Trauma-Informed Care Education Initiative Explores Impact on Perinatal Nurse Secondary Traumatic Stress and Workforce Challenges

Abstract

Background: Psychological trauma refers to long-lasting adverse effects on well-being precipitated by the experience of a distressing event or a combination of events. High rates of psychological birth trauma in patients contribute to secondary traumatic stress (STS) in perinatal nurses, creating workplace challenges and resulting in dissatisfaction, apathy, and attrition. Perinatal nurses experience high rates of STS, and researchers have called for a universal standard of trauma-informed care (TIC). However, there is a lack of published results on effectively creating TIC education in this nurse population. Methods: A pre/posttest design evaluated an online pilot evidence-based practice project addressing a perinatal nurse education initiative on STS and its correlation with nurse attitudes toward TIC. Participants include perinatal nurses in the United States (n = 29). Two scales measured the program’s effect on nurses: the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) and the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) scale. Results: A paired t test evaluating pre- and postprogram levels of the STSS showed a decrease in STS (t 28 = −3.28, P = .003, Cohen’s d = 0.609), the ARTIC scale results showed an increased receptiveness to TIC (t 28 = 3.8, P < .001, Cohen’s d = 0.706], and a not significant correlation was found between pretest STS and ARTIC scores (Spearman’ ρ = −0.248, P = .194). Conclusion: This program supported a significant reduction in nurses’ identification of STS. Future perinatal nurse education can expand to build a standard of TIC that is patient-centered and reduces nurse STS.