Secondary traumatic stress in baccalaureate nursing students: A multi-method study

Nursing students exposed to traumatized patients during clinical are at risk of developing secondary traumatic stress (STS). However, the study of STS in this population has been limited by both a lack of clarity on the concept of STS and the lack of generalizable findings.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, severity, and experience of STS in traditional, non-accelerated prelicensure baccalaureate nursing students in the United States. The relationship between STS and personal and clinical learning environment factors was also explored.

A descriptive, correlational multi-method survey design was used. Descriptive and inferential statistics and thematic analysis were used to evaluate the data.

A total of 710 nursing students participated: 60% reported moderate to severe STS, while 38% met preliminary posttraumatic stress disorder criteria. Prior trauma history was positively correlated to STS, while debriefing frequency was negatively correlated with STS. Significant differences in STS scores existed between participants with certain self-reported mental health diagnoses and those without. Data suggested five qualitative themes: numerous trauma exposures, accompanying emotions and perspectives, post-exposure outcomes, influencing factors, and coping strategies.

Findings highlight the need for trauma-informed educational strategies in prelicensure nursing education.