630). With 4-6 months' notice, the dates of your choice can almost always be arranged
• Contact TCAR Education Programs by emailing info@tcarprograms.org or by calling 855-GET-TCAR (855-438-8227)
• Book a room with an LCD projector, a large projection screen, and a writing surface for each student (Auditoriums are preferred, no breakout rooms are needed)
• Complete the Program Details Form that will be emailed to you by our Program Coordinator
• Sign the TCAR Education Programs contract and approve the class brochure
• Spread the word to get an audience of at least 25 students (We'll help round up outside attendees if your organization doesn't have enough of their own. There is no maximum class size)
• Arrange for any food or beverages of your choice (or not!)

How much advance notice is required to schedule a TCAR/PCAR class?

TCAR Education Programs can potentially schedule a class with as little as 4 weeks' notice (depending on instructor availability) but a MINIMUM of 4 months is recommended, largely because most nurses need this much time to put in schedule requests and managers needs the time to arrange for staff coverage. If you plan to market the course to outside participants, attendees appreciate 6 months' notice. The longer the lead time, the better your course attendance will be. This may be very important if you are looking to keep costs low by taking advantage of participant volume discounts.

Class bookings are not confirmed until a signed contract has been received. Unless special arrangements have been made, TCAR Education Programs will release the dates for any tentatively scheduled course if we have not received a signed contract 3 months prior to the class start date. Depending on the organization, the class contracting process may be quick and easy, or very prolonged. Some facilities require contracts to be extensively reviewed and endlessly revised by legal departments. Please be aware that this can add several weeks to your contracting process.

Many class planners severely underestimate how long the legal wrangling in their organization can take and how much effort may be required to keep a contract moving through the bureaucratic process.

Contact delays can jeopardize a class and may significantly reduce your final attendee count, which may impact your budget.

Can I hold a TCAR/PCAR class on a weekend?

Yes, no problem. We teach lots of Friday-Saturday and Saturday-Sunday classes. At many facilities it is easier to find an available auditorium or classroom on weekends. There is no extra charge for weekend classes.

I've booked class dates. When will registration be opened?

Brochures and posters will be sent to the class host, and online registration will be opened, as soon as TCAR Education Programs receives a signed contract. If a valid contract has not been received 3 months prior to the class start date, TCAR Education Programs will release the dates and you will need to rebook, unless special arrangements have been made.

Do I need to reserve breakout session rooms?

No. At many facilities it can be a MAJOR headache to book just one room. With TCAR/PCAR courses there is no need to find multiple classrooms.

Is there a minimum class attendance?

Minimum class attendance is 25 people. However, these 25 do not all need to be employees of the hosting facility. By designing and printing your brochures and posters, distributing an email flier, advertising in your area, and displaying the class on our website we can help you fill the seats.

What if my small or remote facility cannot generate 25 attendees?

This is not an uncommon situation in rural areas. You don't need to HAVE 25 attendees, only PAY for 25 attendees at the employee ($295) rate. What this means is that your final per participant cost would be somewhat higher, but compared to the price of sending employees offsite for trauma nursing education, a TCAR/PCAR course is likely to be a very cost-effective option. In this situation even a handful of general registration participants can substantially lower your final invoice amount.

Is there a maximum class size?

Because there are no breakout sessions involved in TCAR/PCAR courses, there is no class size restriction. In fact, the more the merrier. Our expanding case scenario learning format works very well with larger groups. We've taught classes of more than 140 participants. The highly visual nature of the course makes big-screen auditoriums the perfect venue. Because of the 3 levels of volume discounts, large courses can substantially reduce your costs compared to smaller classes.

I need to get many of my own nurses into a TCAR/PCAR class. Can I limit the number of general registrants?

Absolutely. One option is to have a "closed" class with no general registration (non-employees). However, even a handful of general registrants can significantly reduce your program costs (and meet outreach education goals), so why have empty seats? An option is to assign limits to the number of attendees in each registration category. This is easy for TCAR Education Programs to set up. You determine the number of general registration seats available. As the class dates grow closer, you can always increase or decrease this limit as needed to optimize your own nurses' attendance while minimizing course costs.

Can we video record, audio record, or webcast a TCAR/PCAR course?

No. Similar to most other standardized courses, TCAR Education Programs does not permit any form of recording or redistribution. Although not a skills-based program, the TCAR and PCAR classes are interactive and rely on a level of learner participation that is not possible if the instructor cannot communicate face-to-face with audience members.

I've booked a course and need to reschedule the class dates. Is that a problem?

Usually not. The more notice we have the better, and it will depend on faculty availability, but date change requests can generally be accommodated. However, the process is considerably more difficult if brochures have gone out and participants have already registered. Moving a class date to the future is usually easier than moving the date ahead. If the contract has already been signed, we will send you a simple addendum to change the date.

What is TCAR Education Programs' policy for cancelling a course?

Course bookings are not confirmed until a signed contract has been received. TCAR education programs will release the dates for any tentatively scheduled course if we have not received a signed contract at least 3 months prior to the class start date, unless special arrangements have been made.

Courses canceled by the host between the time the contract is signed and 6 weeks before the first scheduled class date will be subject to a $500 cancelation fee. If the hosting organization cancels the event with less than 6 weeks' notice, the host agrees to pay TCAR Programs 25% of the minimum program amount ($295 x 25 participants = $7,375 x 25% = $1,843.75), to cover registrant processing expenses and instructor travel losses.

Where can I find room space for a class?

Most TCAR/PCAR classes are taught at the hosting hospital or in a facility-owned education center. But in the case of many would-be hosts, on-site educational space—available for 2 full days—is extremely limited. If this is the situation at your institution, here are some venue options that have proved successful for other course hosts. Do nursing students do clinical rotations at your hospital? If so, ask their college or university for meeting space, often available on weekends or between semesters. Is there a synagogue, church, Masonic hall, etc. in your community? These buildings are largely underused during the week and frequently have room space available for a nominal charge. Hotels are another option a number of TCAR/PCAR hosts have employed. Hotel meeting room costs vary considerably, from very pricey to free if the hotel’s catering services are used. If you were planning to feed participants breakfast and/or lunch, you may discover the cost of doing so at a hotel is no more expensive than feeding participants at the hospital. Likewise, some restaurants have private banquet rooms. We have taught TCAR/PCAR in a public library meeting room, in a community center, in a fairground building, and in a retirement center. Many movie theaters are underutilized during the day. Parks and Recreation departments often have meeting spaces available as well. If you get creative and think outside the hospital, there are many venue possibilities.

Another way to find rooms is to schedule an "off season" class. Classrooms, conference centers, and auditoria that are booked solidly March-June and Sept-November are vacant at other times. Consider an early December class, or one in January, February, or July. Not only is there less competition for rooms, there is less competition for your learners' educational time.

Where can I find funding for a class?

One obvious option for funding a TCAR or PCAR class is to ask participants to contribute some or all of the cost of course tuition. Because TCAR Education Programs can collect payments from individuals (for any amount the host selects) we make this process easy for you. Asking participants to contribute as little as $50 not only significantly defrays host costs, but also cements learner commitment to attend and participate. Two other ways to bring costs down are to: 1) encourage general registration (people from outside your facility) and, 2) host a large class. As the number of participants goes up, you’re costs per learner go way down. A class of 75 attendees is far more cost effective than 3 classes of 25. There is no upper class size limit to a TCAR or PCAR class. We’ve held classes in excess of 150 students. Inviting non-employees to attend your course can boost your attendee numbers substantially. As the host facility, YOU reap the discounts generated by large class size.

Hospital funding sources: Many nurses attending TCAR/PCAR classes are reimbursed by designated educational funds from their hospitals or unions. Hosts have received money to support training from hospital volunteer organizations, from surgical practice groups, from individual trauma surgeons and emergency physician donors, from charitable foundations, and through bequests from former patients or their families.

Sometimes a single funding source is available for training, but often it’s a combination of sources that make a class feasible.

Where can I find funding for a class?

Like TNCC or ATCN, TCAR/PCAR costs are calculated on a per-student basis—but there's a LOT more flexibility within the TCAR Education Programs cost model. We designed it that way to allow each organization to select the option that works best for them. Similar to other courses, the TCAR/PCAR general registration charge is $335/learner, but the cost goes down from there.

Employees of the hosting organization each receive a $40 discount ($295/person). Once the 25 attendee minimum is surpassed there is a participant volume discount, and $25 is subtracted from the host organization's final invoice for each additional person who attends (up to 50), REGARDLESS of whether it's a host employee or a general registrant. For courses with more than 50 people, the amount subtracted from the final invoice increases to $50 per additional participant (over 50). For courses with more than 100 people, the amount subtracted from the final invoice increases to $100 per additional participant (over 100).

The hosting organization can charge individual employees or members any amount between $0 and $295, depending on the level of personal contribution the organization chooses to require. And, if the class host decides to charge general registrants more than $335 (e.g., $350) then that difference accrues to the host as well. Combined, these strategies can significantly lower the hosting organization's final costs.

Sounds confusing? Use our Class Cost Planning Calculator to play around with various pricing scenarios to find one that fits your budget. For more information about the Planning Calculator, see below.

What is included in the cost of a TCAR/PCAR class?

Importantly, TCAR/PCAR charges are ALL INCLUSIVE—there are no hidden or additional fees, which makes budgeting easy. And, because we do most of the work for you, many hours of your valuable time will not be spent on class preparation, registration, money handling, or follow-up.

TCAR Education Programs will:

• Professionally design and print your customized color brochures and posters (with any logos you provide) and send an email version of the flier
• Register all students on our website
• Collect tuition payments (YOU pick the amount attendees will personally contribute, from $0-$300+)
• Email registrants a class confirmation and receipt
• Send a highly experienced masters or doctorally prepared instructor
• Furnish the instructor's laptop computer and other basic equipment and class supplies
• Make all instructor travel arrangements and cover all typical travel expenses (A travel supplement is only added in the event of unusually high travel costs)
• Provide general liability insurance and workman's comp insurance for instructors
• Post your class on the TCAR website calendar
• Work with you to market the course to organizations outside your facility (if desired)
• Handle all cancellations and refunds
• Generate sign-in sheets
• Supply an extensive, color syllabus and pen for each student
• Award 14 California BRN-approved CEs to participants
• Submit a post-class invoice for any outstanding amount not collected directly from participants
• Compile a final attendee list
• Collate all course evaluations and provide the host a printable summary

What is NOT included in the cost of a TCAR/PCAR class?

Room, food, and AV equipment. For MANY reasons, TCAR Education Programs does not get involved in catering or venue selection. Any food or beverages provided at a class are at the sole discretion of the hosting organization. When planning your event, consider carefully whether or not to supply food. Participants often complain if no food or beverages are provided, but are just as likely to complain if you DO feed them. Audiences are fickle and are very often unappreciative of the expense and bother you go to. If food and beverages are available nearby (e.g., a hospital cafeteria or local eateries) providing anything beyond morning coffee may be far more headache and expense than it is worth. Any room or AV equipment costs are also the responsibility of the hosting organization.

What if I need to pass room or food costs on to participants?

The TCAR Class Planning Calculator ONLY calculates tuition charges, yet some hosts need to pass venue or food costs on to class attendees. TCAR Education Programs can collect this money for you from participants at the time of registration. Just let TCAR Education Programs know the additional funds amount you want to add to each registration fee. These additional costs will be invisible to registrants. However, for tax reasons, a simple Additional Revenue Addendum to the class tuition contract is required. Importantly, because of credit card and handling fees, TCAR Education Programs charges 6% for collecting and holding these additional funds. Adjust the amount you charge participants accordingly. Additional revenue collected will be released to the host (via check) as soon as the final invoice has been paid.

Why not just charge a fixed per person cost like other trauma courses?

At TCAR Education Programs we understand that educational budgets are tight and cost is always a key factor in decision making. We also understand that different trauma centers/trauma systems have very different needs. There are organizations that have educational funds readily available and others that are charged with the mandate to teach, but are given virtually no resources to do so. TCAR's unique pricing model allows each hosting organization the flexibility to meet their specific circumstances. We can even bring you a course at no cost to the hosting organization. Use the Class Cost Planning Calculator (more information below) to design a class that fits YOUR budget.

How do I use the TCAR Education Program's Class Planning Calculator?

Use the Class Cost Planning Calculator (an Excel spreadsheet) to try out various pricing scenarios and find one that best meets your budgetary needs. First, think of what groups of people you would like to include in your TCAR/PCAR class. For ideas, see the category suggestions in yellow in the left column. Enter your own participant category descriptions in one or all of the left column boxes. You can leave yellow boxes blank, but some hosts plan to invite several different participant categories.

Next, play around with numbers in the other yellow boxes (the middle columns). Guestimate how many participants you might include in each participant category (column E) and decide how much money each attendee will PERSONALLY contribute (column F). As you enter numbers you'll immediately notice how your bottom line costs change in the blue row (the "projected final invoice to the hosting organization" number).

If you try it out you'll see that the most expensive class (per participant) is one that has just 25 of your own, fully-subsidized employees. By encouraging outside enrollment (general registration), asking attendees to pay some portion of their own tuition (even $25), and by taking advantage of the class volume rebates, you can bring your total costs down considerably. Organizations are often very surprised to find out that having MORE attendees can actually cost them less; and that can be a lower TOTAL cost, not just less per person.

You can always contact TCAR Education Programs and we will be glad to walk through the Class Planning Calculator with you on the phone and show you various options to make your class happen.

Should I charge employees of my own organization to attend a class?

It depends. There are a number of factors to consider, starting with how much money you have available and whether or not course attendance is considered mandatory. If an organization is mandating staff member attendance, then charging class tuition is not legally possible. However, when registrants have no personal investment in a class, the number of "no-shows" is often as high as 20%.

At TCAR Education Programs we strongly support adopting some form of "encouragement" so that learners will be committed to attending and participating in a course. If a class is NOT mandatory, then charging even a nominal amount ($25-$50) is enough to guarantee most registrants will show up. Another approach to attendance enhancement is to ask attendees to submit a deposit check (to the hosting organization, rather than to TCAR Education Programs). The check is returned on site when registrants leave the class on Day 2. Those who do not complete the class forfeit the check amount.

When a course is made mandatory we have seen hospitals adopt a variety of strategies to encourage attendance. Nurses may be scheduled by their managers to attend. Thus, class nonattendance is considered an unexcused work absence and is treated accordingly. One facility we taught at informed nurses that anyone who failed to attend a TCAR class for which they were pre-scheduled would have the cost of the course deducted from their next paycheck. Class attendance was excellent.

If I'm hosting a course, when do I need to pay for it?

After the class. Whatever portion of the tuition charges you choose to have learners individually contribute is collected at the time the learners register. This amount is entirely up to YOU, and can vary from $0 to $300+. Participants register on the TCAR website and pay with any major credit/debit card or by check. Any portion of the tuition costs not covered by individual payments will be invoiced to the hosting organization shortly after course completion. Payment to TCAR Education Programs is due in 30 days from the final class date.

How can I become a TCAR Education Programs faculty member?

TCAR Education Programs sets the highest instructor standards in the industry. TCAR/PCAR faculty members are all masters or doctorally prepared nurses who are very familiar with the needs of nurses and patients in the POST-resuscitation phases of care. Each instructor has many years' experience as a trauma program manager, trauma educator, trauma nurse practitioner, or trauma clinical nurse specialist. Moreover, TCAR/PCAR faculty are leaders in the field with extensive educational, clinical practice, leadership, presentation, research, and publication experience. TCAR Education Programs is definitely not a teaching opportunity for novices. Instructors must have the educational expertise, trauma care knowledge, energy, and confidence to maintain audience interest for two full days. In addition, faculty members must be available to travel around the country and teach at least 12 times per year (part-time instructors.) Some faculty members make TCAR/PCAR their full time job, teaching 30-50 times per year. We choose only top people and treat them accordingly. If this sounds like you, please contact TCAR Education Programs (info@tcarprograms.org). We are seeking prospective faculty members from around the country, particularly in the north central region and the east coast (north and south).

Click here for job description and qualifications

If I become a TCAR/PCAR instructor, can I teach at my own organization?

No. TCAR/PCAR instructors do not teach at their own institutions for a number of reasons designed to protect both instructors and TCAR Education Programs from conflict of interest issues.

Click here for job description and qualifications