Abstract
Poster presentation - Session H presented Tuesday, October 1, 2:30-3:30 pm
Purpose: Little research has been conducted about emergency department (ED) nurses. ED Nurses work in high stress areas, encountering situations that could result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), causing possible disturbing flashbacks, nightmares and physiological reactions. This study adds data about the incidence of PTSD and post traumatic growth (PTG) in ED nurses.
Design: A mixed method study was carried out among State ENA members from January to May 2017.
Setting: This study was conducted within the ENA State Membership.
Participants/Subjects: ED Nurses of all ages, ethnicities, genders, facility types and educational levels who are ENA State members. No identifiable data was collected on subjects.
Methods: ENA State Council was requested to participate in a joint research study. After approval, background information and a survey link were disseminated utilizing State and Chapter ENA resources (social media, newsletters, chapter committee reports and State ENA Council meetings) distributed information. The quantitative survey consisted of Post Traumatic Checklist - Civilian Version Short form, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory. The authors of the form recommended a cut score of 14, with scores higher than that identifying patients who should be further evaluated for PTSD. The Post Traumatic Growth Inventory is a 17-item survey that assesses growth following PTSD. PTG serves as a mediator to PTSD. One qualitative question was included: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about how you react to stressful events that happen in the ED? SPSS Evaluation of the quantitative data was performed. Qualitative responses evaluated by interpreting patterns.
Results/Outcomes: PTSD Survey Results: Subject scores were divided into three groups. No PTSD for scores of 0 to 12, high risk for PTSD for scores of 13 or 14, and PTSD for scores above 14. Of 189 responses, 157 (83.1%) had scores of 12 or lower, 12 (6.3%) had scores of 13 or 14, and 20 (10.6%) had scores above 14. Subjects were most bothered by repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, and images, and felt very upset when something reminded them of the identified stressful experience. Post Traumatic Growth Inventory Results: On the 0-5 scale, no item reached the mid-point. Of the five factors the inventory examined the most frequently chosen statement about how subjects coping was "I have a greater appreciation for the value of my own life." The qualitative question response revealed patterns of: need for debriefing, lack of leadership support, physiological reactions, reliving the event, aftermath of workplace violence (WPV), and burnout/leaving emergency nursing.
Implications: ED Nurses can acquire unhealthy behaviors as a result of traumatic exposures, which can lead to PTSD. Results identify the need for increased leadership support and immediate debriefing after an event. Nurses felt 'Leadership' was more concerned with patient satisfaction and productivity numbers than nurse's well being. Without proper intervention to mitigate the effects of traumatic incidents, symptoms of PTSD may develop leading to burnout and poor ED nurse retention. The findings were disseminated to the ENA State Council resulting in establishing the Workplace Violence Taskforce to meet the need of its members.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
PTSD, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Emergency Department Nurse
Recommended Citation
Russe, Christine; Baldwin, Kathleen; and Walsh, Judith, "Post-traumatic stress disorder in emergency department nurses" (2020). General Submissions: Presenations (Oral and Poster). 148.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/gen_sub_presentations/2019/posters/148
Conference Name
Emergency Nursing 2019
Conference Host
Emergency Nurses Association
Conference Location
Austin, Texas, USA
Conference Year
2019
Rights Holder
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Post-traumatic stress disorder in emergency department nurses
Austin, Texas, USA
Poster presentation - Session H presented Tuesday, October 1, 2:30-3:30 pm
Purpose: Little research has been conducted about emergency department (ED) nurses. ED Nurses work in high stress areas, encountering situations that could result in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), causing possible disturbing flashbacks, nightmares and physiological reactions. This study adds data about the incidence of PTSD and post traumatic growth (PTG) in ED nurses.
Design: A mixed method study was carried out among State ENA members from January to May 2017.
Setting: This study was conducted within the ENA State Membership.
Participants/Subjects: ED Nurses of all ages, ethnicities, genders, facility types and educational levels who are ENA State members. No identifiable data was collected on subjects.
Methods: ENA State Council was requested to participate in a joint research study. After approval, background information and a survey link were disseminated utilizing State and Chapter ENA resources (social media, newsletters, chapter committee reports and State ENA Council meetings) distributed information. The quantitative survey consisted of Post Traumatic Checklist - Civilian Version Short form, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory. The authors of the form recommended a cut score of 14, with scores higher than that identifying patients who should be further evaluated for PTSD. The Post Traumatic Growth Inventory is a 17-item survey that assesses growth following PTSD. PTG serves as a mediator to PTSD. One qualitative question was included: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about how you react to stressful events that happen in the ED? SPSS Evaluation of the quantitative data was performed. Qualitative responses evaluated by interpreting patterns.
Results/Outcomes: PTSD Survey Results: Subject scores were divided into three groups. No PTSD for scores of 0 to 12, high risk for PTSD for scores of 13 or 14, and PTSD for scores above 14. Of 189 responses, 157 (83.1%) had scores of 12 or lower, 12 (6.3%) had scores of 13 or 14, and 20 (10.6%) had scores above 14. Subjects were most bothered by repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, and images, and felt very upset when something reminded them of the identified stressful experience. Post Traumatic Growth Inventory Results: On the 0-5 scale, no item reached the mid-point. Of the five factors the inventory examined the most frequently chosen statement about how subjects coping was "I have a greater appreciation for the value of my own life." The qualitative question response revealed patterns of: need for debriefing, lack of leadership support, physiological reactions, reliving the event, aftermath of workplace violence (WPV), and burnout/leaving emergency nursing.
Implications: ED Nurses can acquire unhealthy behaviors as a result of traumatic exposures, which can lead to PTSD. Results identify the need for increased leadership support and immediate debriefing after an event. Nurses felt 'Leadership' was more concerned with patient satisfaction and productivity numbers than nurse's well being. Without proper intervention to mitigate the effects of traumatic incidents, symptoms of PTSD may develop leading to burnout and poor ED nurse retention. The findings were disseminated to the ENA State Council resulting in establishing the Workplace Violence Taskforce to meet the need of its members.