title: An exploration of factors associated with post-traumatic stress in ER nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency room (ER) nurses are frequently exposed to traumatic events (TE) at work. These events can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the present study was to describe the factors associated with PTSD symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used. The sample consisted of 35 nurses from an ER in Québec (Canada). Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TEs presenting a grief component (e.g. intentional injury to a child and patient suicide) are positively associated with peritraumatic distress (PD) in the days after the event. PD is positively associated with PTSD symptoms. Two personality traits (neuroticism and extraversion) should also be considered. Neuroticism is positively associated with PD whereas extraversion is negatively associated with PD and PTSD symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are consistent with the literature, but some of these results are new to nurses. They suggest that in this population, TEs in the ER represent 'red flags'. Their occurrence should mobilise support structures. PD and its personality traits are also key factors to consider.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To provide adequate support for nurses, ER managers should be on the alert for these conditions. Interventions should be adapted to these findings.
authors.affiliation: École des sciences infirmières, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavoie
authors.affiliation: École des sciences infirmières, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Lise R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.affiliation: École des sciences infirmières, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mathieu
authors.affiliation: Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Clémence
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dallaire
authors.affiliation: Département des sciences de la santé communautaire, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: Département de psychologie, Faculté des lettres et sciences humaines, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Courcy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072184:Nurse Specialists / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011792:Quebec; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: ER nurses; nurses; post-traumatic stress disorder; work stress