Abstract
Emergency nurses are exposed daily to numerous stressful situations that can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study examined the relationship between traumatic events, routine stressors linked to trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in emergency nurses. For this purpose, a sample of 147 emergency nurses completed the Traumatic and Routine Stressors Scale on Emergency Nurses (TRSS-EN) and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS-5). Results of correlations and moderate multiple regression analyses showed that the emotional impact of routine stressors was associated with a greater number of PTSD symptoms, and, apparently, to greater severity, in comparison to the emotional impact of traumatic events. Furthermore, the emotional impact of traumatic events acts as a moderator, changing the relationship between the emotional impact of routine stressors and PTSD symptoms, in the sense that the bigger the emotional impact of traumatic events, the bigger the relationship between the emotional impact of routine stressors and PTSD symptoms. These results suggest that the exposure to routine work-related stressors, in a context characterized by the presence of traumatic events may make emergency nurses particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress reactions. Some prevention measures are suggested according to the results of the study.
Highlights
Emergency nurses are exposed to numerous traumatic events and routine stressors in the course of their professional activities
Results from Student’s paired t-test showed the existence of statistically significant differences between the level of emotional intensity elicited by traumatic events and the emotional intensity elicited by routine stressors
Our results confirm that traumatic events modify the relationship between routine stressors linked to trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
Summary
Emergency nurses are exposed to numerous traumatic events and routine stressors in the course of their professional activities. In this sense, traumatic events refer to shocking, frightening or dangerous experiences that can affect someone emotionally and physically [1,2]. The majority of organizational work stressors in the emergency department can be classified as the latter [6]. Situations such as work overload or conflicts with colleagues can be considered routine stressors in emergency departments
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