The psychological impact of working in emergencies and the role of debriefing.
It has been suggested that there are three major disasters each week world-wide of such a magnitude that local services are overwhelmed. Nurses are frequently involved in assisting in emergencies. This paper reviews current work looking at the impact of working in emergency settings and overseas humanitarian aid work. There is evidence that being at a disaster site or overseas humanitarian operation can be psychologically damaging. Strategies aimed at reducing this damage, such as debriefing, are poorly evaluated but often carried out as an act of faith. This is an area that needs to be addressed as nurses will increasingly be involved in this work.
Robbins
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Traumatic Stress Service, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D004189:Disaster Planning; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D012066:Relief Work; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*