Trauma informed education in nursing: A call for action.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Trauma-Informed Care
• Resiliency Building

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted nursing students, leading to trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and secondary stress.
• Current healthcare environments expose students to ongoing trauma and chronic stress, necessitating a role shift for nurse educators.
• Existing trauma-informed educational frameworks from other disciplines and Watson's human caring theory inform the proposed pedagogy.

Discussion:

• A paradigm shift towards collaborative, relational nursing education is essential.
• Nurse educators must adopt a trauma-informed approach to support student well-being and academic success.
• Integrating trauma awareness into the curriculum is crucial for preparing resilient nursing professionals.

Key Insights:

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) framework for trauma-informed schools provides a basis for developing nursing education strategies.
• Watson's strategies for human caring theory can be integrated into a trauma-informed pedagogy.
• A proactive, supportive educational model is needed to address the psychological impact of the pandemic on nursing students.

Outlook:

• Implementing trauma-informed care in nursing education can foster a more supportive learning environment.
• This approach aims to improve student retention and build essential skills for navigating complex healthcare settings.
• Further research should explore the long-term effects of trauma-informed pedagogy on nursing student outcomes and professional development.