title: Secondary traumatic stress in trauma nurses: prevalence and exposure, coping, and personal/environmental characteristics.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of secondary traumatic stress (STS) in nurses who primarily care for trauma patients. A demographic/behavioral survey and Penn Inventory to measure the presence of STS were distributed to 262 nurses in a level I trauma center. Relationships between STS and years of experience, coping strategies, and personal and environmental characteristics were examined. Response rate was 49%. The median Penn Inventory score was 17.5. Nine nurses (7%) scored 35 or more, reflecting STS. Those with STS had fewer years of nursing experience and in trauma nursing, were more likely to use medicinals, and had fewer and weaker support systems.
authors.affiliation: R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. kvonrueden@umm.edu
authors.forename: Kathryn T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Von Rueden
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hinderer
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: McQuillan
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friedmann
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000451:nursing*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health; D010551:Personality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014193:Trauma Centers