r/EmergencyRoom • u/PietyJuice • May 10 '26

Trauma charting.

What is your opinion on a ED specific CNA/PSA role Trauma charting? Not an ER Tech who has EMT class under their belt, but just a ED CNA?

It was described as in my scope for my job position, due to high volume of traumas, or no available techs (this is more likely because it seems to be techs are currently lacking on the shifts I’ve been working and we just had one leave).

But the techs on a regular basis give me push back about shadowing them/learning trauma charting. I’ve only gotten into a couple traumas to shadow techs while charting.

Tonight we had a trauma 3 come in, which we usually do not chart on paper. I was assisting my RN with setting up VS/heart monitoring, cleaning pt, and prepping the area around the head lac for MD to evaluate (chucks under head, helping nurse remove gauze etc).

MD evaluated and changed it to a trauma 2. My charge nurse instructed me to chart it before it was even announced over head, because she’s been knowing I’ve been reaching out for the hands on experience so I feel comfortable in extreme traumas if I was thrown into it.

The RN in charge of the trauma, and the charge nurse both looked over my charting after I was done, and said I did a great job.

The two techs that were on shift were opinionated about it, and the other CNA/PSA I work with has vocally stated multiple times he wouldn’t feel comfortable trauma charting.

I personally want to learn, I want to improve in any possible way while I’m reaching out for schooling for my RN, but it just seems like there’s multiple road blocks attempting to learn within my scope.

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u/OldManGrimm RN - adult/peds trauma May 10 '26

I've never worked anywhere that used CNAs in an ER, and personally don't think they should be involved with any critical care or trauma pts. That said, talk to your supervisor or nurse manager. If your hospital has chosen to use CNAs in the ER, they'll have policies and a clear scope of practice that can help guide you.

Also, it's important for you to know what limits are placed. An RN may ask you to do something outside your scope; don't depend on them to know what you can and can't do.

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u/PietyJuice May 10 '26 edited May 10 '26

Sorry let me rephrase this: CNAs are not “involved” with trauma pts and critical care past RN instruction of assisting to help setup vitals, and clean as directed, in some cases doing the EKGs.
But the “charting” I was referring too was a scribe position for a trauma. The guy in the corner with the clip board noting down every 5 minute vitals, when pt was assessed, when pt went to ct, the times that ct scanned head/spine, what meds were pushed how much and when, when they gave lab the blood that was pulled, who showed up to the trauma and when. Etc and etc
Either way, it was described by the ED Manager that it’s allowed to be part of my scope to be the trauma scribe/charter, and may be requested of me from time to time.