ETC | ETC Dublin

The European Trauma Course (ETC) and Trauma Support Practitioner (TSP) courses are delivered in parallel, with participants learning together as part of a multidisciplinary trauma team. This approach reflects real-world trauma care and promotes shared learning between specialties.

During the course, participants:

Take part in 30 trauma scenarios based on defined learning objectives
Train in small multidisciplinary groups that mirror real trauma teams
Work alongside physicians and Trauma Support Practitioners from a range of specialties
Develop technical, communication, teamwork and leadership skills through realistic simulation

Active participation is essential throughout the course. Learning is delivered through simulation and structured debriefing rather than traditional lectures, helping participants strengthen clinical decision-making and team performance in realistic trauma scenarios.

To ensure all candidates are prepared, pre-course reading of the ETC Manual is required before attendance.

Trauma Support Practitioners (TSPs) are healthcare professionals involved in trauma care who are not in primary medical roles, typically from nursing or paramedic backgrounds with experience in emergency and/or critical care.

During the course, TSPs gain experience in:

Applying patient monitoring
Coordinating team communication
Mobilising resources and equipment
Supporting the team leader through accurate documentation
Taking responsibility for specific aspects of patient resuscitation

TSPs are continuously assessed throughout the first two days of the course during scenarios and workshops. On Day 3, they consolidate their learning through the transfer workshop and by actively participating in assessment scenarios, where their contribution is essential to effective team performance.

✔ Certificate valid for 5 years upon successful completion

The European Trauma Course is delivered over 2½ days and is attended by 24 ETC candidates, up to 12 TSP candidates, and 12–18 instructors.

Throughout the course, participants will:

Observe a faculty demonstration
Attend two interactive lectures
Take part in nine practical workshops
Complete multiple Trauma Admission Scenarios based on defined learning objectives
Participate in a patient transfer workshop on the final day
Develop both technical and non-technical trauma management skills

Workshops form the core of the course and focus on the full spectrum of trauma care. Participants work in small multidisciplinary groups consisting of four ETC candidates and two TSP candidates, supported by two to three instructors.

Each workshop is built around realistic trauma scenarios designed to develop:

Clinical knowledge and decision-making
Psychomotor and procedural skills
Teamwork and communication
Leadership and human factors in trauma care

The European Trauma Course is built on a shared learning approach, encouraging participants to actively contribute, collaborate and learn from the experience and expertise of their colleagues.

The European Trauma Course (ETC) is open to healthcare professionals with a minimum of 2 years' experience in trauma care.

We welcome applications from:

Trauma Surgery
Emergency Medicine
Anaesthesia
Intensive Care
Prehospital Care
Other professionals regularly involved in trauma reception and resuscitation

The course focuses on both technical and non-technical skills including:

Trauma assessment and resuscitation
Teamwork and communication
Leadership and decision-making
Human factors in trauma care

Participants rotate through a variety of team roles, gaining experience as both team members and team leaders. Each scenario is followed by a structured debrief to support learning, confidence and professional development.

Assessment includes:

Full attendance throughout the course
Continuous assessment during scenarios
Feedback on teamwork, communication, leadership and practical skills
A final scenario-based assessment on the last day
No written examination

✔ Certificate valid for 5 years upon successful completion

European Trauma Course

European Trauma Course

European Trauma Course

European Trauma Course

mlynders@dublinetc.org

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