PTSD in Psychiatric Nurses and Other Mental Health Providers: A Review of the Literature

Jacobowitz, William

doi:10.3109/01612840.2013.824053

Cited by 75 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…). Further, existing research draws attention to the incidence of posttraumatic stress in nurses working in acute psychiatric inpatient settings being about 10% (Jacobowitz ). In short, working in acute inpatient units and EDs is stressful.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear and blame in mental health nurses’ accounts of restrictive practices: Implications for the elimination of seclusion and restraint

Muir‐Cochrane

O’Kane

Oster

2018

Int J Mental Health Nurs

117

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Restrictive practices continue to be used in mental health care despite increasing recognition of their harms and an international effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate their use. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore mental health nurses' views of the potential elimination of these practices. Nine focus groups were conducted with 44 mental health nurses across Australia, and the data analysed using thematic analysis. Overall, the nurses expressed significant fear about the potential elimination of restrictive practices and saw themselves as being blamed for both the use of these practices and the consequences should they be eliminated. Findings detail the conflicts facing staff in balancing the need for ward safety for everyone present while at the same time providing person-centred care. Nurses described the changing role of the mental health nurse in acute settings, being more focussed on risk assessment and medication while at the same time attempting to practise in trauma-informed person-centred ways. The impact on ward safety with increasing acuity of consumers plus the presence of forensic consumers and those affected by methamphetamine was emphasized. Change initiatives need to take into account nurses' deep concerns about the consequences of eliminating all forms of control measures in hospitals and respond to the symptoms and behaviours consumers present with and associated unpredictable and concerning behaviours. Attempts to eliminate restrictive practices should, therefore, be carefully considered and come with a clear articulation of alternatives to ensure the safety of consumers, visitors, and staff.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear and blame in mental health nurses’ accounts of restrictive practices: Implications for the elimination of seclusion and restraint

Muir‐Cochrane

O’Kane

Oster

2018

Int J Mental Health Nurs

117

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“…In a recent study, for example, over a 12‐month period 76% of mental health nurses reported depressive symptoms (Hsieh et al . ) and up to 10% of mental health nurses report post‐traumatic stress disorder (Jacobowitz ). The emotional labour of dealing with challenging interpersonal situations with consumers, families, and colleagues can also lead to emotional dissonance (Delgado et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cumulative effects of workplace violence and workload demands can contribute to chronic stress and mental distress (Lanctôt & Guay 2014), and lower mental health. In a recent study, for example, over a 12-month period 76% of mental health nurses reported depressive symptoms (Hsieh et al 2017) and up to 10% of mental health nurses report post-traumatic stress disorder (Jacobowitz 2013). The emotional labour of dealing with challenging interpersonal situations with consumers, families, and colleagues can also lead to emotional dissonance (Delgado et al 2017;Edward et al 2017) and substantial levels of burnout (up to 67%; Morse et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On PAR: A feasibility study of the Promoting Adult Resilience programme with mental health nurses

Foster

Shochet

Wurfl

et al. 2018

Int J Mental Health Nurs

113

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Mental health settings are recognized as complex, unpredictable environments, and challenging interpersonal situations are common for nurses in acute adult mental health services. Occupational stressors include verbal aggression and physical assault and are correlated with poor physical and mental health outcomes for nurses. There is a clear need for proactive approaches that address the negative impacts of stressors on the mental health nursing workforce. Resilience interventions are a preventive approach to strengthening skills for addressing workplace stress, improving health and well-being, and preventing adverse outcomes associated with occupational stressors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a workplace resilience education programme for nurses in high-acuity adult mental health settings. The outcomes were measured using a single-group pretest post-test design with follow-up at 3 months postintervention. The feasibility and acceptability of the programme were identified with descriptors of mental health, well-being, resilience, facilitator fidelity checklists, and participant satisfaction questionnaires. The programme was found to be feasible for nurses working in high-acuity inpatient settings. There were significant changes to mental health, well-being, and workplace resilience. The programme was delivered with fidelity by facilitators and accepted with high levels of satisfaction by participants. The study findings indicated that nurses can benefit from resilience education that equips them with cognitive, emotion regulation, and relational skills, in conjunction with available external supports and resources, to address workplace challenges. There is a need for comprehensive organizational approaches that include individual, work unit, and organizational-level strategies to support staff well-being.

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“…). Consequently, in the UK, since the late 20th century, violence and aggression has substantially increased (Bilgin & Buzlu ) and presents serious hazards for the safety and well‐being of healthcare professionals (Jacobowitz ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caught between compassion and control: exploring the challenges associated with inpatient adolescent mental healthcare in an independent hospital

Matthews

Williamson

2016

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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Aim To extend our understanding of how healthcare assistants construct and manage demanding situations in a secure mental health setting and to explore the effects on their health and well‐being, to provide recommendations for enhanced support. Background Contemporary literature acknowledges high rates of occupational stress and burnout among healthcare assistants, suggesting the context in which they work places them at elevated risk of physical harm and psychological distress. Yet, there is a deficit of qualitative research exploring the experiences of healthcare assistants in adolescent inpatient facilities. Design An exploratory multi‐method qualitative approach was used to collect data about the challenges faced by healthcare assistants working on secure adolescent mental health wards in an independent hospital during 2014. Method Fifteen sets of data were collected. Ten participants completed diary entries and five participants were also interviewed allowing for triangulation. Data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Findings The findings illustrated how inpatient mental healthcare is a unique and distinctive area of nursing, where disturbing behaviour is often normalized and detached from the outside world. Healthcare assistants often experienced tension between their personal moral code which orientate them towards empathy and support and the emotional detachment and control expected by the organization, contributing to burnout and moral distress. Conclusions This study yielded insights into mental health nursing and specifically the phenomenon of moral distress. Given the ever‐increasing demand for healthcare professionals, the effects of moral distress on both the lives of healthcare assistants and patient care, merits further study.

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PTSD in Psychiatric Nurses and Other Mental Health Providers: A Review of the Literature

Cited by 75 publications

References 37 publications

Fear and blame in mental health nurses’ accounts of restrictive practices: Implications for the elimination of seclusion and restraint

Fear and blame in mental health nurses’ accounts of restrictive practices: Implications for the elimination of seclusion and restraint

On PAR: A feasibility study of the Promoting Adult Resilience programme with mental health nurses

Caught between compassion and control: exploring the challenges associated with inpatient adolescent mental healthcare in an independent hospital

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