The Influence of Psychological Trauma in Nursing

As nurses know firsthand, the impact of psychological trauma is not limited to those who experience it. Others—including nurses and caregivers—are indirectly affected. In healthcare, patients’ psychological trauma may manifest in odd, uncomfortable, or confusing behaviors. Nurses and healthcare workers must recognize that patients may be feeling unsafe or struggling with low self-esteem, anxiety, grief, loneliness, or depression born from trauma. As nurses listen to, empathize with, and sometime