Posttraumatic stress disorder in nurses in the United States: Prevalence and effect on role

Abstract

Aims:The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among U.S. nurses and to examine how severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms are associated with their role. Background:The lifetime prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder is estimated at 6.8%. Loss of workdays, inability to perform at full capacity, and loss of fulfillment are a few of the issues associated with an individual diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. Untreated consequences include early retirement, loss of job, disability, and suicide.Method: Participants completed an online survey that included the 20-item posttraumatic stress disorder checklist-5.Results: Severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among nurses estimates that 28.4% have a probable diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder with 15.4% experiencing severe symptoms. The impact of stress was negative job performance impacting mental fatigue and workplace attrition. Coping skills included mindfulness and utilizing social networks.Conclusions: Nurses are exposed to traumatic experiences, which has an impact on their mental health and well-being and ability to successfully perform their jobs. The impact of these experiences is not differentiated by demographic correlates.

User Experience and Evaluation of the COMFORT Communication App for Nursing Education

“…Researchers assess that the highest-frequency selections (Connect, Family Caregivers, and COVID-19) reflect students' primary communication concerns: building connections with patients and families and navigating the exceptional communication demands during pandemic peaks. These patterns align with research identifying the desire to build trusting human connections in nursing clinical practice, 22 family as a key communication concern for nurses, 23 and COVID-19 as a depleting communication phenomenon for nurse providers. 24 Student narratives advocated for using and integrating the resource in courses and clinicals.…”

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review

“…Especially at the beginning of the pandemic, HCWs may have felt worried about infecting their loved ones, may have been afraid of the disease, felt stigmatized and isolated by society, suffered traumatic experiences and ethical dilemmas, and may have been subjected to high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression ( 20 , 21 ). In addition, in the work environment, many HCWs have lacked personal protective equipment, have had increased patient load, have had to make difficult decisions, have witnessed a high number of deaths of patients under their care, have been forced to double shifts, and have been relocated from their services ( 22 ).…”

“…It should not be disregarded that suicidal ideation is a predictor of future suicide attempts and suicide deaths ( 26 ), hence the importance of addressing it at early stages. In this regard, Sahimi et al ( 27 ) and Rodney et al ( 21 ) found that 17% of physicians reported suicidal ideation, of whom 1% had attempted suicide. Furthermore, HCWs are more likely than non-HCWs to succeed in suicide attempts as they have greater access to more lethal drugs and have knowledge about the sufficient dosage to end their lives ( 28 ).…”

Personal and work‐related factors associated with post‐traumatic growth in nurses: A mixed studies systematic review

“…A recent review (Schuster & Dwyer, 2020) reported that 8.5%–20.8% of nurses met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, highlighting its prevalence among nurses. PTSD causes significant impairment in attention to detail, task prioritization, and concentration in nurses, leading to a more negative perception of colleagues, avoidance of work‐related tasks, increased desire to leave their profession, and increased risk of suicide (Rodney et al., 2022).…”