"Was Definitely Different Because They Were Kids": Caring for Patients From a School Shooting

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychology
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Trauma nurses face risks of secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout.
• Events involving child victims, sudden death, and mass casualties are particularly stressful.
• School-associated shooting events pose unique stressors for trauma nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the psychosocial effects on nurses caring for patients after a mass casualty school shooting.
• To understand the unique stressors and coping mechanisms of trauma nurses in such events.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative case series approach.
• Utilized theories of secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue resilience.
• Involved registered nurses from a Level I trauma center's unit.

Main Results:

• Identified themes: patient innocence, emotional trajectory changes, and processing stressors.
• Nurses highlighted the benefits of peer support.
• Nurses recommended improvements for formal debriefing sessions.

Conclusions:

• Self-care and peer support are vital for nurses' well-being after trauma exposure.
• Hospitals should promote critical incident stress debriefings and employee assistance programs.
• Timely interventions are essential to support nursing staff.