Providing trauma-informed care in the acute care setting

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nursing Practice
• Mental Health

Background:

• Recent global events highlight the prevalence of mental health issues.
• Psychological trauma significantly impacts patients in acute care, manifesting in physical and mental health symptoms.
• Trauma is a widespread public health concern linked to social determinants of health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To emphasize the importance of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) in nursing.
• To advocate for the integration of TIC into healthcare practices and policies.

Main Methods:

• Review of evidence-based practices for Trauma-Informed Care (TIC).
• Analysis of the role of nursing in implementing TIC.
• Examination of policy gaps and advocacy needs for TIC.

Main Results:

• Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an evidence-based approach within nursing scope.
• Current healthcare lacks standardized TIC terminology and practices.
• Policy acknowledgment of TIC's necessity is often superficial.

Conclusions:

• Nurses must adopt TIC to enhance patient care and outcomes.
• Advocacy for policy change is essential for widespread TIC implementation.
• Addressing trauma is critical for improving the health and well-being of diverse patient populations.