Nursing Deans on Self-Care: The Case for a Trauma-Informed Approach

Area of Science:

• Nursing Leadership
• Trauma Studies
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented trauma for academic nursing leaders.
• The role of dean or director in academic nursing units revealed inherent sources of trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify common sources of trauma experienced by nursing deans and directors.
• To explore trauma-informed self-care as a strategy for resilience and posttraumatic growth.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving three experienced nursing deans.
• Analysis of common trauma sources, including pandemic-related events.
• Introduction and exploration of trauma-informed self-care concepts.

Main Results:

• Specific self-care strategies were recommended for nursing deans and directors.
• Strategies fall into three categories: organizational resources, employee support protocols, and stress management/work-life balance.
• Recommendations are based on the Trauma-Informed Self-Care Measure-Revised.

Conclusions:

• Nursing deans and directors benefit from a trauma-informed approach to self-care.
• This approach fosters resilience and posttraumatic growth.
• Positive role modeling for faculty, staff, and students is enhanced by self-care.