Exposures to Potentially Psychologically Traumatic Events Among Nurses in Canada. Issue 3 (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stelnicki, Andrea M.; Jamshidi, Laleh; Ricciardelli, Rosemary; Carleton, R. Nicholas
• Is Part Of: Canadian journal of nursing research =. Volume 53:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 277
• Page End: 291
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Traumatic events -- Canadian nurses -- mental disorders -- critical incidents -- posttraumatic stress disorder -- anxiety -- depression -- alcohol use -- occupational stress; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Canada -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Research -- Periodicals; Nursing Research; Canada; Nursing; Nursing -- Research; Canada; Periodicals; 610.73097105
• DOI: 10.1177/0844562120961988
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0844-5621

Abstract

Background: Nurses are regularly exposed to diverse potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) as a function of their work. Cumulative exposure to PPTEs can lead to clinically significant symptoms of mental disorders. Purpose: We designed the current study to investigate the prevalence of different PPTEs among Canadian nurses and estimate the associations between diverse exposures and several mental disorders. Methods: Canadian nurses (i.e., registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners) completed an online, self-reported survey. In total, 4067 participants (94.8% women) completed all relevant survey measures. Results: Nurses reported exposures to several PPTE categories including severe human suffering, life threatening illness or injury, and physical assault, often 11 or more times. There were significant ( p <.05) associations between diverse traumatic events and all mental disorders (i.e., Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder) except Alcohol Use Disorder. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that Canadian nurses are substantially exposed to traumatic events, which vary by several sociodemographic categories. PPTE exposures were significantly associated with mental disorders; that is, if PPTEs were eliminated among Canadian nurses in the sample, symptoms would be reduced between 42.0% and 58.0%.