Nurses’ Role in Managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Among Patients and Healthcare Staff After Disasters
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.4097Keywords:
Nurses, PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, patient care, healthcare staff, emotional supportAbstract
Nurses play a crucial role in the management of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among both patients and healthcare staff following disasters. In the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, nurses often serve as the first point of contact for individuals impacted by the disaster. Their responsibilities extend beyond typical clinical duties; they are pivotal in providing emotional support, conducting mental health assessments, and identifying individuals at risk for developing PTSD. Through active listening, empathy, and psychoeducation, nurses can help patients understand their reactions and emotions, facilitating coping strategies to mitigate anxiety and distress. Additionally, their advocacy for timely psychological interventions can significantly influence recovery outcomes and promote resilience among patients. For healthcare staff, the stresses associated with disaster response can take a toll on mental well-being, resulting in burnout or secondary trauma. Nurses must be vigilant in recognizing the signs of PTSD among their colleagues and fostering a supportive work environment. Implementing peer support programs, stress management training, and debriefing sessions in the wake of a disaster are critical elements where nurses can lead. They can also ensure access to mental health resources, encouraging staff to seek professional help when necessary. By prioritizing mental health for themselves and their colleagues, nurses contribute to a healthier workplace, enhancing teamwork and ultimately improving the quality of care provided to affected populations.
References
1. Veenema, T.G., et al. (2020). Recommendations for Improving National Nurse Preparedness for Pandemic Response. Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
2. American Nurses Association. (2020a). COVID-19 Survey: March 20–April 10.
3. Davis, J.R., et al. (2010). The Impact of Disasters on Populations with Health and Health Care Disparities. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 4(1), 30-41.
4. Labrague, L.J., & De Los Santos, J.A.A. (2020). COVID-19 Anxiety Among Front-line Nurses: Predictive Role of Organisational Support, Personal Resilience and Social Support. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(7), 1653-1661.
5. Hick, J.L., et al. (2020). Duty to Plan: Health Care, Crisis Standards of Care and Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. National Academy of Medicine.
6. Anthony, C., et al. (2017). Factors Associated with Preparedness of the US Healthcare System to Respond to a Pediatric Surge. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, 12(4), 203-226.
7. SAMHSA. (2017). Greater Impact: How Disasters Affect People of Low Socioeconomic Status. Disaster Technical Assistance Center Supplemental Research Bulletin.
8. Bambi, S., et al. (2020). New Issues in Nursing Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy. American Journal of Critical Care, 29(4), e92-e93.
9. Greenough, P.G., et al. (2008). Burden of Disease and Health Status Among Hurricane Katrina-Displaced Persons in Shelters. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 51(4), 426-432.
10. Knebel, A.R., et al. (2012). Nursing Leadership in Disaster Preparedness and Response. Annual Review of Nursing Research, 30(1), 21-45.
11. American Medical Association. (2020). Why COVID-19 is Decimating Some Native American Communities.
12. Shechter, A., et al. (2020). Psychological Distress, Coping Behaviors, and Preferences for Support Among New York Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. General Hospital Psychiatry, 66, 1-8.
13. Charney, R.L., et al. (2019). Ready to Respond: A Survey of Interdisciplinary Health-care Students and Administrators on Disaster Management Competencies. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.
14. Pappa, S., et al. (2020). Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Insomnia Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 88, 901-907.
15. Veenema, T.G. (2018). Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness for Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Terrorism and Other Hazards. 4th ed. Springer Publishing Company.
16. Brooks, B., & O'Brien, B. (2020). Texas County Stores Bodies in Trucks as State Sets One-Day Record for COVID-19 Deaths. Thomson Reuters.
17. American Nurses Association. (2020b). ANA Survey of 14,000 Nurses Finds Access to PPE Remains a Top Concern.
18. Stangeland, P.A. (2010). Disaster Nursing: A Retrospective Review. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 22(4), 421-436.
19. Altman, M. (2020). Facing Moral Distress During the COVID-19 Crisis. American Association of Critical Care Nurses Blog.
20. Ranse, J., et al. (2014). What are the Research Needs for the Field of Disaster Nursing? An International Delphi Study. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 29(5), 448-456.
21. NASEM. (2020). Evidence-Based Practice for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
22. Jakeway, C.C., et al. (2008). The Role of Public Health Nurses in Emergency Preparedness and Response. Public Health Nursing, 25(4), 353-361.
23. Fauci, A.S., & Morens, D.M. (2012). The Perpetual Challenge of Infectious Diseases. New England Journal of Medicine, 366, 454-461.
24. The Joint Commission. (2020). Health Care Staffing Services.
25. Baack, S., & Alfred, D. (2013). Nurses' Preparedness and Perceived Competence in Managing Disasters. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 45(3), 281-287.
26. UNISDR. (2017). Terminology. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
27. Veenema, T.G., et al. (2016). Nurses as Leaders in Disaster Preparedness and Response. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48(2), 187-200.
28. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2011). The Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing.
29. Gray, L. (2017). Social Determinants of Health, Disaster Vulnerability, Severe and Morbid Obesity in Adults: Triple Jeopardy? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(12), 1452.
30. Toner, E., et al. (2020). National Action Plan for Expanding and Adapting the Healthcare System for the Duration of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
31. Martin, S.D. (2011). Nurses' Ability and Willingness to Work During Pandemic Flu. Journal of Nursing Management, 19(1), 98-108.
32. Heagele, T. (2017). Disaster-Related Community Resilience: A Concept Analysis and a Call to Action for Nurses. Public Health Nursing, 34(3), 295-302.
33. WHO. (2018). Essential Steps for Developing or Updating a National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan. World Health Organization.
34. Watts, N., et al. (2018). The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change: From 25 Years of Inaction to a Global Transformation for Public Health. The Lancet, 391(10120), 581-630.
35. Langan, J.C., et al. (2017). Education for Developing and Sustaining a Health Care Workforce for Disaster Readiness. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 41(2), 118-127.
36. Springer, J., & Casey-Lockyer, M. (2016). Evolution of a Nursing Model for Identifying Client Needs in a Disaster Shelter. Nursing Clinics of North America, 51(4), 647-662.
37. IFRC. (2019). World Disaster Report 2018. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
38. Shuman, C.J., & Costa, D.K. (2020). Stepping In, Stepping Up, and Stepping Out: Competencies for Intensive Care Unit Nursing Leaders During Disasters. American Journal of Critical Care, 29(5), 403-406.
39. Laditka, S.B., et al. (2008). Providing Shelter to Nursing Home Evacuees in Disasters: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina. American Journal of Public Health, 98(7), 1288-1293.
40. ASPR. (2016). 2017-2022 Health Care Preparedness and Response Capabilities.
41. Jung H., Jung S.Y., Lee M.H., Kim M.S. Assessing the presence of post-traumatic stress and turnover intention among nurses post–middle east respiratory syndrome outbreak: The importance of supervisor support. Workplace Health Saf.
42. Kissel K.A., Filipek C., Folz E., Jenkins J. The impact of a three-tiered model of nursing redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. Intensive Crit. Care Nurs.
43. Lee M.S., Shin S., Hong E. Factors affecting secondary traumatic stress of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in South Korea. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health.
44. Cheung T., Cheng C.P.W., Fong T.K.H., Sharew N.T., Anders R.L., Xiang Y.T., Lam S.C. Psychological impact on healthcare workers, general population and affected individuals of SARS and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front. Public Health.
45. Bozdağ F., Ergün N. Psychological resilience of healthcare professionals during COVID-19 pandemic. Psychol. Rep.
46. Shin S.J., Jung D.Y., Hwang E.H. Concept analysis of resilience in patients with cardiovascular diseases. J. Korean Acad. Nurs.
47. Umbetkulova S., Kanderzhanova A., Foster F., Stolyarova V., Cobb-Zygadlo D. Mental health changes in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review of longitudinal studies. Eval. Health Prof.
48. Melander S., Dahl O., Falk A.-C., Lindström V., Andersson E., Gustavsson P., Rudman A. Critical incidents and post-traumatic stress symptoms among experienced registered nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. Int. J. Nurs. Stud. Adv.
49. Jeon J.H., Lee E.H., Kim E.J. Development of an instrument to assess the nursing professional pride. J. Korean Acad. Nurs.
50. Iddrisu M., Poku C.A., Mensah E., Attafuah P.Y.A., Dzansi G., Adjorlolo S. Work-related psychosocial challenges and coping strategies among nursing workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review. BMC Nurs.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Computational and Experimental Science and Engineering
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
