Due to the experiences they witness in their profession, nurses are likely to experience secondary traumatic stress (STS), which is the trauma that occurs when empathetic attachments are made with patients or providers experiencing other’s trauma (İlhan & Küpeli, 2022). A recent study found that 39.9% of healthcare workers surveyed met the criteria for PTSD (Bayazit et al., 2022). Strengthening resilience among nurses has been found to reduce the negative effects of PTSD among this population (Olaleye et al., 2022). Due to the nature of this profession being close to traumatic situations, it is essential that healthcare workers have the resources they need to protect their mental health, and programs work to reduce their risk of trauma and the negative health outcomes associated with it.
This grant proposal would target nurses at UF Shands Hospital, due to it being the only level one trauma center in the area. It would provide funding for the development of an Internal Health Office within the office of HR which will focus on mental health among staff, specifically nurses. The office would hire a program manager and outreach coordinator to manage daily workload, as well as a full-time licensed mental health counselor to assist with workshops and referrals.
The program utilized trauma informed principles by giving experienced nurses leadership positions as Nurse Internal Health Coordinators’ (NIHC), and they will assist with leading group workshops among their respective units. This was done since trauma informed principles highlight the importance of lived experiences and how those with similar lived experiences can help support others experiencing or at risk for trauma (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014). The group workshops hosted by nurse peers are also targeting the relationship level of the social ecological model, by forming new connections and social support systems. The workshops are designed to be conducted among nurses within the same unit, as they frequently work together on the same types of cases, so they should be able to provide sympathetic support to their fellow co-workers.
This intervention could be considered a primary level prevention for new nurses, since they have not been exposed to the risk factors of PTSD within the workplace, and this intervention will work to reduce the risk of PTSD and burnout by increasing supportive factors (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, 2016). For nurses who have been working in the healthcare field around traumatic cases, they are already at risk or may be exhibiting symptoms of PTSD and burnout, and this program will help reduce the negative health outcomes by providing protective factors, like mental health counseling and social support.
Overall, the goal of this intervention is to bring awareness to the mental health crisis among nurses which is impacting rates of PTSD and burnout. This is done through providing essential mental health resources and support, providing a framework for sustainable health resources within the hospital for staff, and evaluating the effectiveness of group workshops in providing social support and reducing symptoms of PTSD among nurses.
References
Bayazit, H., Ozel, M., Arac, S., Dulgeroglu-Bayazit, D., & Joshi, A. (2022). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of psychiatric practice, 28(5), 354–361. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRA.0000000000000661
İlhan, B., & Küpeli, İ. (2022). Secondary traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression among emergency healthcare workers in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak: A cross-sectional study. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 52, 99–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2021.11.051
Olaleye, T. T., Christianson, T. M., & Hoot, T. J. (2022). Nurse Burnout and resiliency in Critical Care Nurses: A scoping review. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 17, 100461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2022.100461
Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. (2016). Trauma Informed PHilanthropy: A Funder’s Resource Guide for Supporting Trauma-Informed Practice in the Delaware Valley.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites...files/sma14-4884.pdf
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