title: Graduate nurse perceptions of caring for people with posttraumatic amnesia.
abstract: : This article reports a qualitative study of the phenomenon of posttraumatic amnesia, a common behavioral sequelae to traumatic brain injury frequently encountered by nurses on trauma wards. Specifically, it focuses on the experiences of newly registered Australian graduate nurses (N = 6) providing care for this patient cohort. An atheoretical qualitative descriptive design (Sandelowski, 2000) has been used to explore graduate nurses' experiences with posttraumatic amnesia. Themes that emerged from the transcripts were perceptions of behavior, difficulties in clinical management, safety, risk of wandering, external support, containment, and advocating for patient safety.
authors.affiliation: Adam Searby, RNB Nurs(Hons)PD MHN MANZCMHN, is a Case Manager in Psychiatry and PhD Candidate, The Alfred/RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Questions or comments about this article may be directed to Phil Maude, RN PhD MN(Res) BHSci Dip MHN C Add FANZCMHN, at phillip.maude@rmit.edu.au. He is an Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences, RMIT University and Adjunct Professoriate, Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Searby
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maude
mesh_terms: D000647:Amnesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014739:Victoria