Registration

ER Boot Camp (5-day)

MAY 11 - 15, 2026 
(Monday - Friday)

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CT (each day)

LOCATION:
RWHC Office & Training Center
880 Independence Lane
Sauk City, WI 53583

Registration Deadline: April 20^th

Missed the deadline? 
Click here to inquire if spots remain.

Fee:

RWHC Member & Affiliate Member:
$1,595 per person

Non-RWHC Member:
$1,925 per person

Fee includes five-day training course and program materials. Lunch is on your own.

PLEASE NOTE: The program fee is NON-refundable. Do not send payment; RWHC will invoice your organization. 

3.25 CEUs

RWHC is approved as a provider of continuing health education by the Wisconsin Society for Healthcare Education and Training (WISHET). RWHC designates this activity for up to 32.5 contact hours (3.25 CEUs) of continuing education for allied health professionals.

 Instructors: 

	Cella Janisch-Hartline, BSN, RN, PCC Professional Certified Coach, is a Nursing & Leadership Development Educator for Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. Cella brings her experience from over 40 years in various rural healthcare leadership positions to her work as she combines her passion for nursing, leadership, coaching and teaching. Named the 2018 Outstanding Educator through the National Rural Health Association, she engages healthcare participants across the country with her humorous, action-oriented and compassionate approach.
	Sarah Ewers, BSN, RN, is a Nursing Clinical Development Educator for Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. Sarah earned her Bachelor in Science of Nursing through Viterbo University and continues to hold herself accountable for multiple hours of continuing education. She brings a wealth of experience in providing quality care to patients in multiple settings including Intensive Care, Medical-Surgical, Rehabilitation, Assisted Living, and Long-Term Care. She has a fresh approach that participants can relate to and bring back to their work practice to implement and grow in their career.
	Erin Smital, BS, RN, is a Nursing Professional Development Educator, Nurse Residency Coordinator and Lean Residency Coordinator at the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. Along with being an RN, Erin brings forward years of experience in various leadership roles in and out of healthcare. In addition to developing and presenting numerous leadership and nursing focused workshops, she also provides training in de-escalation as a Certified Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Instructor.
	Ronda Pennekamp, BSN, RN, is a Nursing Clinical Development Educator at the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. Ronda infuses energy and enthusiasm into every aspect of her work with the RWHC team. With Bachelor’s degrees in both Education and Nursing, she brings a unique blend of knowledge and nursing hands-on experience in rural healthcare. Ronda’s passion for learning, growth, and encouraging others to embrace new challenges shines through in every workshop she leads, as well as every interaction she participates in. Her engaging, dynamic and approachable style, paired with her “teaching-first” mindset, creates an inspiring environment where participants feel empowered to grow and succeed.
	Curtis N. Johnson, CRNA, MS, APNP, Director of Anesthesia, Sauk Prairie Healthcare, has over 27 years of experience as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. He graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a BSN then joined the US Navy where he worked as a Surgical Staff nurse and 3 years in the Medical ICU prior to entering the Navy Nurse Anesthesia Program. After graduation Curtis served seven years working in Navy Medical Centers and deployed on Aircraft carriers as part of the medical team. Curtis has also been an educator throughout his career serving as a preceptor for the Navy Nurse Anesthesia Program and for the past 17 years acting as Affiliate Clinical staff for the Mayo Health Care Anesthesia Program.
	Autumn Marcis, BSN RN, Clinical Educator and Emergency Department Nurse at Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics with over 10 years of experience. Since graduating from both Arizona State University and UW-Oshkosh, she has been in the hospital setting in various bedside and leadership roles. Autumn is also an instructor for Basic Life Support, Trauma Nursing Core Course and Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course.  Autumn is passionate about teaching new (and new to specialty) nurses and developing confidence in high stress environments.

Target Audience:

New ER nurses, ER nurses who want to refresh/update their knowledge, or nurses who are considering working in a rural healthcare emergency department

Program Description: 

Are you a new nurse to the emergency room (ER)? Is ER nursing something you are considering in your future? Have you been working in the ER for a while now but just don’t feel comfortable yet? Are you an ER nurse who hasn’t dealt with a true emergency in a while? If you answered yes, to one or more of these question then this ER Boot Camp is designed just for you. During this week long experience we will explore all aspects of working in a rural healthcare emergency unit. Throughout this interactive boot camp, the participants will be engaged in simulated (hands on) learning opportunities, including case study discussions, role playing effective communication/conflict management techniques, and prioritizing complaint specific assessments/interventions/emergencies that may arise in practice. This comprehensive course is designed to provide the ER nurse with a solid foundation from the core principles and from a standards of care and practice perspective, in hopes of helping get the new nurse ready to practice solo quicker in the unit. For more information on the planned boot camp take a look at the objectives. You do not want to miss this opportunity! Sign up today as space is limited.

Program Objectives:

DAY ONE: Communication/Safety/Critical Thinking

• Discuss at least five safety concerns as an ER nurse
• Practice crucial conversations and closed loop communication
• Learn an effective way to deal with conflict on the team
• Enhance awareness on upholding regulatory standards/practice guidelines
• Review documentation standards and guidelines to reduce risk
• Participate in coordinating an emergency situation as the primary RN
• Engage in critical thinking

DAY TWO: Differentiating Chest Pain/Shock/Stroke/DIC/Metabolic vs. Respiratory

• Differentiate causes of chest pain related to presenting signs and symptoms
• Determine emergency and priority interventions for causes of chest pain
• Articulate the pathophysiology of shock, while differentiating the 4 types of shock
• Identify the signs and symptoms of hypoxia
• Review acidosis vs. alkalosis while differentiating signs/symptoms and causes of such
• Examine the signs and symptoms of stroke and prioritizes care interventions
• Recognize DIC and articulates the care needed
• Participate in a review of emergent and vasoactive drugs
• Engage in critical thinking activities and integrate knowledge learned through simulated case studies

DAY THREE: OB and Pediatric Emergencies

• Review obstetrical emergencies: ectopic pregnancies, miscarriage/stillbirth, pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, obstetrical hemorrhages, emergency delivery, abruption, pre-term labor and trauma considerations
• Prioritize nursing interventions to the above emergencies
• Recognize anatomy and physiology differences between children vs. the adult
• Identify assessment findings that lead to the child’s condition deteriorating indicating the need for rapid response
• Review several pediatric emergencies: respiratory, asthma, dehydration, DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), and other childhood illnesses that lead to big problems.
• Prioritize nursing interventions to the above emergencies
• Engage in critical thinking through case studies/simulations

DAY FOUR: Airway Management/System Emergencies

• Review emergency airway options (LMA, Combi Tube, Cricoid, Intubation, Oral airway adjuncts)
• Recognize steps toward RSI (Rapid Sedation Intubation) and engages in appropriate assessment considerations
• Prepare for procedural sedation and articulates RN role in the experience
• Articulate the pathophysiology and the priorities of care for the following emergencies: acute pulmonary edema, epiglottis, pulmonary emboli, COPD exacerbation, appendicitis, pancreatitis, hypothermia, hyperthermia, burns and seizures
• Engage in critical thinking through case studies/simulations

DAY FIVE: Musculoskeletal Emergencies/Mental Health/Substance Abuse/Ethics
and Defusing the Team

• Review musculoskeletal emergencies including sprains, fractures and compartment syndrome
• Examine common substances that are ingested these days while articulating the signs and symptoms seen and the care needed
• Dialogue through detoxing a patient with care considerations
• Differentiate mental health challenges that are commonly seen in the ER
• Discuss ethical challenges that might arise as a ER nurse
• Defuse the team after a critical event
• Strategize options to healing the healer’s heart