The Impact of Traumatic Stress, Resilience, and Threats to Core Values on Nurses During a Pandemic
Deborah Swavely1, Barbara Romig, Guy Weissinger
1Author Affiliations: Senior Director (Dr Swavely), Nursing Clinical Inquiry and Research; and Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer (Dr Romig), Reading Hospital; and Assistant Professor (Dr Weissinger), Villanova University, Pennsylvania; Assistant Professor (Dr Holtz), Goldfarb School of Nursing Barnes Jewish College, Saint Louis, Missouri; and Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network Liaison (Ms Alderfer) and Critical Care Clinical Nurse Level 5 (Ms Lynn), and Director, Spiritual Services (Rev Adil), Reading Hospital, West Reading, Pennsylvania; and Anne and George L. Bunting Professor of Clinical Ethics and Professor of Nursing and Pediatrics (Dr Rushton), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to understand the traumatic stress and resilience of nurses who cared for patients with COVID-19.
Background:
Studies have shown a high proportion of healthcare workers are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder after a pandemic. Resilience factors are believed to play an important role in the well-being of healthcare professionals.
Methods:
This was a triangulated mixed methods study; a phenomenological qualitative approach with survey data was used to triangulate the findings, and sensemaking was used as the theoretical framework.
Results:
Four themes emerged from the study: 1) phases of traumatic stress response to perceived threats; 2) honoring their sacrifice; 3) professional self-identity; and 4) sustaining resilience in a stressful work environment. Quantitative results on traumatic stress, general resilience, and moral resilience supported the themes.
Conclusions:
The findings will help leaders understand the potential for postpandemic mental health problems and the role of resilience in maintaining well-being.
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